Trouble with Jib Furler.

[tcul]

Aloha everyone!

I sail a Cal 30. I was out sailing today and pulled out the jib using jib furler. The jib came all the way out but came loose at the bottom where it connects to the drum. Some of the furler line came out of the drum and wrapped around the the pole above the drum. I couldn't pull the jib in with the furler line, so the jib was a flappin in the wind. I eventually managed to haul the jib down, but forgot to cleat the jib halyard. It road up the mast and is now tangled at the top of the mast. Oh, jib sheet got tangled in the outboard propeller.

Other than that, it was a great day sailing!

The people I bought the boat from had trouble with this jib furler as well. We were out sailing together and they had trouble keeping the jib attached at the bottom, and keeping the furler line in the drum.

Is this a common problem with jib furlers? I about ready to remove it and just use a hank-on jib in a sack hung and ready at the bow.

Thanks

TC

 

[JoeWhite]

It appears that it has not been installed correctly. If you have the installation manual take a look at it. If not you should be able to download it from the internet. I am not sure what you mean " the jib came out from the bottom" do you mean the tack came loose. if so it may need a new shackle. If the furling line wraps on the outside of the drum - it means its angle is not correct. Also some owners use too thick of a line. For your size boat it should use 5/16" inch thickness. Also if you are using a very large Genoa - there may not be enough room on the drum to wrap all the line needed.

 

[Sam Salter]

Most furlers are bullet proof these days - there's something wrong which more than likely can be fixed with a little time and effort.
sam

 

[alexco38]

Pls be specific if you need help. Make / model of the furler, a picture would help. What do you mean wrap on the pole

 

[Ron20324]

Is sounds like you mean the tack shackle came apart? PROPER NOMENCLATURE IS IMPORTANT. It should be wired so the pin can not unscrew. Or do you mean the bolt rope came out of the furler groove? ... As to the furling line, there should be a fairlead/block, most likely attached to a part of the pulpit or first stanchion, that would have the line perpendicular to the drum. And that's why it's called a "fair-lead".

 

[caguy]

I think most furlers have a tack at the spool that keeps the luff tensioned and should keep it in the foil channel. As far as the wrap is concerned mine did it the last two times out. The first time I unwrapped the furler line and then ran it back to the cockpit. The last time I thought it was the alignment of the last block and took another block to attach to the pulpit thinking that the last block located on the forward stanchion was too far away. The weather was calmer this time and I took the time to analyze the situation. I found that the arm that guides the line onto the spool was spinning with the spool and then wrapping around th foil. Haven't had the time to see what is suppose the keep the arm stationary while the spool turns, but it will be my next project.
If the problem is that your line is too thick and running out of space on the spool, I have heard of people removing the core of their line so that it takes less space on the spool. Most only core the first half of the line. You can use a little bigger line that way, which is more comfortable on the hands.

 

[tcul]

Thanks for all the replies.

When I hauled out the jib, I didn't haul it out all the way. The previous owners warned me not to do that. I hauled it out about 2/3's, but somehow it came all the way out. I am sure I cleated both jib sheet and furler line.

I then noticed the TACK portion of the jib was not attached and about a foot of the luff was out of the foil channel. I was out there solo about a mile off Waikiki. I remember when sailing with the couple I bought the boat from they had to monkey around with the tack portion of jib, drum, line...etc. Hauling in the jib was real hard.

The jib luff eventually came all the way out of the channel and was attached only at the top flapping like a flag.

I think I'm going to take it in to the marine center right next door to my marina to have them check it out and reinstall if necessary. Also need them to untangle and release the jib halyard from the top of the mast!

Some of the furler line came out of the drum and wrapped around the foil. That's why I couldn't haul the jib in with the FL.

Thanks again

TC


Anyway,

 

[BobM]

Furler issues

Get the manual for the furler. Mine was missing a pin that stopped it from popping out of the cup, which causes the line to get stuck. Then it seemed like there wasn't enough line on the furler. When I got and read the manual I found that I had the right line, but that I was supposed to strip the core out of it. I did that, and it was fine.

Also, you really have to be sure to raise the jib fully if the furler has a top swivel otherwise you can get the halyard wrapping and jamming at the top swivel. You really have to pull the jib way up so that the halyard is less that 30 or so degrees from the foil. If it is 45 degrees that is not good at all.

There is no way, in my experience, that the luff tape should be able to pull out of the foil unless it is the wrong size. As others have said, the tack should be secured to the base of the furler with a line or perhaps a short length of wire with loops at each end. There is usually a shackle there to secure it to.

 

[Ron20324]

...The jib luff eventually came all the way out of the channel ...

It sounds like the wrong size luff tape is on the sail, compared to what the groove is. So, for instance, a #5 luff tape would, indeed pull out of the groove. Perhaps the marina center has a few pieces of different sized of luff tape that you could put in the groove and see what size you should have. Better yet, if they are going to do the sail work, let them do the sizing. #6 seems to be a common size.