Advice Needed for Unusual Furler!

[Zagato]

The jib and stay-sail both have the same set up but I was expecting a shackle on both halyards but they are just rope. Do you really just tie them through the top spinner with a knot? What type of knot?

There is no bar between the seperate top spinner and bottom part of the furler, just the sail joining the two. I'm not sure how well it will furl back up but the previous owner didn't have any problems.

 

[sailorman]

http://www.schaefermarine.com/

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=schaefer+furling+gear&qpvt=schaefer+furling+gear&FORM=IGRE

 

[Zagato]

Thanks for that Sailorman

This is what I have http://www.furling.com/freeflying.html

but it doesn't give instructions, also says it has a wire and doesn't show my top spinner. They are not easy to call for advice. If no one else has this set up I'll send them an e-mail.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks for that Sailorman

This is what I have http://www.furling.com/freeflying.html

but it doesn't give instructions, also says it has a wire and doesn't show my top spinner. They are not easy to call for advice. If no one else has this set up I'll send them an e-mail.

Schaeffer have been a "Hobby Job" in the past, one agent lived 5 mls from us & worked from his garage.
Schaeffer is good gear though & have copied many good fetchers from major manufacturers

 

[ProDave]

Almost identical to the Barton furler I have on my boat (yours looks a bit bigger but same principle)

I just have a shackle through the jaws of the top swivel. There's a snap shackle on the end of my halyard that then clips over this shackle.

The most important thing with this system is getting a really good tension on the halyard.

 

[Zagato]

Thanks, as you say I think there should be some kind of shackle on the end.

 

[prv]

Looks like basically a re-working of the venerable Wykeham Martin (as I have on my boat) in modern materials.

The sail should incorporate a wire luff designed to take the torque. You shouldn't try to use this for reefing, it is a furler only, sail all the way out or all the way in (with two headsails this still gives you a choice of sail area).

I would have expected to find a shackle on the end of the halyard, but it's not really necessary. How would you fix the line to the shackle? A knot or an eye splice? Well, just do the same directly onto the swivel. It has a removable pin, so if you choose a splice you'll still be able to take it off if required. Maybe the swivel ends up very close to the block and there wasn't room for a shackle?

Pete

 

[ProDave]

You shouldn't try to use this for reefing, it is a furler only, sail all the way out or all the way in (with two headsails this still gives you a choice of sail area).

That's the conventional wisdom, but I have tried mine part way out, and it works, so I'm not sure why you are not supposed to.

 

[prv]

That's the conventional wisdom, but I have tried mine part way out, and it works, so I'm not sure why you are not supposed to.

Maybe it works with very small sails?

For a while my upper swivel used to get stuck, holding in three or four rolls. Apart from being at the top rather than the bottom, that's exactly the same situation you'd have if trying to reef with the drum. It didn't hold the whole front of the sail nicely rolled, it just twisted up the head and strained the fabric.

Pete

 

[Zagato]

OK, remebered now that you have to part coil the sails not fold them into the sail bag so they have an in built stiffish wire. I'll put a couple of shackles on once I determine what knot to use?!

I couldn't fathom the mainsail at all. The two lines coming out of the inside of the boom at the mast end stumped me completely. Obviously a reefing system but no idea how it all goes on. I was able to take pics of the rigging on the last boat but the sails where already off when I bought this one...

A bit of googling me thinks

 

[Seajet]

Zagato,

sounds like your two lines are indeed reefing, in fact the luff part of slab reefing.

They would normally go up, through their respective reef cringles in the sail, then down to an eye on the other side of the boom.

The tail can be at the mast or led aft.

Same goes at the leech end for the reef clews; the reefing lines should be tight enough that the bunt in the middle is secured around the boom if you have time to be neat but shouldn't affect the shape of the set sail.

 

[Stork_III]

Thanks for that Sailorman

This is what I have http://www.furling.com/freeflying.html

but it doesn't give instructions, also says it has a wire and doesn't show my top spinner. They are not easy to call for advice. If no one else has this set up I'll send them an e-mail.

Your sail should have a wire sown into luff with eye at each end. eye is held in furler and swivwl by clevis pin. Rope Halyard tied to top of swivel, use bowline or halyard knot. Similar system is use on dinghies with furling gear. Usual to have plastic ball on halyard above swivel to prevent knot entering mast slot.You need enough halyard tension to allow furling, but if too tight can make furling difficult, experiment to get tension right.

 

[knuterikt]

Your sail should have a wire sown into luff with eye at each end.

If the sails is of a newer date - the wire could have been substituted with low stretch anti-twist rope.

It's easier to coil a sail with rope than wire.

 

[Zagato]

Thanks for the replies I'll play with the furler to get the tension right and also have a go at the main sail reefing lines this weekend.

 

[wklein]

Thanks for the replies I'll play with the furler to get the tension right and also have a go at the main sail reefing lines this weekend.

I think you have the right idea, just try it and see how it works. Schaffer gear is usually very well made, it might be worth considering dyneema halyards and a 2:1 purchase. Will increase tension and remove the tendancy of the rope to twist (not as big a deal as you would imagine).