Roller Furler set up on a 23.5

[SFKjeld]

I have been struggling to get my Shaefer Snapfurl furler to unfurl reliably. It worked like a dream when I bought the boat earlier this year, but the jib was shot. Replaced it a month ago but carelessly wound it up the wrong direction. The sun blocking strip was on the wrong side. Took me a week to realize it tho. During that time, the furler also worked flawlessly. So I tightly furled the sail, and reversed the furler line. Ever since then, it has not unfurled well. Sometimes it pulls out 75%, then 50%, then for some reason, unfurls completely. I took the jib sheets and furling line off entirely. Then spun the sail by hand. I actually found a spot where it seemed to bind. It stopped turning. It should spin freely in both directions, shouldn't it? I have never heard of a Snapfurl before buying my boat this year. I assume it is original on the boat. Should I be looking at an upgrade?

 

[isaksp00]

I'd check that the forestay is properly tight, and then see if the halyard is wrapping around the stay at the top. If needed, take the sail off the furler entirely and see if the foil spins freely, and then you could wind the furler line just in case this is binding somehow (though it ought to be obvious by looking at it). If the unit binds with the sail back on and you can see if it is halyard wrap, try tightening the halyard (mine has to be pretty tight to prevent wrap).

I would not think you need a new one, unless the drum/bearing assembly is somehow shot, but then it probably would not have worked with the wrapping direction reversed. The only other difference would be the way the furling line goes through the fairleads into the drum, so check that.

Also, hard to tell, but that furling line looks rather large diameter - is the drum overfull when you deploy the sail?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

skfield

What many folks do not realize when replacing the jib on a roller furler other than CDI with it's own interanal halyard, the top swivel drum needs to turn but the upper portion of it not turning in a sense.. If the halyard is too long, the halyard will wrap itself around the top of the furler or forestay and possibly turning the forestay as well thus damaging it to the point it will break and of course mast fall down. To prevent this from happening, you need to raise the sail higher so there is less halyard at the top. You will have to use a long line to tie the bottom or clew down.

As for over tightening the jib halyard, you actually will be loosening the forestay which is not good. Follow Isapsp00 advice first to see if there is any halyard wrap going on at top.

 

[SFKjeld]

Thanks you guys. I'll bet you are right. It must to be binding on top. Heading over to the boat now! I hope my eyesight is good enough to see what's happening on top!

 

[SFKjeld]

Oh, good grief..... The jib halyard felt pretty taught, but I gave it another tug. Maybe pulled an inch thru the cleat. Tried the furler again. Fully opens and closes now effortlessly!..... I spent hours wrestling with this. Like every sailing lesson I get, always a lot more expensive than it should be. Thanks again for the help.