Removing furling mainsail

Nodak7 · Dec 16, 2012

Viktor Eysselein said:
Please give advise:

We have a Hunter 45CC (2008). How can you remove the furling mainsail (Seldon mast)?

Thanks,

Viktor

Viktor, very easy.....

You can find the complete instructions at the Selden Website. But it is very easy

Remove Plastic Covers above furler so you can see the Main sail tack connection. Unfurl the main, Disconnect the tack, release the main halyard and as you lower the main halyard have someone pulling the sail down and out of the sleeve. When the sail is all the ay down disconnect the sail from the Halyard swivel.

Good Luck!

Jeff Jellick · Dec 17, 2012

Viktor,
We have a 2006 Hunter 45 CC with the furling mail, Selden mast. I presume that you have the 3- vertical battens, so you will have to remove these battens while the sail is all the way up, then you can release the halyard and pull down on the main and remove it.

Jeff

velero912 · Dec 17, 2012

Is this the main furler outside of the mast. Do you recommend it?

Nodak7 · Dec 17, 2012

velero912 said:
Is this the main furler outside of the mast. Do you recommend it?

Velero, no this is the Selden Main Sail Furler that retracts into the mast.

Nodak7 · Dec 17, 2012

Jeff Jellick said:
Viktor,
We have a 2006 Hunter 45 CC with the furling mail, Selden mast. I presume that you have the 3- vertical battens, so you will have to remove these battens while the sail is all the way up, then you can release the halyard and pull down on the main and remove it.

Jeff

Jeff, your system must be different than mine. How can you remove the battens while the sail is still all the way up? On mine the battens come up out of the sail and the only way to get them out is to have the sail down. How could you reach the battens that high up?

Jeff Jellick · Dec 17, 2012

Nodak7 said:
Jeff, your system must be different than mine. How can you remove the battens while the sail is still all the way up? On mine the battens come up out of the sail and the only way to get them out is to have the sail down. How could you reach the battens that high up?

That is a very good question. When Hunter first offered the "in-mast furling, withy the Selden mast / rig, the 3 vertical battens were FULL LENGHT. The only way to remove them is to raise the main sail all the way, and remove the battens from the bottom. I have noticed that in later models, Hunter changed the length of the battens where ther are now only 4 ot 5 feet long starting up at the leech. I "think" the reason for this was because the sails with the full lenght battens were always getting stuck when furling in either direction.

Jeff

Nodak7 · Dec 17, 2012

Jeff Jellick said:
That is a very good question. When Hunter first offered the "in-mast furling, withy the Selden mast / rig, the 3 vertical battens were FULL LENGHT. The only way to remove them is to raise the main sail all the way, and remove the battens from the bottom. I have noticed that in later models, Hunter changed the length of the battens where ther are now only 4 ot 5 feet long starting up at the leech. I "think" the reason for this was because the sails with the full lenght battens were always getting stuck when furling in either direction.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff I just learned something new. I had never seen the "full length" battens you describe. Mine were, as you describe 3-5 feet in length and came out the leech. I agree it seems that they would have a tendency to foul up the furling system. It seems that they could be a pain coming out the bottom. I wonder if the full length gave the sail more shape and thus more power?

Jeff Jellick · Dec 17, 2012

Nodak7 said:
Thanks Jeff I just learned something new. I had never seen the "full length" battens you describe. Mine were, as you describe 3-5 feet in length and came out the leech. I agree it seems that they would have a tendency to foul up the furling system. It seems that they could be a pain coming out the bottom. I wonder if the full length gave the sail more shape and thus more power?

I'm not sure about the shape and more power, but with the problems we have had with them, I think it would be a welcome trade off, there must of been a good reason that they made the switch.

Jeff

Capt Morgan · Dec 18, 2012

I purchased my 2007 41'AC in April of this year the original owner indicated that he and others had furling problems/difficulties with the fully vertically batten mains and advised me on good technique (primarily keeping the sail under some tension both furling and un-furling) and I had NO PROBLems!

I am a firm believer in this sail plan and its benefits, as we out-sailed some pretty damn fast sailboats this year on the bay! Wah HOO!

My full length vertical battens are removed from the foot of the sail.

seadaddler · Dec 24, 2012

What you mean taking full battens put i have only seen partial battens

Nodak7 · Dec 24, 2012

seadaddler said:
What you mean taking full battens put i have only seen partial battens

Sea, there are two different styles of battens. Full and partial. Apparently you have the partial. You will need to remove your battens after you take down your sail.

Nodak7 · Jan 5, 2013

Viktor Eysselein said:
Do you keep your boat when furling on starboard tack and at 30-45 degree angle?

My furling mainsail gets stuck at times.

Thanks so much!

Viktor

Viktor here is a link to a thread that covers that subject extensively.

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=144314

I can say I have not had any issues furling or unfurling mine. I usually have a slight Stbd tack but I am not stuck on the 30-45 degrees. If the wind is putting a little pressure on the main that is all that counts. You need to make sure it furls tight to allow it to unfurl properly.

Nodak7

captainpat · Jan 7, 2013

Comments on a couple of issues raised. I have a Hunter 44 aft with furling main - NO BATTENS! It's easier furling but it costs in performance! If/when I replace the sail I will go for the partial battens. The battens allow for a bigger roach, hence more sail area. It doesn't really effect shape so much (except that it might be easier to maintain shape) as it makes the sail bigger by the increase in roach.

Trouble furling - I had much difficulty furling the main when I purchased in 2010, the sail would get stuck in both directions and would roll up with wrinkles. Turns out the mast was not tuned properly by the PO and had a curve along its length bottom to top. Check to see that your mast is not curved. It can be raked back but should be straight.