New furler too difficult to furl

[Madwand]

Just had a new Harken ESP 1 and halyard retainer installed on my 89 Catalina 30. I have approximately 130% and 80% headsails. Installed the 80% for winter sailing in Gulfport, MS.

So furling was almost impossible with someone heading into wind and me pulling as hard as I could. Had to use the winch. I know that's wrong, but I shouldn't have to winch it. Right now the boat still has the crappy fairleads from the continuous line Hood reefer I had previously and I suspect I need the Harken Lead Block Kit to get less friction.

So is it likely that solves the problem, or was I doing something else wrong? My only furling experience is with my Hobie Tandem Island which has one and it can be a little difficult at times too. I can't imagine how difficult it will be to get the 130% furled...

[nigel1]

Simple things first, check the halyard tension, if it's too tight, that can cause the furler to bind, ease the halyard, and try furling.
Secondly, when on a mooring or at the dock, try furling the sail, but instead of pulling from down aft, pull on the furler line just aft of the furler drum, that might help rule out friction problems on the fairleads.

[Madwand]

It wound pretty easily at the dock when I installed it. The halyard does feel like it's tight enough to play a tune on. I will try loosening it next time I go back.

[Mirage35]

Definitely check the obvious first. Had one charter boat with a badly placed fairlead on the furler - had to send someone to the bow to pull the line directly at the furler, couldn't move it from the cockpit.

[Jim Cate]

too little tension on the forestay can add lots of drag, too. Do you have lots of forestay sag?

Jim

[Madwand]

I didnt really look for that, but there was nothing obvious when I looked up it.

[RaymondR]

If the halyard is not tight enough it might be wrapping onto the foil at the top.

[Madwand]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

If the halyard is not tight enough it might be wrapping onto the foil at the top.

Originally Posted by Madwand

Just had a new Harken ESP 1 and halyard retainer installed

Originally Posted by Madwand

The halyard does feel like it's tight enough to play a tune on.

It's not.

[UNCIVILIZED]

It rarely hurts to get a 2nd opinion from an experienced hand. Especially if said hand has even a minimum of rigging experience. However, don't tip him off to any problems prior to having him look things over. Simply ask him to inspect & test out your new furler. Let him draw his own conclusions, & then the two of you can compare notes.

[Madwand]

Got one of these on the way, gonna try that first. There are currently at least 5 points of friction the furling line passes through, that's got to be the problem.

[meirriba]

Try to turn the drum by hand - it should be possible without extreme effort.
Check the angle of the furling line at the exit from the drum to first lead. Should be as close to straight as possible.
If you can turn the drum by hand, no issue with the furler and forestay - so now pull on the furling line near the first lead that changes direction, on both sides of the block or eye or whatever is there. See if it still moves easily.
By steps go back towards cockpit until you isolate the problematic point.

[01kiwijohn]

One thing I have seen a lot of; not releasing the halyard tension, when putting the boat away, can result in those furler ball bearing becoming 'furler footballs'/ The they require an ungodly amount of effort to furl the sail with even just the lightest of wind loadss, as you may get when it is flogging as you try to roll it in.

[Madwand]

This one is brand new. I'll try to remember to slack it when I'm not using it.

[nelsmay]

Definitely look at the tension in your forestay. Any sag at all can jam the furler. I had a similar problem and tried to "Armstrong" it. Ended up shearing the furler foil just inside the furler drum. Not one of my smarter moves!
Took a few months to achieve through forcing the furler, now I have to either try to repair or replace. Good lesson though. When something doesn't seem to be working right...it's probably not. Pay attention and find out what the problem is before you make it worse.

[skipper53]

Sheet tension?