Very Badly Jammed Rolling Furler 1998 Main Hunter 310

[dph123]

I am familiar with unjamming my main -- and have not had many problems because I am usually carefully about furling it tight and clean. I went out last week for a nice post-Thanksgiving sail. I had not sailed in a month or so and did not furl it well the last time. I started to work it out by slowly pulling it in and out. I went to far in and it is jammed so hard that it snapped the outhaul line when I was trying to unjam it. I have a large bulge and it won't budge. Any options other than taking a knife to the almost 20 year old sail which probably needs replacement anyway? But I would like to get another year out of it.

Thanks.

 

[31seahorse]

On a friend's boat in Florida last winter we worked a jammed main out by using a spray of water to add a bit of lubrication that would not hurt or stain the sail fabric. We also used the roll in/roll out action. The water spray might be worth a try.

 

[shemandr]

Can you send someone partway up the mast to pull out where the jam is. Maybe use some putty knives or similar tool to work out the folded over sailcloth. How much of the sail can you get out?

 

[LeoLambert310]

I had the same problem. Here's what I did, rolled the sail back into the mast then turned the screw by hand while lightly pulling the sail out but not don't pull hard enough that your pull the sail out before turning the screw. Took time but it came out with out any trouble.

 

[dph123]

Thanks for all the advice. It is low enough I can get to it -- no need to go up the mast. It is jammed at the very end by the sun cover. The sun cover is actually too far in the mast. I think that's the main problem. Unfortunately, I tried all of the above and I cannot get it to budge. It will not move millimeter in or out. I am going to keep trying. But the knife is getting more and more attractive.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Unfortunately, I tried all of the above and I cannot get it to budge. It will not move millimeter in or out. I am going to keep trying.

Maybe time to go a little bit off the deep end here. I'm sure we have the same setup with the Selden Furlin' mast. As you say, the sun cover is too far into the mast and I don't see how, but that's what you've been dealt. Does this show it correctly .....................

A possible alternative might be to see how hot you can get the sail protector and sail material to increase their flexibility. Use one or more hair driers to force air into the mast around the UV cover. Do not get into a dangerous temperature (melting) but let the heat soak in slowly. Maybe also spray in a bit of McLube Sailcoat while heating. This may assist in getting things moving.

As shown in the cross section above, it may be a bit of a bugger to get hot air back there but for the alternative cost of the sail repairs, it's worth spending a few hours trying to get things hot in there. Try insulating the mast with old towels in that area and drive hot air in below the UV sail protector.

 

[seadaddler]

Did you try using a winch handle at the roller on the mast that the continous line goes on and going in and out a little bit at a time and tie a new piece of line on the out haul and have some one pulling on it with the out ward.

 

[uncledom]

I'm sure you know your mast set up but did you accidentally put the Selden furler drum in ratchet mode? Toward the port side of the boat. That would stop the sail from coming out for sure.

 

[Ken13559]

Spray fiction spots with McLube. It's slippery.

 

[capta]

I don't see what cutting the clew off the sail will get you. If you do, how are you going to pull the sail out?
I've never had our main jam like that, but had considered what we'd do if it happened, as was likely with our old, old, old, baggy main. With enough pressure on the outhaul (clew) one would expect that with or without the furling line, the sail could be pulled out of the mast. Is there anywhere you could get a wrench or screw driver in/onto the furling foil below the sail or at the place where the furling line wraps? The foil tensioning mechanism is below the sail on our Stoway system.
Perhaps if you could roll it in a bit, like rolling a chart tighter, you'd get a bit of slack at the bind? Again, with tools, not the furling line. Last resort might be oiling/greasing things up like a fat kid stuck in a pipe. Good luck.

 

[Tom23300]

I have a 2005 Hunter 27 and my furling main is jammed in my mast as well. It had been getting stuck recently overtime I used it and the last time I furled the main, it apparently overlapped right below the spreaders and is STUCK... Using the large wench just tore the sail and now I have no idea how to get it out unless cutting it out somehow. I am accepted the fact that i will be purchasing a new main (happy birthday) but am not sure how to get it out now. Any thoughts?

 

[Davidasailor26]

I presume you've tried taking it in and back out? Beyond that I've seen workers with a cherry picker poke at it with a screwdriver and pull it from aloft. Not an easy task.

 

[capta]

I really don't want to beat a dead horse here, but this sort of thing is totally operator error, not an inherent fault in the system. If a problem is occurring, the operator must stop doing whatever they are doing and reverse the action BEFORE it gets so fouled up it can't go either way.
Just as battens can become fouled in the topping lift or lazyjacks on a hoisted main, IMRF sails need attention when being operated.
I know that doesn't help you who now have a problem, but your errors shouldn't dissuade others from purchasing a boat with this system. It greatly improves the sailing pleasure of those who use it, and it is an amazing improvement to be able to reef (or unreef) just a few inches, instead of a whole slab, as conditions change.

 

[shemandr]

So the winch tore the clew? Can you get any of the leech out of the mast? If so you might be able to use some of those boat cover clips to put on the leech and try to pull it out. I think you'll have to pull square to the mast and not at an angle downwards. That suggests a lift off the deck. A bosuns chair probably won't give you enough stability to apply enough tension on the leech. Unfortunately the best option may be to drop the rig and put it on saw horses and have at it. As I've posted ad nauseam, mine used to jam and several times the solution was to go out in a breeze and do a bunch of ugly jibes. But mine often stuck halfway deployed. I don't own that boat anymore.

 

[capta]

So the winch tore the clew? Can you get any of the leech out of the mast? If so you might be able to use some of those boat cover clips to put on the leech and try to pull it out. I think you'll have to pull square to the mast and not at an angle downwards. That suggests a lift off the deck. A bosuns chair probably won't give you enough stability to apply enough tension on the leech. Unfortunately the best option may be to drop the rig and put it on saw horses and have at it. As I've posted ad nauseam, mine used to jam and several times the solution was to go out in a breeze and do a bunch of ugly jibes. But mine often stuck halfway deployed. I don't own that boat anymore.

Wouldn't it make sense to raise the boom to the angle needed to unroll the sail instead of something like a bosun's chair?

 

[uncledom]

If it's so bad that it has torn the clew, or your sure the sail is already ripped and needs to be replaced I'm pretty sure your looking at a knife and a pair of pliers along with some patience and muscle. Good luck.

 

[JamesG161]

send someone partway up the mast to pull out where the jam is. Maybe use some putty knives or similar tool

I did that! Note my Avatar Picture at the amount of sail I left out of the mast, while my new sail was being made.

Here are the tools I used to "Tap in" the bulge a bit, then jerk out the excess. Little by little.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/5-Pc-Set...Utensil-Spatula-Spoon-Fork-Chef-New/499092616

We tapped on the back of the soft bamboo handle with this...
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubber-Tent-Peg-Mallet/33697779

Thus a hammer slip or over strike did no damage.

Don't Pry!
Tap in bulge, pull out excess, tap in bulge, pull out excess...

My new sail works perfect!
Jim...

 

[seadaddler]

I screwed up once a few years back and rolled my sail back in at my dock by myself and next heading out to the race course and found the sail was jammed and after many course words I went to the mast and used thewinch at the mast and was able to crank in and out and my crew gave up killing me after we had a good day racing.
My was recut back than and is 10 yearsold from the factory and is still doing good.
Nick

 

[JamesG161]

raise the boom to the angle

In fact, let your boom "Float". No Vang, No sheet, No Topping lift, while freeing the jamb.
Jim...

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

What is in a way no one is saying what caused that to jam. If your mast has any pretend in a furling mast, it is time to retune as those furling masts should be straight with no prevent. Sails in the middle will jam. Standing rigging over time does stretch. Please understand that rake is not the issue in this case. Food for thought