Greetings, My new (used) boat came a new Harken MKIII furling system. The headsail is about 3' short from making it all the way to the top (although the foot is about a %130). What happens when I try to unfurl it is that the halyard wraps between the sail and the top of the stay, so it jams. My boatyard said to attach a rope or wire at he bottom of the sail to the roller system to make up for the difference. Has anyone done this? Is it advised? Also, how tight should the headstay be. I can "wiggle" it and there is about a foot of swing at the center when I do so. This may contribute to the problem. Thanks ps- next year I plan on getting a new headsail...
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Furler Halyard Fairlead
The main reason the jib halyard wraps is probably because it is snaging on the luff. One thing that Hood furlers require is an angle between the halyard and the forestay of between 15 and 30 degrees. To accomplish this a fairlead installed at an appropriate location below the jib halyard sheave is a great help (see picture - hopefully - attached). The other change one can make is to put a longer pendant on the tack. The sailmaker can do this or you can make up a length of cable to go between the jib pendant and the furler tack. The cable item you can make this yourself at West Marine because they have the Nicro(sp?) swages for use on cable and the swageing tools for do-it-yourselfers. To answer your question "is this advised" the answer, for your situation, is "yes" because it would help to create a better halyard angle (which I think after reading your owners manual you'll need). The purpose of raising the tack on the jib, in effect raising the foot of the sail, is to get the proper halyard sheeting angle of 15 to 30 degrees at the head. The other reason to raise the sail is because the better wind is up high and a side benefit is you'll get better visability under the jib. Did you get the Harken furler manual? If not, check out their web site and see if you can download one. Hope this helps and take a look at the picture.
The main reason the jib halyard wraps is probably because it is snaging on the luff. One thing that Hood furlers require is an angle between the halyard and the forestay of between 15 and 30 degrees. To accomplish this a fairlead installed at an appropriate location below the jib halyard sheave is a great help (see picture - hopefully - attached). The other change one can make is to put a longer pendant on the tack. The sailmaker can do this or you can make up a length of cable to go between the jib pendant and the furler tack. The cable item you can make this yourself at West Marine because they have the Nicro(sp?) swages for use on cable and the swageing tools for do-it-yourselfers. To answer your question "is this advised" the answer, for your situation, is "yes" because it would help to create a better halyard angle (which I think after reading your owners manual you'll need). The purpose of raising the tack on the jib, in effect raising the foot of the sail, is to get the proper halyard sheeting angle of 15 to 30 degrees at the head. The other reason to raise the sail is because the better wind is up high and a side benefit is you'll get better visability under the jib. Did you get the Harken furler manual? If not, check out their web site and see if you can download one. Hope this helps and take a look at the picture.
Attachments
Another Thought
Since it's a 135, be sure to check the sheeting angle. Some boats apparently don't have very much genoa track so as the clew is raised it'll force the genoa car aft. You don't want to raise the clew so high that you run out of track.
Since it's a 135, be sure to check the sheeting angle. Some boats apparently don't have very much genoa track so as the clew is raised it'll force the genoa car aft. You don't want to raise the clew so high that you run out of track.
Sail Pennant
This is a common problem on furling sails, especially sails that have been converted for use on a furling system. If you are planning to get a new sail, you may want to wait on adding a halyard deflector until the new sail is completed. Mr Nantz had very good comments on your jib leads. A simple and relatively inexpensive solution to your immediate problem, is to purcahes a short length of Spectra or Vectran Line, 1/4 inch should be sufficient, and fashion a pennant using this hi-strength, virtually zero-stretch line. Unfasten the Tack of your sail, now by hand, Pull sail to the top of the furler with the halyard. Now tie one end of the line to the tack of the sail, and reave it through the tack fitting on the furler drum, do this a couple of times, this fashions a purchase. Cinch this line down as tight as you can(make sure your halyard is cleated)then tie off. You now have made a pennant that is exactly as long as you need it and it should get you through until you are ready for the new sail. If this does not solve the problem, then you may still need the halyard deflector.
This is a common problem on furling sails, especially sails that have been converted for use on a furling system. If you are planning to get a new sail, you may want to wait on adding a halyard deflector until the new sail is completed. Mr Nantz had very good comments on your jib leads. A simple and relatively inexpensive solution to your immediate problem, is to purcahes a short length of Spectra or Vectran Line, 1/4 inch should be sufficient, and fashion a pennant using this hi-strength, virtually zero-stretch line. Unfasten the Tack of your sail, now by hand, Pull sail to the top of the furler with the halyard. Now tie one end of the line to the tack of the sail, and reave it through the tack fitting on the furler drum, do this a couple of times, this fashions a purchase. Cinch this line down as tight as you can(make sure your halyard is cleated)then tie off. You now have made a pennant that is exactly as long as you need it and it should get you through until you are ready for the new sail. If this does not solve the problem, then you may still need the halyard deflector.
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