Strong winds a couple of weeks ago caused my Hood Roller Furler line to break as I was pulling in the jib. To replace this line, I need to feed the new line through the furler and through several blocks leading to the cockpit. My Hood roller furler unit requires a continuous line with a braid on braid, constant diameter splice. Can anyone tell me how difficult this may be? And, if not too difficult, is there a book or Internet site that may assist me in this job. If it is very difficult, has anyone ever hired someone to come to their boat and splice the line once it has been installed? What was the cost? Thanks.
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Furler is very inexpensive Dacron...
it would be wise to replace it. If not under heavy load it will probably break in another location.
it would be wise to replace it. If not under heavy load it will probably break in another location.
Is the line a continuous loop?
I saw a setup like that once on a 30' Dufour. The control line went all the way around the boat, and there were 3 or 4 wraps on the drum. Can't help much with the splice; I've done it for 3-strand ropes but not for braided. But West Marine sells the fids for splicing braided line as a kit that comes with instructions, so I imagine it's doable. Is it possible to convert to a wind/unwind system, or is the drum too small?
I saw a setup like that once on a 30' Dufour. The control line went all the way around the boat, and there were 3 or 4 wraps on the drum. Can't help much with the splice; I've done it for 3-strand ropes but not for braided. But West Marine sells the fids for splicing braided line as a kit that comes with instructions, so I imagine it's doable. Is it possible to convert to a wind/unwind system, or is the drum too small?
HOOD LOOP
The line for the coninuous loop for the Hood RF can be obtained from Layline in Charleston SC. They have the line and the special splice - for a price. They do good work. Hood also has an upgrade with a new drum that only needs a single line RD
The line for the coninuous loop for the Hood RF can be obtained from Layline in Charleston SC. They have the line and the special splice - for a price. They do good work. Hood also has an upgrade with a new drum that only needs a single line RD
Easy Splice
Franklin: The end to end splice that you need for the furler is easy...relative to other splices, that is. I have done it and it works great, but you need the instructions from Hood. I have those on the boat (two hours away) in the manual for the Hood furler. Try to contact Hood Yacht Systems for a the instructions for this task. Their web site is: (http://www.pompanette.com). Leave them an e-mail or call at 813-885-2182 and ask for the instructions for this splice. After you have completed the splice you need to reinforce your work with some lock stitching with whipping twine. If you revisit the splice every year and refresh the lock stitching, it will last a long time. It is important, as you mentioned, to keep the size down; so, remember this when you are lock stitching to keep you knots small. The traditional end to end splice (Instructions are on the New England Ropes web site.) is much more difficult and the result increases the diameter of the line and prevents it from running through the blocks and furler. (Trust me on this. I performed the splice several times before I realized that instructions for the furler line splice were in the Hood manual. The splice is not as strong as the traditional perhaps, but much easier and workable for this application.) If it turns out that you cannot obtain the instructions from Hood, e-mail me at captainronb@earthlink.net and I will find a way to get you the Hood instructions early next week (after I visit the boat on the weekend.) I used Sta-Set for the line and I made the line a long enough to tie off on the stern horn cleat for reefing - it works great. Wishing you a fine fid,
Ron s/v Counterpoint (1989 Hunter 33.5)
Franklin: The end to end splice that you need for the furler is easy...relative to other splices, that is. I have done it and it works great, but you need the instructions from Hood. I have those on the boat (two hours away) in the manual for the Hood furler. Try to contact Hood Yacht Systems for a the instructions for this task. Their web site is: (http://www.pompanette.com). Leave them an e-mail or call at 813-885-2182 and ask for the instructions for this splice. After you have completed the splice you need to reinforce your work with some lock stitching with whipping twine. If you revisit the splice every year and refresh the lock stitching, it will last a long time. It is important, as you mentioned, to keep the size down; so, remember this when you are lock stitching to keep you knots small. The traditional end to end splice (Instructions are on the New England Ropes web site.) is much more difficult and the result increases the diameter of the line and prevents it from running through the blocks and furler. (Trust me on this. I performed the splice several times before I realized that instructions for the furler line splice were in the Hood manual. The splice is not as strong as the traditional perhaps, but much easier and workable for this application.) If it turns out that you cannot obtain the instructions from Hood, e-mail me at captainronb@earthlink.net and I will find a way to get you the Hood instructions early next week (after I visit the boat on the weekend.) I used Sta-Set for the line and I made the line a long enough to tie off on the stern horn cleat for reefing - it works great. Wishing you a fine fid,
Ron s/v Counterpoint (1989 Hunter 33.5)Brion Toss
The source you want is Brion Toss, Master Rigger. I think briontoss.com will do it. He sells a tape which shows the CORRECT way to make a wide variety of splices. I've used the tape to work myself through several types of splices including the end to end on double braid.
The source you want is Brion Toss, Master Rigger. I think briontoss.com will do it. He sells a tape which shows the CORRECT way to make a wide variety of splices. I've used the tape to work myself through several types of splices including the end to end on double braid.
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