Furler-how many turns?

[oztayls]

When we acquired our S&S 30, the genoa had been shredded in a storm and had been removed from the boat. We now have a new genoa and am wondering how many turns will be required on the furler when it comes time to install it? Currently the boat is on the hard getting some maintenance done and new standing and running rigging installed.

The genoa foot is 5.15m (16.9'). Is there a rule of thumb for this or is it trial and error? Any help will be much appreciated. It's an older style furler as per pic

[Mirage35]

Assuming the genoa is the largest foresail, just roll the furler up "all the way". You'll be sure to have enough and it won't cause any problem with smaller sails.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by AnglaisInHull

Assuming the genoa is the largest foresail, just roll the furler up "all the way". You'll be sure to have enough and it won't cause any problem with smaller sails.

He wants to buy the rope. How much does he need?

I don't know sh** about furlers so I can't tell him.

[oztayls]

OK, do I just load up the furler with as many turns as it will take? I have the old furler line so I could just put as many turns on as it will take, leaving about a foot of line as it leaves the clutch?

[MicHughV]

Get some other rope on the boat, with a similar diameter....ie, anchor rode, sheet line, etc, and wrap it around the furler with a few wraps...then turn the furler by hand, so as to furl the sail all the way, allowing a few more turns to wrap the sheet lines around the sail, say three or four times, to help keep the sail secure, and lead the rope back thru' your furler blocks and to a winch. Leave a little bit for handling...that's how much line you'll need.

Typically, most furlers have those metal arms around the furling drum to contain the furling line. You don't want to have the furling line so tightly packed around the drum to bind on those arms. It's judgement call that only you can make. If you measure as outlined above, but find the rope binds, maybe remove the original few wraps to create more space around the drum.

I don't know of any hard and fast formula to work this out, as each boat will require a slightly different setup.

[Mirage35]

Originally Posted by oztayls

OK, do I just load up the furler with as many turns as it will take? I have the old furler line so I could just put as many turns on as it will take, leaving about a foot of line as it leaves the clutch?

That's what I would do. Worst case if it somehow doesn't work you remove the sail and adjust. I find ours changes position a bit every time we change foresails, and I just add or remove a couple of turns if it's a problem.

[wholybee]

To some extent, it's trial and error. If you are able to furl the genoa without any rope attached, then put four or five turns on, then you should be ok. This might be very hard.

If you can't do that, then you can fill the drum with the sail off. Then bend on the sail, furl it, and after it's furled keep furling it to take out the extra turns, leaving 4 or 5. And the unwrap the sheets from the sail.

I don't like having more than I need because if the rope doesn't lay perfectly in some emergency when I furl in a hurry I don't want it to jam. But I also want 4 or 5 extra turns more than the minimum needed because if the sail furls under a load it will roll up tighter and need a few extra turns.

You might find after a few sails you need to add or remove a turn.

[ChrisJHC]

Originally Posted by oztayls

OK, do I just load up the furler with as many turns as it will take? I have the old furler line so I could just put as many turns on as it will take, leaving about a foot of line as it leaves the clutch?

If you have the old furler line, why don’t you use that one to start with?
It was presumably fine for the previous genoa.

If it works (and you want to replace it), just replace it with the same length.

If you think you need more or less then make the adjustment.

[mike d.]

We do about 10 raps ! rotating down to the angle of the furler, if you understand ! Our sails are 43 yrs old and still crisp,with covers ! When other boats have had their issues with blowing out, and or stress, we have never had an issue with the wind causing a problem, that should be the boat owners job to make sure all is secure ! Our out hauls, sheets start high about 12 ft off the deck and then wrap downward till there ar3e around ten wraps !

[oztayls]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

Get some other rope on the boat, with a similar diameter....ie, anchor rode, sheet line, etc, and wrap it around the furler with a few wraps...then turn the furler by hand, so as to furl the sail all the way, allowing a few more turns to wrap the sheet lines around the sail, say three or four times, to help keep the sail secure, and lead the rope back thru' your furler blocks and to a winch. Leave a little bit for handling...that's how much line you'll need.

Typically, most furlers have those metal arms around the furling drum to contain the furling line. You don't want to have the furling line so tightly packed around the drum to bind on those arms. It's judgement call that only you can make. If you measure as outlined above, but find the rope binds, maybe remove the original few wraps to create more space around the drum.

I don't know of any hard and fast formula to work this out, as each boat will require a slightly different setup.

OK, that makes sense. Many thanks for your help. Cheers!

[oztayls]

Originally Posted by ChrisJHC

If you have the old furler line, why don’t you use that one to start with?
It was presumably fine for the previous genoa.

If it works (and you want to replace it), just replace it with the same length.

If you think you need more or less then make the adjustment.

The line is somewhat degraded, hence being replaced. But yes, I will do that. I just don't know how many turns were used. I'll just put on the max and go from there

[oztayls]

Originally Posted by mike d.

We do about 10 raps ! rotating down to the angle of the furler, if you understand ! Our sails are 43 yrs old and still crisp,with covers ! When other boats have had their issues with blowing out, and or stress, we have never had an issue with the wind causing a problem, that should be the boat owners job to make sure all is secure ! Our out hauls, sheets start high about 12 ft off the deck and then wrap downward till there ar3e around ten wraps !

That's amazing. We have chosen to not go with sun protection on the genoa. Instead, we will have a zipped sock that we can hoist using the spinnaker halyard (masthead).

[AKA-None]

So not to be a spoil sport but is the sail going on exactly like what was there if not then you will have to figure out how long of furling line you need by basically trying one of the above mentioned methods

For mine I did try a like for like but was dissatisfied with the results and ended up splicing a smaller diameter line to furl with a larger diameter for handling

[oztayls]

Originally Posted by AKA-None

So not to be a spoil sport but is the sail going on exactly like what was there if not then you will have to figure out how long of furling line you need by basically trying one of the above mentioned methods

For mine I did try a like for like but was dissatisfied with the results and ended up splicing a smaller diameter line to furl with a larger diameter for handling

That may prove to be quite true. A smaller line around the furler might well be a good way to go.

[MicHughV]

Small diameter furling lines are tough to grab and pull is my big complaint about small diameter lines, but if you are good at splicing (I'm not) it's a worthy project for sure.

Some folks will lead their small diameter furling lines to a winch, which will likely address that problem.

The furling does need to be a high strength line as their will be quite a load on it.