Advice on roller furler (or replacement)

[VinnyVincent]

I think where a lot of my confusion is coming from is the fact that my boat did not come standard with a furler and it was an upgrade, so the manual makes no mention of it.

I have also checked online and can't seem to find any technical info on the facnor LS 130 furler, let alone a manual.

I did notice there are two different slots inside the foil, so I am assuming it has the option to use two sizes. I suppose I could use a pair of calipers to measure the luff on my existing sail? Are they sized in Millimeters or Inches?

Finally what is this type of luff called? I have seem wire luff sails and rope luff...but this appears to be different and made is some type of synthetic material.
Sorry for the dumb/beginner questions, I am still learning a lot.

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by VinnyVincent

I have also checked online and can't seem to find any technical info on the facnor LS 130 furler, let alone a manual.

Here you go

Technical brochure - headsail furler - Facnor

[VinnyVincent]

Thanks Nigel! I had found that a while back and I never scrolled down to see that they were written in english as well

I'm reading through it now. It's actually extremely detailed. I wish I had looked at this sooner.

[nigel1]

The two slots in the foil will be the same size. I'm not sure what size of bolt rope they are for though. The manual does appear to neglect this useful bit of information.

[nigel1]

This webpage seems to suggest that bolt rope size is 5mm.
LS130 FACNOR - Sailmaker Online

[VinnyVincent]

Nigel, you're a god send.

Now I get to go shopping for a second sail

It's quite strange to me that it has two slots that are the same size. I wonder if it matters which one I use?

[nigel1]

Think the two slots are used more by the racing crowd. They can get a new headsail hoisted before dropping the one already in place.

[VinnyVincent]

Ahhh that makes sense. A little fancy for my needs, but it does seem to work really well not that my halyard has been installed correctly.

The facnor manual even shows the halyard restrainer that the riggers had to add to my mast. I wonder how they got by for so long without one(of course there's the other theory where they installed it and never sailed the boat)

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by VinnyVincent

Ahhh that makes sense. A little fancy for my needs, but it does seem to work really well not that my halyard has been installed correctly.

The facnor manual even shows the halyard restrainer that the riggers had to add to my mast. I wonder how they got by for so long without one(of course there's the other theory where they installed it and never sailed the boat)

That could well be, and why you had those troubles.

The luff grooves or slots are usually both the same size.

Any qualified sailmaker will know the size of what is called the LUFF TAPE on the sail for that particular furler. If you sail fits in the slots, bring the sail in with you and the sailmaker will know. If he doesn't, find another sailmaker.

For finding new sails, find the luff length and know the IJPE measurements for your boat.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by VinnyVincent

I wonder how they got by for so long without one(of course there's the other theory where they installed it and never sailed the boat)

Enough that the halyard was slackened or the sail stretched some.

The halyard restrainer is optional and may be abandoned when the halyard exit is in a place that does not call for one. It is all about the angle that the halyard forms with the foil. Too little angle, too little tension (or both) and hoooops you get a wrap.

If you force the wrap, you often make some or plenty damage around the top unit. You may actually undo the wire too.

When we got our boat, the forestay was damaged. I found how come and corrected only to do the same damage myself some 20k miles down the road caught in a bad squall right after a boatyard haulout. Guess which part I missed.

b.