Furlex Roller Furling Bind

[ThomasBowie]

Seems I have some sort of binding with my Furlex roller furling on my '78 Cape Dory 25: I manually unrolled sail and it won't come down. Was able to re-furl, but won't let out again with jib sheets. Anything I can do short of taking a trip up the mast? (This was my first year putting foresail on furling after winter - clearly I did something wrong.) Standing rigging was new 2 years ago. Thanks!

[Calif.Ted]

I manually unrolled sail and it won't come down.

And released the jib halyard ?

Was able to re-furl, but won't let out again with jib sheets.

Try releasing tension on jib halyard if you haven't already.

[ThomasBowie]

Yes, released job halyard - even tried pulling sail down as I did last fall - won't budge!

Should I try manually unwinding sailing more?

[Calif.Ted]

Well, I'd take a long look thru the binos but you are probably going to have to go up. Halyard or upper swivel must be hung up on something, I'd do a little vigorous shaking from deck in the hope it was a minor hang-up. Like smacking a broken radio it may or may not help.

[Qayaq]

Halyard wrap?

[qwert]

Try tightening the headsail halyard then releasing it.

[Jim Cate]

Hmm... Furler won't turn, sail won't come down with halyard released... sure sounds like a wrapped halyard to me!

Jim

[ThomasBowie]

Indeed, discovered 2 tactical install errors on my part:

1. Used Port channel to run up sail; should be starboard channel

2. Didn't fully raise sail to the top; acute halyard angle to mast keeps top in place so bottom can spin freely

The rigger at my boatyard suggested taking off the sheet and winding the sail back around stay until it un-bound the halyard - just 3 times around did it.

Sail came down, greased top and bottom; re-wound the take up line; then used starboard channel and muscled it so sail edge was fully flush. Had to look at it a while to figure it out, but that's 'the fun' of sailing.

Wound in sail with ease. Lets out with ease. Yay!

Thanks for your help in understanding the basic issue: so many horror stories about need to replace stay - yikes; was freaking me out. My rigger gave me the theory, and then the license to execute, knowing I wouldn't harm anything - and it worked! The key: not forcing anything to turn. Could have been very costly.

(Proves the old strategy of tipping the boatyard crew whenever they do something for you - it's always worth the attention it buys when you need it!)