'Boats' Jib furler attachment

[stuendan]

I noted with interest a comment by "BOAT" on another thread that he had discovered a jib furler attachment that, I assume, looks after the furler and keeps it clear of the deck while rigging/derigging. Any desciptions/details anyone? Also, has anyone devised a means of pulling on the furler to attach it to the forestay? The manual process seems to need three hands - one to hold on to pulpit, one to pull on furler, and one to attach the pin! Please note that my rigging/derigging is usually a single handed operation.

[JoeG]

This is where it was discussed.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 14#p256591

[sunshinecoasting]

I will watch this thread with interest. I am reasonably new to my but so far the one pain in the set up process is attaching than dang furler to the forestay, I am just not heavy or strong enough to pull on the furler/jib while putting the pin in, it is definitely a two person job and three makes it a treat but I want to be able to go sailing on my own and this is the one thing that stops me at the moment, the rest of the mast raising I am finding quite easy.

I am considering having a separate forestay cable from the bow rail to near the top of mast that simply has a cable tightener with hook on it so I can pull the mast up loosely and then tighten the cable tightener until the furler to forestay is reached easily, the advantage of this might also be leaving the secondary forestay attached but loosened off as a back up in case the furler cable or forestay bracket breaks which would save the mast coming down in to the cockpit missing all on board except me of course. Any thoughts on this idea? is it a bad idea for some reason? Thanks, Dennis.

[yukonbob]

The second forestay will interfere with your headsail as pointed out in other threads unless the second forestay has a new placement. All this extra stuff to attach the forestay? Why not unpin the furler and loosen the turnbuckle then re-tighten? Takes two min and you don't risk damaging your furling drum.

[sunshinecoasting]

Thanks for the quick reply Bob but I am going to need a little more info than that, I am VERY new to this sailing game....... I have a CDI flex furler, I have never had it apart so are you saying there is a turnbuckle inside the furler that is easy to reach and adjust during set up? If so, please give me some more basic instructions. Oh and yes, i was considering putting the second forestay a foot or so higher than the existing fitting somewhere half way between current forestay bracket and top of mast. Thanks, Dennis.

[yukonbob]

Good on the second forestay. Look into Highlanders posts, I'm pretty sure he has technical specs on how and where to install. As for the furler, grab a digital camera take a lot of pics and take apart your furler. It's not complicated, and once you take it apart and put it back together…do it again. Most anything on them can be fixed with some rope and wire. If yours is similar to the CDIFF2...Off the top of my head there is a pin and ring ding on the drum and one more on the luff…undo and slide the sail & luff up on the forestay away from the drum…this will expose the turnbuckle. The hardest part is keeping the works from sliding back down. I've heard suggestions on putting a clamp on the forestay, I wouldn't use vice grips, but maybe a quick clamp with rubber faces. The turnbuckle will give you 3-4 inches. There is a tiny cotter pin if I remember…I only rig two or three times a year max and am awaiting new shrouds before I step the mast this year. Hopefully the parts come in this week. I'll take some pics and give you better feedback.

[Hardcrab]

Stuendan,
Your first question has been answered by JoeG with a really simple tool.
As for your second question about an easier way to pin the forestay,
I've seen a simple method, but it requires the boat to be on the trailer.

Tie a 3/8" or so (dock line) just above and around the fuler drum and long enough to tie around the tow drawbar close to the hitch, semi tightly.
Crank the mast raising pole pretty tight. Granted, this is somewhat nerve racking, but it does help to get the holes closer to pin.

You will need to be standing on the trailer drawbar as you attempt to pin.
As you muscle the furler close by hand, simply step on the cheater line to shorten it's effective length as it brings the holes into line to pin.
You will have to experiment with the cheater line length and where to tie it on the drawbar to get it right, but it's worth the effort. (Think of it as an extension of the forestay, in a straight line, all the way down to the drawbar).

Your leg becomes the powerful "third hand" taking all the load while you monkey it into place with your freed up hands.
Simple to demonstrate, but harder to explain in words.
I hope my 'splaining is clear.
It works well once you get the hang of it.

I've even heard of folks using the trailer winch to a loop tied around the furler, and just crank the handle it to pin.
I have never tried that way, but it seems logical as it's doing the same thing that stepping on a line is doing, although in a less flexable way.

IMHO, I'd save changing the turnbuckle length until you are setting the final tune (thereby affecting the shrouds), and not as a method to pin the furler.

There are much easier ways to skin a cat.
And when you do mess with it, don't forget to cotter pin/wire it so it can't back off during normal furling.

[yukonbob]

A short length of rope and the trailer winch works well if its on the trailer as well. Or the same length of rope with a foot loop over the anchor roller. But if you're adjusting the turnbuckle anyways, why not save the hassle imo.

[stuendan]

Thanks heaps JoeG and Hardcrab - both solutions are great!