Do I need to keep tension on my furling line when I unfurl. The only thing I can think of to keep the line from wrapping around the forestay. Been out twice happened both times. Yesterday with wife and 15-18 knot winds not a good time.
Roller Furling help
- Thread starter Golfdad75
- Start date
I always do unless the wind is really light...so at 15-18, definitely. At that point, in my boat at least) I'd probably be reefing to keep guests happy, and having the full genoa unfurling wildly would probably scare the people I'm with. It helps keeps things under control, too, and probably less likely to break something.
I always keep tension on the furling line when un-furling. Just keeps things more orderly with no surprises. I also keep a little tension on the sheets when furling to make sure the sail furls properly.
I would think that wither you keep tension or not (i don't BTW) the line leads to the furler drum would not allow the line to wrap anywhere but onto the drum. Perhaps a lead has come adrift?
G,
It's better to keep some tension for sail control, uniform drum line wrapping & for structural reasons. Remember, the larger the headsail, the more control you want to use. I hate to let a sail get away from me. I use one hand to control the line peeling out while my other hand is winching the sheet(line). Now you have two forms of sail taming. I have a 155 ginney.
If the furling line is allowed to run free you have the possibility of a wrap getting trapped out of sync below top wraps. Ever have a fishing reel free-spin on you & "nest" up? Remember what it was like to work the line backwards to get to the trapped loop? I've seen this happen on some boats where the furling line was not controlled. Now you have the problem where you can't furl it up. I've had to use a screwdriver and work the wraps backwards in the drum until I get to trapped one. In wind, this can be a REAL joy.
In addition, allowing the line to free spin, when the sail hits at all the way out, the bang you hear has a shock chord effect on your forestay & attachment points. When showing beginners the ropes, I call this my big bang theory & it's a no-no.
CR
It's better to keep some tension for sail control, uniform drum line wrapping & for structural reasons. Remember, the larger the headsail, the more control you want to use. I hate to let a sail get away from me. I use one hand to control the line peeling out while my other hand is winching the sheet(line). Now you have two forms of sail taming. I have a 155 ginney.
If the furling line is allowed to run free you have the possibility of a wrap getting trapped out of sync below top wraps. Ever have a fishing reel free-spin on you & "nest" up? Remember what it was like to work the line backwards to get to the trapped loop? I've seen this happen on some boats where the furling line was not controlled. Now you have the problem where you can't furl it up. I've had to use a screwdriver and work the wraps backwards in the drum until I get to trapped one. In wind, this can be a REAL joy.
In addition, allowing the line to free spin, when the sail hits at all the way out, the bang you hear has a shock chord effect on your forestay & attachment points. When showing beginners the ropes, I call this my big bang theory & it's a no-no.
CR