What kind of headsail

[kennyarmes]

I have a headsail that has a wire in it which attaches to a drum and a swivel at the top of the mast and it attaches to the head stay anybody have any idea what it is called


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[boatnerd]

Could be an old school Merriman style furling jib. They usually used a jib with wire rope luff that attached behind the forestay.

[savoir]

Plenty of jibs had a wire luff before foils were invented. The sail sounds like a regular jib, just a little old.

[gjordan]

A regular jib would not have a drum and a swivel. Is it set just aft of the normal headstay? That would lean toward the Merriman gear that was already mentioned. If it is Merriman, the bearings that should be replaced every few years are very inexpensive at a regular bearing house. A photo would tell a lot. _____Grant.

[gjordan]

Another thought. Is the drum and swivel bronze? That would really lean toward Merriman. ____Grant.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Most likely the sail is staysail of some type. Possibly even a wind seeker for super light air. When trying to use a genoa, with it's heavy cloth, is futile.
Or perhaps a "tall boy" staysail that's used in conjunction with a spinnaker. Though the former's more likely, as staysails used with spinnakers are usually set back from the headstay about 30-45% of one's J measurement.

Pics of the gear, & more description of the sail(s) would help. But other than it possibly being some of the Merriman hardware already mentioned, it could be some Mariner furling gear. As I have some of that ancient stuff (Mariner), that's exactly as you describe. Some of which I've used it fly staysails as, well as loose luffed jibs. Think of it as an alternative to a 2nd headstay.
Pretty much, it's the forerunner to this kind of gear Harken

The wire bail which is on the units to connect them to the headstay, is most likely there to stop the drum from rotating. Thus keeping the feeder arm for the line in the proper position.
Though again, without pics...

[Schooner Chandlery]

The old style wire luff furlers look alot like the new ones. They've been around since the 1870's or so. There's a drawing here on this product page showing a traditional wire luff furler (Merriman is one out of production American brand, Wykeham Martin is another (UK) brand still being made)

[kennyarmes]

No it is not Bronze at the top it looks like it's all stainless steel and part of that swivels is attached to my head stay via 2 u shaped pieces of metal so the swivel will connect and ride up the head stay to the top of the mast


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[kennyarmes]

Also My head sail is 150%


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[kennyarmes]

I only have a picture of the bottom drum right now it attaches to the deck


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[savoir]

That is just an old style furler. The early versions did not use a foil because they hadn't been invented yet. Should you ever decide to spend the money you can buy a new furler and foil that will fit the forestay.

[kennyarmes]

It works fine I was just wondering what kind it was and I actually thinking a bout making it a cutter and like the ease of use and maintenance free except spraying a little oil on it twice a year


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[kennyarmes]

Here is what I have


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