I'm new to sailing and recently purchased a 1979 30' Catalina. I've encountered a problem with my roller furling. The wire halyard becomes twisted at the top of the mast thereby preventing the roller furling from furling or unfurling the head sail. It appears the top "hub" where the halyard attaches is suppose to spin freely while the extrusion turns to wrap/unwrap the sail--but the twisted wire prevents this from spinning freely. I realize I will have to replace the wire; but I'd like to know what caused this to prevent future occurrences.
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roller furling - grease the hub regardless
Hi Mike We had a similar problem on our C-27. Even though the hub spun freely when dropped, the roller furling jammed up when the sail was raised. It appeared that the hub bound up with the pressure of the sail against it, but not when loose. We greased the hub again, and this seemed to resolve the issue.
Hi Mike We had a similar problem on our C-27. Even though the hub spun freely when dropped, the roller furling jammed up when the sail was raised. It appeared that the hub bound up with the pressure of the sail against it, but not when loose. We greased the hub again, and this seemed to resolve the issue.
Top End of Furler
You should also check the angle of the halyard to the top swivel of your furler. The lead angle of the halyard, if too lrge could cause a halyard wrap. Nigel Calder's Boat Owners Manual is very helpful in these kind of details.
You should also check the angle of the halyard to the top swivel of your furler. The lead angle of the halyard, if too lrge could cause a halyard wrap. Nigel Calder's Boat Owners Manual is very helpful in these kind of details.
Halyard stay
You can also add a stay to the mast where the jib halyard exits the mast prior to connecting to the furler hub. The jib halyard passes under the stay which keeps it from wrapping around the furler. The Santana 30 that is moored next to us had to do this to keep his halyard from wrapping around the furling hub. He had also done everything that he could do the hub, which turned freely when not under tension but would not furl cleanly when raised.
You can also add a stay to the mast where the jib halyard exits the mast prior to connecting to the furler hub. The jib halyard passes under the stay which keeps it from wrapping around the furler. The Santana 30 that is moored next to us had to do this to keep his halyard from wrapping around the furling hub. He had also done everything that he could do the hub, which turned freely when not under tension but would not furl cleanly when raised.
Do NOT grease!!
Do NOT grease the hub (swivel) - unless it is a much older Hood Seafurl or other using SS bearings, do not grease the swivel. Harken and other newer furling bearings should not be greased but only rinsed often with fresh water; grease will actually cause more problems, attracting dust dirt and the like which will gum up. Your problem could simply be that the extrusion has dropped of the stay or that the sail is cut a little long (if a retro fitted sail). Also it may be that your halyard needs to be led down from the masthead and through an eye on the top of the mast creating a fairer angle from the swivel.
Do NOT grease the hub (swivel) - unless it is a much older Hood Seafurl or other using SS bearings, do not grease the swivel. Harken and other newer furling bearings should not be greased but only rinsed often with fresh water; grease will actually cause more problems, attracting dust dirt and the like which will gum up. Your problem could simply be that the extrusion has dropped of the stay or that the sail is cut a little long (if a retro fitted sail). Also it may be that your halyard needs to be led down from the masthead and through an eye on the top of the mast creating a fairer angle from the swivel.
I have a similar problem
My rolling furler jams up on the bottom where the rope raps around the base to unfurl it and refurl it, and I don't know what I can do to prevent the moving pieces from continuing to jam it???
My rolling furler jams up on the bottom where the rope raps around the base to unfurl it and refurl it, and I don't know what I can do to prevent the moving pieces from continuing to jam it???
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