StoBoom...Got one, using it...
Yup, ...it also came with the boat. Have had troble with the line driver bearings going out which made the hoisting and dousing difficult. I found that upon disassembly that the 12 needle bearing that were held in place by a chincy plastic frame had let loose and it was binding on the random pile of bearings. Sent off $30 for a replacement unit only to find that it also broke within weeks.... Finally dropped $100 on a machine shop to turn down an oil-lite brass bushing, (typically found in a pillow block type bearing), and the problem seems resolved for now. Regarding binding in the boom itself, disassembly from the rear may shed some light on the problem... the internals are pretty simple. Removal of allen screws in the aft end will release a cover and beneath that are a double nut on a stainless rod, (similar to rod rigging)... Remove the line driver cover in the front and the roller with sail should slide out the back... Done it twice so far (for sail repair) and have few complaints beyond that. A little tention on the halyard when your dousing keeps it tighter on the roller and hence more compact and less chance of binding due to a 'fluffy' roll. I was told early on of the importance of keeping the boom at 90-degrees to the mast when dousing as if it is too high the sail will roll aft on the roller when coming down (and bind up) or it the boom is too low...the sail will travel forward and bind on the roller-driver. I have found that when I head up wind and bring every thing to neutral by releasing vang and sheets, that it comes down like a window shade with realative ease... I intend to continue using it until it REALLY breaks, wears completely out, or I can't get critical parts for it. I am curious though. My unit does not possess any outhaul adjustment as the tack & clue are firmly bound onto the roller and the foot slips into a groove on the roller tube....and I am wondering if you have a modified attachment which may be problematic. Parts are still available from Great Britain even though these furlers have been out of production for some years now. Good luck.
