Problem With My Furler

[flink]

My roller furler is giving me fits. It tends to jam about 75% of the time now when I'm iether furling or un-furling it. Sometimes I can get it to release at certain points by tightening or loosening the jib halyard. It also looks like it's getting twisted pretty tight up top.
I'm sailing single-handed and don't have anyone to raise me up the mast to have a look.
I'm assuming many of you have had this issue and can point me to the source of this problem.
Any help will be appreciated.

I hope like hell this isn't going to cost me another grand. That seems to be a magic number for some reason...

[Sailmonkey]

What's getting twisted up top? the halyard?

if it's the halyard, try raising the tack of the sail by the amount available at the top

[Vasco]

Each furling system seems to have its unique small problems. What make is yours?

[flink]

The sail looks to be twisting really tight up high (about the 1/3rd or so).

It's a Harken system.

[flink]

about the "top" 1/3rd

[Sailmonkey]

When you furl are you pointing into the wind or running deep from it? I've had the best luck furling off of the wind.

[flink]

it jams if i'm sitting at anchor, running off, beating, etc., I've tried everything short of going up the mast to see what's up.

[Vasco]

Biggest problem with Harkens is halyard wrap. The swivel must be hauled up as high as possible. If you're not a full hoist put a pennant on the tack of the sail. Also check to see if the swivel is turning properly. With Harkens it's seldom the bearings in the drum, they're open and should be flushed with fresh water. Also too much halyard tension makes them hard to furl.

[flink]

Thanks Vasco,

I checked the bearings in the drum and thay ren't the issue. I think the halyard wrap IS my problem.

I'm going to try the pennant on the tack.

Thanks for the tip.

[Savanna]

Hi Flink, My furler used to jam when I was unfurling the sail and I discovered that this was due to the rope which goes around the furler drum not being led onto the drum at more or less right angles. My rope came up from an angle from below the drum causing the rope to bunch on the bottom of the drum and quickly getting jammed. The solution that worked for me was to have a guide attached to the furler which leads the rope onto the drum at more or less a right angle. No problems since I had this done.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Biggest problem with Harkens is halyard wrap. The swivel must be hauled up as high as possible. If you're not a full hoist put a pennant on the tack of the sail. Also check to see if the swivel is turning properly. With Harkens it's seldom the bearings in the drum, they're open and should be flushed with fresh water. Also too much halyard tension makes them hard to furl.

Indeed.

The angle between the halyard & the headstay must be between 7 to 10 degrees. Halyard swivel must be near top of foils and headstay must be tight.
If not, you’ll need a “restrainer”

➥ http://www.harken.com/pdf/Furling_Qu...ice_online.pdf

➥ http://www.harken.com/pdf/4410.pdf

➥ http://www.harken.com/pdf/4416.pdf



See also ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...rap-42912.html

[flink]

Just an FYI guys:

I had someone raise me up my mast to have a look-see at the problem up top.

Sure enough, the halyard was wrapped around the headstay. I held the halyard strait while the guys that raised me up the mast pulled out the genny. I only needed about 2 1/2 more inces to prevent the wrapping. Put 2 small shackles in at the tack to make up the difference until I can get a pennant made.

It seems to work ok for now.

Thanks a million for your advice. You guys came through again!

[daddle]

A pennant at the tack?? That's less than optimal. The pennant should be placed between the head of the sail and the upper swivel.

Other tips:

* Make sure the swivel spins freely under load.

* Keep the halyard properly tensioned. If it was slacked off for sail trim, tighten it before furling.

* Sometimes the jams are caused by the line jamming in the drum. Keep tension on the furling line while unfurling. Especially near the end.

* Send a 40kg gal up to the masthead to check things out. Far easier than climbing up yourself.

The photo shows a masthead arrangement that works perfectly even though there is a length of halyard parallel to the foil. Probably should add a short strop there.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by daddle

A pennant at the tack?? That's less than optimal. The pennant should be placed between the head of the sail and the upper swivel.

.

For a cruiser a pennant at the tack works fine, it raises the foot of the sail a little bit and it's easier to see what's out there. I've done it for over 20 years on my CS36M. All you're trying to do is get the swivel up a little higher. One added advantage is that you don't have to drop the sail to do it. A fast, easy fix as the OP has found.