Old roller furler

[Hermit Scott]

What is this big piece of cloth? Maybe it doesn't even go to my boat. There were covers for everything made of sunbrella in boxes in my boat when I got it. I don't know where this one goes or what it's for and there is another on the boat that is smaller, but I have to wait until I get there to take a pic.
There is 3 holes near one end but only 2 wires for the split backstay.
I'll make a hammock out of it if I can't figure out what it is.

Iam pulling the roller furler. It is old and made of aluminum and corroded. I am going to try to get the corrosion out of the track with a wire brush. Should I coat it with anything to keep it from coming back. I am concerned it will wear away the sail through to the bolt because it's so rough. I don't want to put any grease in there because it will get on the sail.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

I wonder if that is some sort of a boom tent that the PO used, or maybe just a cover for the cockpit and hatch.

 

[rpwillia]

Ummm, could it be ...

An awning? Does the forward hole fit around your mast? Are there some extra sticks/poles hanging around that would support it in a frame?

 

[Hermit Scott]

I am pretty sure the big hole goes around the mast. But the holes at the other end are way too close to be for the topping lift.
I thought someone might have seen something like this before. I thought it may be sort of common.

 

[BobM]

I'd use a little white vinegar on the corrosion too...or some aluminum mag wheel cleaner. Then I'd probably put a few coats of car wax on it or better yet...

http://www.poliglow-int.com/alumaglow.phtml

I know you I haven't converted you to poliglow yet...but the stuff doesn't stink. For something like a roller furler that I planned to leave up for the next 5-10 years I would buy this stuff in a heartbeat based on my experiences with poliglow so far. If my cold galvanizing experiment doesn't work out for barnacle prevention I might try it on the prop and shaft next year!

 

[Dave D]

OK Bob, have another one!

Hermit, my first impression is that it's a wnter/long term storage cover. doubt you would use it as such. How big is is? can you make me a hammock too?

 

[RAD]

Any loops in it where an awning pole might slide through?, My boat came with a simple awning that tied under the mast and snapped to the dodger, wasn't the best but it worked and it too looked very crude like yours does.

 

[Don12364]

A bit difficult to judge the size but it could be and attempt at the 'Bonnet' for your stack pack mainsail cover. Is it of suitable cloth?
Put the centre seam under the boom and bring the sides up then fit the two holes either side over the lower diamonds and fasten the two curved sides together over the top of the sail and existing cover.
There even seems to be a hole for the vang.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I took the cover to the boat and tried to put it in different places on the deck and boom.
The big hole has to be for the mast, it fits perfect. The center back hole did fit the topping lift. I don't know what the other two holes in line with the topping lift are for. I think it is a cover that goes over the boom. I guess for extra shade?
Rad- There are places in the center that you can tie it to something. But there are no holes for the main sheet.
I wish it was some kind of main sail cover. I can't put my main on until I get a cover. I may be able to make an ok one out of this. That would definitely be a better use that whatever it is now.

OK, my furler is fubar. The bearing looks like an archeological find and is seized forever. I went looking for penetrating oil. I remember you guys talking about PB blaster, I couldn't remember if you guys said it worked well or poorly. I bought it and used it.
I don't even know what I am looking at. I started to remove this aluminum seat for the bearing. I ended up cutting and trying to drill it out. I have no idea how this job was supposed to be done. Am I going about this the only way it can be done, or is there a trick to this furler i am missing?
I will save the long piece the sail bolt goes in and the top part of the drum. That's all I need to make another one. I don't want to have to replace the fore stay if I don't have to. The swage fittings look good from what I can see.
But at this rate it looks like the only way to get this drum off is to cut the fitting off the stay. Unless there is some better way to do it.

I had a "certified captain" tell me that I should put the main sail on first. But it would have alot of weather helm. Then he proceeds to tell me that weather helm is when the boat turns away from the wind. He offered to teach me how to sail. I stared at him with out saying a word until it became awkward. Then I just said "well". I didn't want to say "ok" because I thought he may take that as acceptance. I don't know what we would sail on. He owns 4 or 5 boats in that marina and none of them are operable.
This is the guy that owns the boat next to mine that repaired the ripped out bow cleats with "great stuff" expanding foam. I didn't want to be rude but I wouldn't go out in any of those boat farther than I could swim back, because that is likely how I would return to the marina.

 

[RAD]

Sounds like its an awning shade but can you tie it off to hold it out or slip a pole across it for support

 

[NC-C320]

Awning

Hermit,

Don't be too quick in cutting up or disposing of the blue fabric thing. To me, it looks like a rather well made, custom awning (or boom tent). If you take your boat cruising or stay aboard even in port, it can provide some very valuable shade protection from the sun (also rain protection on rainy days when you'd like to get out of the cabin occasionally). If you were to see what it would cost to have a replacement made, you'd find that you have a valuable item there. Just do a little detective work to see how it should fit. As noted, one hole forward is for the mast, one at the back is for the back stay. Usually, these awnings fit above the the boom. One of the other two holes is likely for the mainsail halyard. To give headroom under the awning and to give it a tent shape so that rain runs off, it may have been (and you may want to add) a ridge pole (parallel to the boom but above the boom so as to clear the sail on the boom (sail is higher on boom at mast end than on topping lift end, so a ridge pole would be a way to position the awning properly above the boom). Such a ridge pole could have two support lines in the middle of the cover which pass through the awning and are supported in turn by the mainsheet halyard (similar to how a split backstay connects to a single backstay at some point). Also, it looks like this cover might be a deluxe awning in that it has integral side curtains which could be in lowered position to provide protection against setting sun, blowing rain, or strong wind when it's cold. Add some ties so you can roll up the side curtain portion when you want it open to the side while having a cover overhead. To support the outer ends of the awning, there are usually removable cross members (wood, PVC, or aluminum) which attach to the shrouds forward, backstay or topping lift aft, and to life lines along either side. It gets hot where you are....save this thing.

 

[NC-C320]

More Awning

Another thought on the awning shape...it's hard to realize the actual dimensions. It may not have side curtains as I mentioned above, but may be cut narrower forward on both sides to facilitate moving about the deck forward of the cockpit. Either way, you just need to work out the supports and tie points...they are the cheap items and the cover is the expensive part.

 

[NC-C320]

Still More Awning

The second, smaller piece of fabric that you mention might also be a small awning to cover the forward cabin hatch so that it can be opened for ventilation at anchor or in port when it is raining. Knowing it's size and shape will give you a clue to it's application also.

 

[Joseph Shirley]

It looks to me to be a sun cover for the fordeck. The center hole for the mast and the other two to go around the shrouds. It also looks tapered towards the bow end.

Joe S

 

[Hermit Scott]

NC-C320 I think you may be right about the other sunbrella fabric piece I mentioned! It's interesting that I never mentioned the size, but you knew what it was for. It is right about the size to cover a hatch. I will save it and may use it for the purpose intended.
A good polyester rope hammock at lowe's is only $78. This thing probably was several hundred.