In Mast Furler Problems

[SalishDreamer]

The boat I recently bought has in-mast furling for the main. This is a first for me. The boat was bought in as-is condition, and the PO is unable to help with any issues.

The Furler is driven by an electric motor with a mechanical backup, but I can't seem to get it to unfurl using either. I'm not sure if it's an issue with the system or a lack of personal knowledge (or some combination of the two). There is a lever under the boom (photo attached) that I thought might disengage the motor, but it doesn't change the situation in either position. The lever is very hard to move.

Any thoughts on what might be the issue, or suggestions of what I could try?

Thanks!

[psk125]

Could it be an electrical problem, with the lever NOT disengaging the motor because there’s no power to it? Or perhaps the motor is engaged and can’t be disengaged without a switch being on, like a solenoid? A picture of the furler might help someone to identify the make/model for you, so you could get pointed in the right direction.

[SalishDreamer]

I will try to play more with the electrical side of it, and get more photos tomorrow. The switch on the panel that energizes the motor is labeled "stoway" if that means anything to anyone.

[SalishDreamer]

Also, to amplify, the motor does energize when the switch is actuated, it just doesn't move the sail. It almost seems like it isn't strong enough to overcome whatever force is holding the furler in place.

[CarlF]

The Stoway furlers were made by Hood - a long time ago

There's a reasonable chance that the sail is jammed in the mast because it was improperly furled. Be careful to not burn out that motor.

You might try these guys for help.

https://indalorigging.com/hood-furling-systems/

[SalishDreamer]

This is the best lead I've had so far by a long shot! For some reason Google wasn't helping by searching Stoway. I'll be checking out these guys for sure!

[jt11791]

It's probably not the sail, when sails jam, the is still some rotation in the system and it sounds like yours isn't moving at all.

If the system has not been cared for and used in a while it could be one or more frozen bearings in the furler. I'm not familiar with that furler in particular, but I'd start taking things apart to discover which part of the system is stuck. The lever that is hard to move might be a good place to start.

[Lost Horizons]

Have you opened the access panels on the mast to check what may be visible?

[NYSail]

What actually happens when you try and unfurl the sail??

[Nicholson58]

We have a Hood Stowaway. Indeed a DC motor. Ours has an overload that sounds an alarm and drops the motor relay. The lever is the release clutch. The down facing socket is probably for a manual drive. The clutch may not be releasing.

If a flag halyard or other line got wound in, the thing will jam. If the sail is bagged out or poorly wound it will jam. When you figure out how to make it try, you will need to put the clew outhaul on a winch to coax out the jam.

[robwilk37]

im remembering a similar system on the tayana. we didnt actually "motor" out the the sail, when you release the clutch you still had to physically pull the sail out with the outhaul...

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by robwilk37

im remembering a similar system on the tayana. we didnt actually "motor" out the the sail, when you release the clutch you still had to physically pull the sail out with the outhaul...

Not so with the Stowaway. We motor out and winch the outhaul. Controls are in the. Cockpit. The clutch is at the mast. The clutch releases the motor but it does not free-wheel. The manual controls are a last resort as far as we can tell.

BTW. There is a bearing on top of the mast that can fail. There is a tensioner at the bottom of the in-mast foil. There are a lot of other bits that can crater this machine. I am in Trinidad now dealing with some of them. It is entirely possible for screws along the foil to back out and jam the halyard car. Hope the OP does not experience this.

The Hood Stowaway was one of the first in mast furlers. Gen One has issues.

[SalishDreamer]

Hello all,

Thanks for the replies. When I try to unfurl the sail it does not move at all. I can access the motor and the whole base of the furler assembly from the access panels and will be looking into them more this week. Unfortunately I was not able (or willing? [emoji2369]) to work on it this weekend due to gusty/rainy weather. I will post back with progress I make.