Furling Main

[Patbrogan]

We got a Mac26M with a roller furler for the main. I can't find any instructions on how it the furling line should be led to allow it to furl. Happy to send a photo but don't know 1) which direction it should furl, and 2) how the line that goes through the boom should be connected to the turning spindle and 3) if the foot of the sail should be cleted to the hardware or just tied to the end of the line that furls. I welcome any help.

[Jimmyt]

Look over these and tell me if you need more. Sail is attached to the furling drum, loose footed.

[confluence]

I have been thinking of investing in one ,or building a fuller
ANY ideas??
confluence

[yukonbob]

You'd think the furling line would spool onto the drum as you raise the sail with the main halyard. Those blocks attached to the boom may be for something else as it wouldn't make sense to direct the furling line forward away from the cockpit? Maybe one block them to a cam cleat or something? Maybe a pic of the whole boom both sides showing most or all hardware?

[Jimmyt]

It does wind the furling line onto the drum as you raise the sail.

The furling line leads forward to the mast, so it can then drop to a deck turning block and be led back to the cockpit. The PO put the cam-cleat on the boom, in lieu of on deck at the cockpit for some reason. I just haven't changed it yet. Still trying to figure out all of the things I want to change before I start drilling fiberglass. I like the infinite reefing, but there are some design compromises that I'm not crazy about.

[KootsChewt]

It does wind the furling line onto the drum as you raise the sail.

The furling line leads forward to the mast, so it can then drop to a deck turning block and be led back to the cockpit. The PO put the cam-cleat on the boom, in lieu of on deck at the cockpit for some reason. I just haven't changed it yet. Still trying to figure out all of the things I want to change before I start drilling fiberglass. I like the infinite reefing, but there are some design compromises that I'm not crazy about.

The we just recently bought includes the same roller furling main as you seem to have (judging on the photos you posted above). Mine also has a cam-cleat on the boom, and the extra line just coils up on the deck or strung back and coiled in the cockpit. We've only had the boat out for 2 days (and have now put it away for the winter), but my wife and I had to work together to lower the sail (my halyard goes into a cam-cleat on the mast). We've found it pretty awkward; she's pulling on the reefing line from the cockpit while I'm on the deck trying to keep a bit of tension on the halyard and helping to roll the sail and attempt to keep it from binding towards the mast. The end of our roller is attached to a yoke bolted to the mast above the boom attachment point (unlike yours which seems mounted to a bracket on the boom itself).

Anyways, we are looking for assistance on how to make this process easier, as so far we are finding it pretty annoying to drop the sail. So far we've picked up from the forums that we need to be pulling on the leach while rolling, but I don't think we'll be able to do that unless we run the halyard back to the cockpit through some blocks. I may as well run the furling line through blocks and guides to the cockpit as well and move the cam-cleat off the mast.

Any other thoughts on how to operate this set-up successfully?

[Jimmyt]

I can stand at the front of the cockpit and work the halyard cam cleat and the furling line. The sail tends to move forward on the drum as you bring it down - occasionally binding. If you tug on it as it comes down, you can keep it rolling ok - just pause and pull the sail aft on the drum a few times as you bring it down. Ideally, it would have come with an auxiliary track that attaches to the mast so the bolt rope was properly aligned with the track. I bought a can of sailkote for the track and bolt rope, but have not yet tried it (working too much right now). My problem is binding while raising the main - I've had pretty good luck dousing it. Lazy jack and slides might be easier to deal with - though reefing won't be quite as convenient or as variable. I'm still trying to figure out whether to debug it or change... if I have an epiphany, I'll let you know. Good luck.

[KootsChewt]

Jimmyt, my mast track currently does not have any kind of feeder, so I think that's why the previous owner left the halyard at the mast, so he could feed the sail into the track. The PO did buy a sail feeder, though didn't install it, so I plan to install it next spring. (http://ca.binnacle.com/p3266/SPINLOCK-R ... _info.html)

Once I've got that on, I'll see if the raising process is any better, and I'm hoping the tugging on the leech will help the dousing side of things. If we get that sorted, I'll run the lines aft and call it a day. I do like the idea of the furling main (esp. since my sail only has one reef point), but only if I can get it functional.

[Jimmyt]

I've got a binnacle. Let me know if you need a pic of where mine is mounted.

[KootsChewt]

I've got a binnacle. Let me know if you need a pic of where mine is mounted.

Oh you already have one and it is binding when raising? Bummer, I was hoping it would feed it right in. Well it probably still works better than what I have to do now. Yes I would love a photo whenever you get a chance.

[Jimmyt]

I'm hoping the sailkote will help. I have friends that say it will.

[Estate Sail]

I have a roller furler main that gave me trouble binding while raising it. I tried sailcote without much difference. I finally measured the thickness of the sail fabric just inside the bolt rope and adjusted the channel guide to just slightly wider than the sail thickness. Since doing this the sail goes up without binding. Before doing this, you could see how the bolt rope was getting caught in the mast channel adjuster. Once it was properly adjusted, I drilled a third hole in the adjuster bracket to ensure it would not slip.

[Jimmyt]

Estate Sail,
Do you have picture of your setup? Is it different from mine? Sounds like you have it dialed in - congrats!

[KootsChewt]

My furling main sail has a full batten at the top, two partial battens, and then another full batten just below the original reef point (at about 6' from the foot). Is that full batten necessary for the furler? Can I get rid of it and go back to a partial batten? I've got some pics at home I can upload if that is helpful.

[Estate Sail]

Jimmyt,
Here are pictures of how I solved the jamming main while raising my main roller curler. The fabric thickness inside the bolt rope is 0.120 inches. I set the mast guide at 0.150 inches. I secured the guide so it won't move with a third screw.file:///Users/rogerpatry/Desktop/sail%20guide/DSCN0271%DSCN0274.DSCN0277.JPG