furling line tensioner needed

[dancamp009]

I've searched everywhere for ideas on how to put pressure on my furling line (without a partner on board) when unfurling my head sail so the furling line doesn't furl too loosely around the drum causing major snagging problems when I try to refurl the sail.
If I have a partner on board, I tell him/her to hold a little pressure on the furling line as I unfurl the sail. But without a helper I have to do both at the same time.
I did try buying one of those special ratchet type blocks that supposedly put pressure in one direction when using it, but that didn't work as withing little time the line just slid through the block and the clicking noise and tensioning disappeared.
I've heard about wrapping the furling line one or two wraps around a winch but that puts too much pressure on the line and I have release it and back to hand tensioning it.
I'm looking for some sort of big roller drum like on a fishing rod that can be adjusted to the exact tension I need. I suppose I could hook up a fishing real some place on the boat and tie it to the furling line far away, but that seems like a big hassle.
Doesn't anybody make or sell some sort of big drum that allows tension to be adjusted for this sort of situation?
thank you for any help

[Vasco]

I just put the furling line around a cleat and ease it out as I pull on the jib sheet. No need for anything fancy.

[nigel1]

Something similar to Rick, a couple of turns on a secondary winch, then pull the genoa sheet, after a short while, the genoa/jib should start to unfurl itself with the wind, then you can concentrate on easing out the furling line. I do it bit by bit, let out a little furling line, then lock it off, tension the sheet, then ease out more furling line, lock off, tenssion sheet, and so on. Takes a bit more time, but its all kept under control.

[Cheechako]

I had a small dedicated winch for furling. one wrap helps, but as you said, you still need to release some. It's a great idea for a product! Just a smallish winch with a friction clutch like a windlass has. Methinks getting the friction to stay perfect is an issue. You need a small electric 2 way capstan.

[dancamp009]

thanks for your suggestions. I know simple is better but the cleat and winch wrapping suggestions haven't worked for me in the past. My old Hood SeaFurl drum is really sensitive. I guess I'm back to a fishing reel with fairleads for the furling line until something better comes along. I just hate to have to deal with all that every time I want to work the jib single handed.
Where are the clever inventers when you need them?

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by dancamp009

thanks for your suggestions. I know simple is better but the cleat and winch wrapping suggestions haven't worked for me in the past. My old Hood SeaFurl drum is really sensitive. I guess I'm back to a fishing reel with fairleads for the furling line until something better comes along. I just hate to have to deal with all that every time I want to work the jib single handed.
Where are the clever inventers when you need them?

Well if you really want to spend money on something that's not needed buy a Walder boom brake and coil the furling line through the worm screw, enough wraps to give you the required tension. The small one should do, around $300.

[rtbates]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I had a small dedicated winch for furling. one wrap helps, but as you said, you still need to release some. It's a great idea for a product! Just a smallish winch with a friction clutch like a windlass has. Methinks getting the friction to stay perfect is an issue. You need a small electric 2 way capstan.

OR a free hand... Like others I pull the jib sheet with one hand and hold friction on the furling line with the other...

Helps to have self tailers...

[rtbates]

Originally Posted by dancamp009

thanks for your suggestions. I know simple is better but the cleat and winch wrapping suggestions haven't worked for me in the past. My old Hood SeaFurl drum is really sensitive. I guess I'm back to a fishing reel with fairleads for the furling line until something better comes along. I just hate to have to deal with all that every time I want to work the jib single handed.
Where are the clever inventers when you need them?

They work for Harken!

[Cotemar]

dancamp009,

Put the furling line on your deck and use your foot to apply the needed pressure.
Has worked for me for years now

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

dancamp009,

Put the furling line on your deck and use your foot to apply the needed pressure.
Has worked for me for years now

Won't work for me, no shoes!

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Won't work for me, no shoes!

You're just not in touch with your inner monkey!

[TheOffice]

Hold the sheet and furling line in the same hand. As you pull on the sheet you will release the furling line. Do the opposite to tension the sheet while you furl. No gear needed!

[knottygurl]

couple wraps around the winch backwards ( so it clicks with the pull ) and then put the line outside the pushpit and into cockpit, this will give some added tension and allow a good even pull. I have a few times just wrapped the winch and around the back side of the cleat and then drapped in the water, the weight of getting wet and pulling it up and around the cleat have had great tension and both seem to work for me.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by knottygurl

couple wraps around the winch backwards ( so it clicks with the pull ) and then put the line outside the pushpit and into cockpit, this will give some added tension and allow a good even pull. I have a few times just wrapped the winch and around the back side of the cleat and then drapped in the water, the weight of getting wet and pulling it up and around the cleat have had great tension and both seem to work for me.

Very dangerous practice having lines in the water, even if the engine is not running.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Won't work for me, no shoes!

Thats how I do it. Bare feet. No worries