Roller furling question

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Yesterday, my roller furling jammed with the jenny fully out. I could not roll it up. Winds were only 12K so it wasnt too bad out.I manually unraveled the retreival line then spun the furling drum by hand and rolled up the jenny. It was surprisingly easy. Once the jenny was rolled up, i was going to rethread the retreival line and start over again, thinking the lines was jumbles. Now, the furling drum would not turn in either direction. I looked up the mast with binoculars and it looks like the halyard was twisted. The only way this could happen is if the furling bearing on top of sail were seized...I think. I know nothing about the mechanisms of roller furling. I have a Hood Systems Seafurl 2 roller furling. Does anyone here have any drawings or diagrams on this or a similar system?When I go up the mast, it would be nice to know what to expect when I get there. Tomorow I will be replacing my old ratty halyards. Dont really trust them. Then my 225 lb. lard ass will go up, just a little bit safer.Tony B

 

[Joseph Shirley]

I'm no expert on the Hod system but

If your halyard was (twisted?) wrapped around the head stay then there is something wrong with the stop at the upper bearing that is supposed to stop that from happening. Additionally if the upper bearing was frozen your sail should be twisted from the bottom and not rolled uniformly. Thirdly; if your drum will not turn in either direction you at least have a problem there now. I think that is where I would start. I suspect that the hood system requires some sort of maintenance that it hasn't been getting. I think that is why most cruisers like myself have Profurl Furlers.Maybe you can more specifics fro a Hood System owner.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

I think my plan is.....

Thanks for the info. I think my plan is to replace my halyards with new halyards. Then if there is no wind, I will manually unfurl my jenny. Then I will go up the mast to inspect. If the halyard is twisted and cant be undone. I will be prepared to cut it. Then i will remove the jenny and drop the mechanism holding the headsail up. Then I will be able to inspect everything while on the deck.P.S. I am not done asking questions. Once i do the above, Im sure many more questions will crop up.

 

[higgs]

Restrainer

Perhaps a halyard restrainer will solve your problem. It is a fairlead mounted slightly below where the halyard exits the mast - and slightly above the hoisted head that does not allow the halyard to wrap around the foil.

 

[Bay Sailor]

Tighten your halyard

If the halyard is even a little loose the pendant at the top will wrap around the fore stay a bit and keep the top bearing from turning. I have belaying pins at the base of the main mast to tie down all the halyards. I tighten the jib halyard with my foot just before it gets cleated down. If there is even a little slack in the halyard it will bind.

 

[Harley18471]

FURLER

I experienced the same symptoms, and couldn't solve them. A pro rigger found the UPPER swivel to be frozen and the culprit. A little TLC and everything works fine

 

[sailaway78]

Be sure to find out

Tony, be sure to check and see what is recommended for the bearings. Some require some kind of lube, and some are not supposed to be lubed, just cleaned.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Phillip

Thanks. I was not aware of that.Tony B

 

[Calif. Ted]

Most Hood furlers are critical in regard to

being within 6 inches of the top so the halyard is short enough to prevent wrap without a restrainer. The bearings have a built-in lube that normally just requires flushing with fresh water, however can be lubed with a dry lube like Sail-Kote. In addition, there is a notice on the Hood website regarding Sea-Furl II units of ten years of age possibly requiring bearing replacement in the drum and swivel, I've attached their website below.BTW, replacement parts I've ordered from Pompanette in CT have sometimes come with breathtaking prices.