I have a Beneteau 331 (2003) and am having a huge amount of trouble with the in mast furling this year. The sail binds when being pulled out, with a fold sticking in the slot. Have always furled with tight outhaul, on starboard tack, about 30 degrees off wind and have very few problems until this year. This year I put the sail on myself (always had trouble with those little shackles on the foil), and I notice that when the sail is furled in the mast the foil seems to lean back against the mast slot on the lower third of the sail. Have pulled the sail down this morning and the slot on the foil is facing to starboard (90 degrees) instead of facing directly aft. Can anyone tell me if this is correct, or should the slot in the foil be facing directly aft?
US Spars mast furling problem
- Thread starter mwickser
- Start date
Mwwickser,
Not sure what are actually mean in your post.
"Have pulled the sail down this morning and the slot on the foil is facing to starboard (90 degrees) instead of facing directly aft."
Are you referring to which slot to put the sail into?
We typically put in the starboard slot.
Other things that help:
- put the boat into the wind when furling the sail back into the mast.
- make sure the boom is higher than parallel to the water
- we put in a new boom car with ball bearings which helped a lot
I would never buy another boat without a furling main. Just need to get it set up right.
Chris
Not sure what are actually mean in your post.
"Have pulled the sail down this morning and the slot on the foil is facing to starboard (90 degrees) instead of facing directly aft."
Are you referring to which slot to put the sail into?
We typically put in the starboard slot.
Other things that help:
- put the boat into the wind when furling the sail back into the mast.
- make sure the boom is higher than parallel to the water
- we put in a new boom car with ball bearings which helped a lot
I would never buy another boat without a furling main. Just need to get it set up right.
Chris
It should be possible to rotate the foil once the sail is down to have the slot face any direction, so I don't think that's related to your problem. Is this still the original sail? I've heard (although not had the chance to experience for myself) that as the sail gets blown out by age it can be harder to furl and unfurl. If that's what's happening A sailmaker might be able to take in the belly a bit to extend its life some.
How far out does the sail get before getting to the jam? And where is the fold you mentioned, along the leech or in the belly? My only other question is whether you have the same halyard tension this year as in the past? Different halyard tension could cause issues.
How far out does the sail get before getting to the jam? And where is the fold you mentioned, along the leech or in the belly? My only other question is whether you have the same halyard tension this year as in the past? Different halyard tension could cause issues.
Hi,
Thanks for your help. I only have one slot on my foil, but I think it is meant to be a "starboard slot".
Put McLube all over everything today, including the sail, and the sail went out and in fine this afternoon. Hopefully it will keep working that way til my new sail arrives.
Thanks for your help. I only have one slot on my foil, but I think it is meant to be a "starboard slot".
Put McLube all over everything today, including the sail, and the sail went out and in fine this afternoon. Hopefully it will keep working that way til my new sail arrives.
Hi, Thanks for your reply. I would think it should be possible to rotate the foil in any direction, but it was not. It stopped when the slot for the sail luff tape was on the starboard side of the mast.
Sail was jamming when about one third out. I believe the leach is blown out. There are creases in the sail fabric. Put McLube all over ever moving part including the sail and the mechanism worked ok today. I have heard differing things about the halyard tension.... Some say tight, some say not so tight. Mine is set for 2-3 winch turns, but not extra tight.
Again, thanks.
Sail was jamming when about one third out. I believe the leach is blown out. There are creases in the sail fabric. Put McLube all over ever moving part including the sail and the mechanism worked ok today. I have heard differing things about the halyard tension.... Some say tight, some say not so tight. Mine is set for 2-3 winch turns, but not extra tight.
Again, thanks.
Many have had the same problem. My new sail worked wonders.
Read this post. The info I put there was NOT in my database when I bought the boat.
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/in-mast-piece-of-crap-furling-system.175976/
I love in-mast furling now. The Admiral and I can unfurl my 17.5' Foot of the Main length in 3 minutes and furl in 4 minutes.
Jim...
While you have the mainsail down & waiting for a new sail, be sure to disassemble the furler and thoroughly clean the bearings & relubricate. Bet the bearings are seriously gunked up, especially if they have never been cleaned. Also would be a good time to replace the furling line. Over time it swells and binds in the nylon worm gear inside the furler. I rebuilt the entire system a few years ago and converted from the original vertical battens to the newer thin battens & reconfigured batten pockets, overhauled & cleaned the furler bearings, and replaced the furling line. Huge improvement in performance; the sail hasn't jammed since. Of course suggestions by other posters including tension on the outhaul as you furl the sail and tight halyard needs to be checked when you install the new sail.
Here's the bad news: at 13 years of age I really think the sail is too tired to furl well. Typically sails last 8-15 years with furling mains a bit less as they take much more of a beating than do classic mains. When they soften with age, the sails ability to resist odd distortion as happens when furling diminishes.
Search this site for my comments on using McLube on the outhaul track and inhaul line...this will help to some degree and maybe well enough to get another season or two out of the sail.
Extrusion: The extrusion should point aft when the sail is all the way out. You probably need more wraps on the worm gear of the furler.
Bob Pattison
Neil Pryde Sails
Bob,
Interesting. I guess I will consider myself lucky that our original sails are 17 years old and still furl well.
No plans to replace anytime soon.
Chris
Interesting. I guess I will consider myself lucky that our original sails are 17 years old and still furl well.
No plans to replace anytime soon.
Chris
Check out the link in my Post#6. You can see the stretch area at the clew ( my pict) that put more fabric in the mast. At the worst spot too... The FOOT!
No stretch, no extra fabric, low jamb risk...
Jim...
Chris, Like my mom would say about me growing up: " there are exceptions to the norm"...(and I"m not sure she said this in a positive way <grin>)
We have had O'Day sails we built in the early 80's come through the door for repair, much to my pleasure. So like all things, and critically with boats; there are a LOT of variables that go into just about every thing with sailing.
And that's one of the things I like about sailing, rarely static, often unpredictable.
So I'm not surprised to hear this and happy to know they have proved great value!
Bob
I had never had a furling main before we bought our 343. Shortly after taking possession, I had a major problem with my furling main. It got so bad I had to take it to a professional rigger to get it unstuck. He gave me a few pieces of advice and a significant bill. First, he took the sail to a loft and had the batten sleeve entry points cut and resewn so that they were slimmer. He also replaced the outhaul car, because mine was sticking. After we bent the sail back onto the mast, he told me to sail directly into the wind, and completely loosen the vang, mainsheet, and topping lift (as well as the outhaul or reefing line, obviously) before trying to furl or unfurl the sail. For what it's worth, I haven't had a problem since.
Great advice!
What you do by freeing the boom...
You allow the main to furl, as it was "cut", and not force it to roll unnaturally inside the mast.
The only difference is I don't allow the main sheet but a few inches of freedom (6-12" depending on the wind).
Mine furls counter clockwise inside the mas. If you let a very very slight wind (port tack), tighten the leach, smooth as silk roll up and saving my back a bit.
Topping lift (once set for my sail cut) freedom is less important for me, with my free vang.
Jim...
I violate most of this advice by unfurling and furling the main downwind. It allows me to keep the right amount of tension on the sail without it flogging all over the place. Also have found I can pull out about 1/2 of the sail by gripping the outhaul line on top of the boom and pulling it out then tugging in the line.
It is surprising how much less pull it takes without the friction of all those blocks and turns. Works for furling too when one of your turning blocks jams or explodes.
Check the mast for alignment. Rigger put a reverse bend in mine during initial setup.
Joe
It is surprising how much less pull it takes without the friction of all those blocks and turns. Works for furling too when one of your turning blocks jams or explodes.
Check the mast for alignment. Rigger put a reverse bend in mine during initial setup.
Joe
It's not the number of years, but the miles sailed and how strong the wind is when you sail. A sail should last 20,000 miles but need re-stitching at 10,000 and it will be stretched at 10,000 miles. I have 13,000 miles on my current sails and they are stretched a lot but the stitching is still good (UK sails made in Kemah). Very rarely do I get my main jammed on the leach and of course it all has to do with how I rolled it up last. Occasionally I get the jam down low when initially pulling it out. Not the leach jamming but the loose sail getting caught in the crack. I just roll it back up again and do mild yanks, not constant pressure, on the outhaul. Once it is about 20% out I go back to the normal unfurl. When just departing and pulling out the sail, I do like to go forward and just grab the outhaul at the car and pull that way for the first 25% -- it does come out much easier that way.
I admit I am rough on my sails and furling system but I do try to keep everything lubed. I too tend to furl the sail when sailing downwind, especially on a long leg and just reefing because the wind picked up 5-8 knots in the middle of the night. If I have the jib poled out, I definitely am not going to point into the wind to reef. I just let out some outhaul, furl a little and repeat, then trim the outhaul. I really don't like going forward in the middle of the night. Dealing with the pole in the daytime is a peace of cake, even for a single handler like me, but at night time things get messy.
I admit I am rough on my sails and furling system but I do try to keep everything lubed. I too tend to furl the sail when sailing downwind, especially on a long leg and just reefing because the wind picked up 5-8 knots in the middle of the night. If I have the jib poled out, I definitely am not going to point into the wind to reef. I just let out some outhaul, furl a little and repeat, then trim the outhaul. I really don't like going forward in the middle of the night. Dealing with the pole in the daytime is a peace of cake, even for a single handler like me, but at night time things get messy.