In-Mast Furling Issue - piece pulling away after jam

[JoeDoc]

Hey guys,

Hoping you can help me diagnose/fix an issue that popped up this weekend. We experienced a jam on our in-mast furling while sailing. Was able to get it furled...enabling us to safely get to our anchorage...and after waiting for the wind to die down......spent about an hour "negotiating" with it to get it back out. Ended up dropping the main completely (once fully out) and re-raising to ensure that I had it all through the track properly.

Anyway, realized after I was done that a piece was pulling away from the slot where the mainsail enter the furling track (pic attached). In the right wind, it flies enough off the mast that I was afraid to sail back to our marina.....thinking that I might puncture or tear the main on a tack.

Does anyone know what this piece is called and/or if it is an easy fix? I'll be heading up the mast sometime this week to explore further and would appreciate taking any of your advice/guidance up with me. Thanks guys.

[requiem]

Did your sail have vertical battens? If so, does it still have the same number of them?

[JoeDoc]

Originally Posted by requiem

Did your sail have vertical battens? If so, does it still have the same number of them?

Thanks reqiuem, no vertical battens on my main.

This piece is definitely attached to the mast and fits over the edge of the slot where the mainsail enters the mast. It almost looks decorative...but I'm sure it provides protection when furling. The piece runs all the way down the mast to just above the boom.

I wish I was more fluent with part terms to better describe.

[requiem]

Ah, I see. I've never encountered a furling main with such a guard, only the plain metal.

What you have sounds similar to this part:
Furling main groove guard Z600-1600E 1 piece 8': https://www.usspars.com/product/?part-id=1516

(Apparently adhesive is required to fix it in position.)

[JoeDoc]

Originally Posted by requiem

Ah, I see. I've never encountered a furling main with such a guard, only the plain metal.

What you have sounds similar to this part:
Furling main groove guard Z600-1600E 1 piece 8': https://www.usspars.com/product/?part-id=1516

(Apparently adhesive is required to fix it in position.)

requiem, you are the man. "Groove guard" is exactly the term I was hoping/looking for but couldn't quite work out.

Googling this has led me to some good discussions with potential solutions like (https://forums.sailboatowners.com/th...l-slot.176786/) amongst others. Thanks.

I'll be heading up the mast this week either with adhesive to re-attach or with some muscle to just remove the whole thing. Thanks again.

[daletournier]

What's the groove guard meant to achieve?

[sail4677]

We had the plastic guard on our Beneteau 473
Constantly caused problems furling in and out.
We put a main with vertical battens in an was forced to instep the mast, remove the guards and clean and sand the opening smooth. Big diy job. 5 years later very glad we did. The guys at USSpars are fantastic.

[Steve Bean]

Could this groove guard be intended to quiet the howling noise caused by wind at certain angles on in-mast furling boats not allowed to swing to the wind? The are a couple of these noise makers in my harbor.

[sail4677]

We were told it was an anti-chafe guard for the sail.

[FULLCIRCLE331]

On my Beneteau 331 I was trying to get a main with battens, I didn't have enough of a gap in the slot. Doyle told me to take the plastic guides off and it would not hurt anything. Unfortunately I still didn't have the gap needed. Didn't feel like grinding the slots open.

[NYSail]

I have the plastic guide. US Spar.... protects the sail when fueling. Mine works fine on my beneteau 423.

Good luck
Greg