Boom furling servicing

[Sixpence]

Sixpence is an old plywood Debutante but comes complete with boom furling it seems. Having stripped down and serviced almost every other moving part on her I would like to make sure that the system is working at its best, but I've done a search and all I can find about the system is information about modern boom furling. Anyone know if there's something I can service or check on older systems ?.
Thanks in advance.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
Sixpence is an old plywood Debutante but comes complete with boom furling it seems. Having stripped down and serviced almost every other moving part on her I would like to make sure that the system is working at its best, but I've done a search and all I can find about the system is information about modern boom furling. Anyone know if there's something I can service or check on older systems ?.
Thanks in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you got the windey handle?

Your best bet, the best thing to do, the way to go about this... hide the handle and pretend the boom is fixed, convert it to slab.

If the wind is getting up, even a modest sail takes around 4 weeks to wind down and you get a horrible shape. It takes just as long to wind back up too.

The system is rather simple, a square ended crank handle fits into the windey bit and well, winds the boom via a gear. If I remember correctly, there may be an oil hole on the top, but dropping oil near a sail (no matter how careful you try to be) is a daft idea, it will stain.

After 30 years, mine is still free as a bird, I have never gone near it with any form of lubrication or tool, leave well alone if it is not broke. In fact, having it a bit stiff is better, as they always tend to move a bit and stop the boom sitting true.

Would someone mind quoting this message please, otherwise I am wasting my time as the originator will not see it, cheers.

 

[DaveS]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sixpence is an old plywood Debutante but comes complete with boom furling it seems. Having stripped down and serviced almost every other moving part on her I would like to make sure that the system is working at its best, but I've done a search and all I can find about the system is information about modern boom furling. Anyone know if there's something I can service or check on older systems ?.
Thanks in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you got the windey handle?

Your best bet, the best thing to do, the way to go about this... hide the handle and pretend the boom is fixed, convert it to slab.

If the wind is getting up, even a modest sail takes around 4 weeks to wind down and you get a horrible shape. It takes just as long to wind back up too.

The system is rather simple, a square ended crank handle fits into the windey bit and well, winds the boom via a gear. If I remember correctly, there may be an oil hole on the top, but dropping oil near a sail (no matter how careful you try to be) is a daft idea, it will stain.

After 30 years, mine is still free as a bird, I have never gone near it with any form of lubrication or tool, leave well alone if it is not broke. In fact, having it a bit stiff is better, as they always tend to move a bit and stop the boom sitting true.

Would someone mind quoting this message please, otherwise I am wasting my time as the originator will not see it, cheers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad to oblige (last sentence).

I fully agree re. benefits of slab reefing - I converted my first boat from boom rolling. Prior to that I persevered with the rolling system for a few years, installing a "claw" roller to take the kicking strap load (otherwise you have to lose the kicker while reefed). As more rolls are taken up the boom end gets lower and lower: some advocate rolling towels and / or old jumpers into the rear part of the sail to prevent this - the fun then comes when you forget they're there and you unroll the sail...

And, as you say, its slo...ow! The incident that finally tipped it for me went as follows. Racing (not very competitively), two on board: self plus complete novice. Hit by a black squall: v. strong wind with stair rods rain and almost complete loss of visability. I'm at the mast slowly winding in the main and the novice is helming. Another boat suddenly comes at us out of the murk, going like a train and screaming "starboard!". Before I can get back to the helm we've collided. Following that incident I fitted slab reefing with all lines back to the cockpit, and have done this with each subsequent boat.

 

[Lakesailor]

I had boom roller reefing on my last two yachts. I don't know if it worked as I never tried it. Dreadful concept.

 

[Searush]

Mine has a thro' the mast system, but it works pretty well - if I choose to use it - my first reef is usually to not bother with the main at all as I have a ketch.

Put a sail bag or similar in the sail when you roll it to help it retain a reasonable shape. If you feel the need for a kicking strap wind a bit of webbing into the rolled sail with a d-ring on the end of it for the kicking strap tackle.