Someone ask me a question about what I would do if the the in-mast furling broke and I could not furl or unfurl the main sail. I would like to know if that has happen to anyone and what was their process to fix the problem while underway.
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furl or unfurl
if my mainsail was not furling in and i could not un jam it id neetly tie my mainsail to my mast and get underway with my headsail if it wouldnt unfurl id start my ever dependible yanmar
if my mainsail was not furling in and i could not un jam it id neetly tie my mainsail to my mast and get underway with my headsail if it wouldnt unfurl id start my ever dependible yanmar
still no consensus
While the discussion in the link Scott attached is relevent, it is not really responsive to the fundamental issue - that being what one does when the furler breaks/jams. The quote here, "id neetly (sp) tie my mainsail to my mast and get underway with my headsail" is optomistic at best and delusional in bad weather. I have yet to see a good answer to Greg's question.
While the discussion in the link Scott attached is relevent, it is not really responsive to the fundamental issue - that being what one does when the furler breaks/jams. The quote here, "id neetly (sp) tie my mainsail to my mast and get underway with my headsail" is optomistic at best and delusional in bad weather. I have yet to see a good answer to Greg's question.
that's interesting, rhetorically, because...
...usually when Don takes the lead in the campaign against in-mast furling, he at least begins with a disclaimer that he has never owned one. I note further that it's probably a good sign, from the perspective of rhetorical analysis, when the opposition is left with little more argument than to point out spelling errors. I'm still not convinced that jamming is a problem. Having been sailing actively (at least 50 sailing days per year) with Seldon in-mast furlers for a decade now, first on an H410 and then on an H46LE, I've never yet experienced a jam. Indeed, it's one of the few pieces of sailing gear that hasn't let me down. Regardless, I think it's disingenuous to label Scott's solution "delusional." It would be a fairly simple matter to take a topping lift or a spare halyard and wrap it around the mast/main a few times, thus lashing the main to the mast the way other folks tend to wrap it to their boom. Five or six wraps ought to do it on even the largest of boats, which means that you could accomplish this with several extra yards of halyard. Sure, it would be more difficult to do this in a gale, just as it's more difficult to flake the main to the boom in a gale, but it would be doable and I doubt it would take more than a couple of minutes. On my boat, I'd quickly run the topping lift three or four times clockwise around the mast to tame the main, and then run a spinnaker halyard half a dozen times counter-clockwise to make certain it stays is place. Not a big deal, especially given the lack of horizontal battens. It would be especially easy if the main jammed half in/half out, which as I understand it is how the naysayers tend to fantasize that this would happen. A better plan is just to learn how to furl the main properly, because it won't jam if it was put away correctly. It really won't, no matter how many times Don tells us otherwise.
...usually when Don takes the lead in the campaign against in-mast furling, he at least begins with a disclaimer that he has never owned one. I note further that it's probably a good sign, from the perspective of rhetorical analysis, when the opposition is left with little more argument than to point out spelling errors. I'm still not convinced that jamming is a problem. Having been sailing actively (at least 50 sailing days per year) with Seldon in-mast furlers for a decade now, first on an H410 and then on an H46LE, I've never yet experienced a jam. Indeed, it's one of the few pieces of sailing gear that hasn't let me down. Regardless, I think it's disingenuous to label Scott's solution "delusional." It would be a fairly simple matter to take a topping lift or a spare halyard and wrap it around the mast/main a few times, thus lashing the main to the mast the way other folks tend to wrap it to their boom. Five or six wraps ought to do it on even the largest of boats, which means that you could accomplish this with several extra yards of halyard. Sure, it would be more difficult to do this in a gale, just as it's more difficult to flake the main to the boom in a gale, but it would be doable and I doubt it would take more than a couple of minutes. On my boat, I'd quickly run the topping lift three or four times clockwise around the mast to tame the main, and then run a spinnaker halyard half a dozen times counter-clockwise to make certain it stays is place. Not a big deal, especially given the lack of horizontal battens. It would be especially easy if the main jammed half in/half out, which as I understand it is how the naysayers tend to fantasize that this would happen. A better plan is just to learn how to furl the main properly, because it won't jam if it was put away correctly. It really won't, no matter how many times Don tells us otherwise.
John
I will stipulate you have more experience with furlers than me. Notwithstanding, the topping lift solution is responsive to the q albeit only when there is one and I would suspect not an ideal solution regardless. It isn't my intent to offend and the attack is unwarranted. My (limited) experience with mast furlers on other folk's Catalinas hasn't been as stellar as your's - even when they have lots of experience, they still have problems.
I will stipulate you have more experience with furlers than me. Notwithstanding, the topping lift solution is responsive to the q albeit only when there is one and I would suspect not an ideal solution regardless. It isn't my intent to offend and the attack is unwarranted. My (limited) experience with mast furlers on other folk's Catalinas hasn't been as stellar as your's - even when they have lots of experience, they still have problems.
different system
I believe that Catalina uses Charleston Spars these days, but I haven't really researched that question recently. A buddy with a C42Mk2 pulled into the marina one day with a brand new North main jammed in his mast, flogging. I walked over and asked whether he needed help. He replied that it was impossibly stuck and that he'd already called North and they were going to have to go up the mast, et cetera, but when I grabbed the end of the boom and put my weight on it, the sail unjammed instantly. Nothing like a bit of leech tension to clear a jam, I suppose. No one at Catalina had ever bothered to explain to my friend how to properly furl one of those beasts. I explained the technique--in essence telling him that if you roll them up nice they come out nice--and I don't believe he's experienced a jam ever since.
I believe that Catalina uses Charleston Spars these days, but I haven't really researched that question recently. A buddy with a C42Mk2 pulled into the marina one day with a brand new North main jammed in his mast, flogging. I walked over and asked whether he needed help. He replied that it was impossibly stuck and that he'd already called North and they were going to have to go up the mast, et cetera, but when I grabbed the end of the boom and put my weight on it, the sail unjammed instantly. Nothing like a bit of leech tension to clear a jam, I suppose. No one at Catalina had ever bothered to explain to my friend how to properly furl one of those beasts. I explained the technique--in essence telling him that if you roll them up nice they come out nice--and I don't believe he's experienced a jam ever since.
in mast furling.
Catalina for the most part now uses Selden masts on their boats. Charleston Spar is still doing buisness and is located in Charlotte, NC. Talk with Jim Haliburt. Good man to talk with. Often I see folks furling the mainsail in and out with the wind behind. Never do this. Always into the wind when bringing the main in and out. When furling in, put a little tension on the outhaul as well. If you do get the mainsail stuck I instruct my customers to pull down on the sail and then pull back. Continue to do this and the sail will come out without going aloft.
Catalina for the most part now uses Selden masts on their boats. Charleston Spar is still doing buisness and is located in Charlotte, NC. Talk with Jim Haliburt. Good man to talk with. Often I see folks furling the mainsail in and out with the wind behind. Never do this. Always into the wind when bringing the main in and out. When furling in, put a little tension on the outhaul as well. If you do get the mainsail stuck I instruct my customers to pull down on the sail and then pull back. Continue to do this and the sail will come out without going aloft.
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