Winterize roller furling jib, or leave up?

Mike B · Dec 19, 2010

Re: Winterize Roller Furling Jibssail, or leave up?

Since you're leaving the boat in the water and may want to sneak out then leave it on. It's the same as if you lived in a warmer climate and never removed it. Over time you'll likely find that you'll experience UV damage sooner than you would if you removed it and stored it indoors. Of course no matter what the season always make sure it's rolled up tight and secured so it wont get or cause damage in a storm.

FastOlson · Dec 19, 2010

a vote for sail removal

You might miss a day of sailing in January... but the odds favor a high wind event over the chance of a sailing day in mid winter.

At our moorage we preach the virtue of removal of RF headsails every winter, and about 70% of the boats do so. One of the ones that did not just had major damage done to his RF genny a couple nights ago with the winds hit 30+ knots for hours.

I have been removing the headsail and main each season for over 20 years. New sails are expensive.

Best,
LB

higgs · Dec 19, 2010

Re: Winterize Roller Furling Jibssail, or leave up?

I have seen RF jibs become unfurled in high winds. I think if you wrap your jib up tight so that wind cannot get under the folds, you will lessen the chances of a problem.

Prime Time · Dec 19, 2010

Inspection

Besides saving the UV exposure, its nice to remove and inspect the head attachment for chafe. My sailmaker tells me the strap attachments seem to only last about 3 seasons.

timvg · Dec 19, 2010

Re: Winterize Roller Furling Jibssail, or leave up?

We have never had ours unfurl, including several years in Seattle with many 40 plus knot storms. But we always leave the sheets running thru their blocks, back to their respective winches and pulled in tight.

I've seen many people roll their sheets around the furled sail and then coil up the excess. This makes it very easy for the wind to unwrap your jib.

gettinthere · Dec 19, 2010

Re: Winterize Roller Furling Jibssail, or leave up?

I had 70mph plus winds twice in the summer of 09 at the dock. No issues with the rolled headsail. I give the jibsheets several turns around the sail and then lock off the furling line. It hasn't moved at all.

firehoser75 · Dec 19, 2010

Remove the Sail to give it the longest life

Islander,
Yes you can leave the sail on, as advised ensure it is furled on tightly with the sheets back to their respective winches and locked off with tension on the sheets. The sheets must be wrapped around the furled sail several times and the furling line well secured with no slack in it.
However, with that being said, if something were to go wrong, and the sail unfurled as several boaters in my marina experience every year, it means a replacement sail is needed. Also, leaving your sail "out in the elements" can increase not only UV damage, but will lead to more mold and mildew growth. For all the extra time it takes, take it down and give it a good inspection for damage, repair small problems before they become big ones, and maybe give the sail a good wash. Fold up carefully and loosely after it has dried and store in a warm dry location out of sunlight for next season. Your sail will last longer, look better, and probably perform better.

Just my opinion,
Tom

catsailor · Dec 19, 2010

If you fear unwinding--which will not happen if you can wind the jib sheet around the furled jib a few turns--you can also wind the spinnaker halyard around the sail a few turns in a counter direction.

Do not try to take sails on or off in very cold weather--anything below 45F--or your are risking damage to windows (cracks). Even without windows, there is more risk of damage on a cold day than it is worth.

Do not move dodgers or dodger windows in the cold either. In fact, be careful with all plastic.

zeehag · Dec 19, 2010

ileave my furled foresail up all the time-- would be drag to have to up and down it --is huge-- when i furl it, i make sure i have minimum 3 wraps of sheets around the system. we get 90+ mph winds here occasionally and over 60 kts frequently in winter-- no problems. my sheets a always ready to sail, as i reside on a mooring for the moment-- and needs to be ready to go if need be.

wonkodsane · Dec 19, 2010

Took mine down Saturday not far from catsailor, about 36 degrees, but absolutely no wind and the sun was out while I was doing it. My yard won't haul without the RF removed and I'm hoping to get her out of the water Tuesday. Have checked the sail over and no ill effects, though I doubt if I'll wait this late again.

Joe · Dec 20, 2010

I'd take it down. Unless you have one of those halyard in the foil types like CDI I can't see how much of a problem it is. Besides your sail, leaving your sheets out in the elements all winter long can't be good for them either.

Oldhokie64 · Dec 20, 2010

Tale of woe

I left mine on the roller secured with two bungee chords and on a lift. This was middle Chessapeak (lower Potomac) in a hurricane hole. The wind snapped both bungees and the sail is in tatters.
Anyone have a 272-135% to sell?

jerry · Dec 20, 2010

I have done both

Leave it on or off. My jib is now 8 years old usually I leave it on but every year I do take it down to inspect it for any damage. The only damage I have found is part of the thread that holds the suncover on needs repair. Then I remove and take it home to restich. The sail itself is in excellent condition and all the threads in the sail are also in excellent condition. This indicates to me that the suncover is doing it's job. When I leave the boat I have some some small straps with clip buckles that I clip above and below the clew in addition to wraping excess sheet around the sail several turns as insurance to keep the jib from unfurling. We have had up to 90 mph winds and I have never had any damage from it. Also, consider that the uv light is much less in the winter than in the summer unless you live in the south. My sail is a dacron sail and I don't have a clue how the polymer sails would hold up. My boat is 2 hours away and I Love to sail any day the temp is halfway decent. (like today with temps in the low 50's):dance:

Barnacle Bill · Dec 20, 2010

If you aren't going to sail your boat for some time, I recommend taking the sail off (you lazy.....ehem ;-) ) First of all, sails that are rolled up for long periods of time will get some memory being in that position and you can get a natural unwanted curve especially in the luff. Secondly, moisture can get within the rolls of the sails and then create mold and a stained sail. In addition, when you pull the sail down, you can inspect it and do any needed stitching to it as well as inspect the halyard, splice, shackle and if your upper swivel takes lubrication, that is a good place to lubricate it (on the deck and not at the masthead). So....that's my 2 cents.

COOL · Dec 20, 2010

I concur with Bill above. It is a good idea to get in the practice
of removing a roller furling sail if you will be away from the
boat for a length of time or will be some distance from the
boat. Two people working in concert can drop and fold a
furling sail in less than ten minutes, and can rehoist it in
five minutes. It will give you piece of mind to know your
sail is not going to come unfurled in a storm and be destroyed.
Every day that a sail spends in the sun, even with a UV cover,
shortens its lifespan. Sails do not deteriorate when they are
down below.

Ron20324 · Dec 20, 2010

I'm surprised no one suggested a "sleeve" over the sail. Really, just a long tube of fabric, it is hoisted by another halyard so it encloses the rolled sail like a sheath.

Rick486 · Dec 20, 2010

Islander36Kairos said:
We are 1st year sailboat owners and are debating between us (my wife and I) of the need to remove our jibsail from it's rollar furling, (just newly installled in early June), or just leave it up as alot of other sailors (about 50% in our marina) do all year long? If we do get a nice "January thaw", we'd really like to be able to sail. We are located in the middle Chesapeake Bay region Opinions??

No offense but why not just take it down and fold and store below. Takes 10 minutes. If you wish to go sailing, bend it on. Takes 10 minutes. What am I missing?

wonkodsane · Dec 20, 2010

Rick486 said:
No offense but why not just take it down and fold and store below. Takes 10 minutes. If you wish to go sailing, bend it on. Takes 10 minutes. What am I missing?

It was a fast removal for me on my Hood Seafurl, but hoisting it isn't as easy, that boltrope can be finicky depending on the wind.

I still recommend taking it down for the winter.