Can anyone Identify this furler?

Ceirwan

Ceirwan

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The furler fitted to my Sadler 25 doesn't have any kind of identification marks on it that I can see.
Hopefully someone can tell me what make it is from these photos.

I'm hoping I can get some kind of feeder for the luff groves, when I hoist the genoa at the start of the season I need someone at the bottom feeding in the sail millimetre by millimetre. Because there is no stainless feeder that you normally see on foils the luff of the sail gets 'pinched' in the grooves and jams.
I'm hoping somewhere can still sell me one.
 

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Sorry, I don't have the knowledge of furlers to identify this one, although I suspect the solid section below the drum might mean something to someone soon. As to the feeder, most brands use a feeder on a lanyard to align the luff to the groove for hoisting. You can get these feeders from most chandlers and sailmakers. It's a bit of a black art to get the lanyard length adjusted for a particular sail (depending on crispness of the sailcloth) and the wind conditions and direction so that it mostly feeds in. You can usually still expect a few pinches as the sail whips about beneath the feeder!

Another problem I've experienced during the hoist is a wrap - the top swivel rotating around the foil for no apparent reason before it gets close to full hoist when he deflector creates sufficient angle to prevent it. I had to rig a light slip line to the swivel lead aft to hold it in line.

Rob.

Rob.
 
Ceirwan said:
The furler fitted to my Sadler 25 doesn't have any kind of identification marks on it that I can see.
Hopefully someone can tell me what make it is from these photos.

I'm hoping I can get some kind of feeder for the luff groves, when I hoist the genoa at the start of the season I need someone at the bottom feeding in the sail millimetre by millimetre. Because there is no stainless feeder that you normally see on foils the luff of the sail gets 'pinched' in the grooves and jams.
I'm hoping somewhere can still sell me one.
Click to expand...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hood-large-...at_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item35e29d8940
 
rob2 said:
Sorry, I don't have the knowledge of furlers to identify this one, although I suspect the solid section below the drum might mean something to someone soon. As to the feeder, most brands use a feeder on a lanyard to align the luff to the groove for hoisting. You can get these feeders from most chandlers and sailmakers. It's a bit of a black art to get the lanyard length adjusted for a particular sail (depending on crispness of the sailcloth) and the wind conditions and direction so that it mostly feeds in. You can usually still expect a few pinches as the sail whips about beneath the feeder!

Another problem I've experienced during the hoist is a wrap - the top swivel rotating around the foil for no apparent reason before it gets close to full hoist when he deflector creates sufficient angle to prevent it. I had to rig a light slip line to the swivel lead aft to hold it in line.

Rob.

Rob.
Click to expand...

Hi Rob,

I know the feeder you're talking about, they help, but I'm actually talking about where the sail enters the groove itself normally has some kind of stainless fitting, as it is the sail has to be pushed down into the slot and fed up a few cm at a time, very time consuming and impractical in any kind of wind.
The type you're talking about wouldn't be enough.

Merlin that looks like the one!

And Sailorman, they help, but theres usually a stainless attachment right where the sail enters the groove as well.
 
Well I'm not impressed with the design then! I was hoping to switch to separate headsails on the bow (I'm not a fan of roller reefing) with the option of rolling it up if say for example I intended to use the same sail the next day. But as it takes me 10-15 minutes to raise the headsail I guess thats a no go.

Might have to return to hanks.
 
Ceirwan said:
Well I'm not impressed with the design then! I was hoping to switch to separate headsails on the bow (I'm not a fan of roller reefing) with the option of rolling it up if say for example I intended to use the same sail the next day. But as it takes me 10-15 minutes to raise the headsail I guess thats a no go.

Might have to return to hanks.
Click to expand...
Can't see the entry point for the sail on the foil in your pictures, but on most profiles you can use a standard prefeeder to help the sail to get a nice entry.
Lots of different designs here http://www.apsltd.com/c-1061-headsailandmainsailprefeeders.aspx
 
Hi Ceirwan,

Now I understand. You're looking for a stainless fitting to go on the foil giving a smooth funnel shaped entrance to the slot. Most foils do have these fitted and I guess that if yours should/could have one, there will be some visible attachment point for it. It might be possible to machine the foil to accept a fitting from another manufacturer, so it may be worth looking at as many other makes as you can to find a suitable donor. Otherwise, as you say it's time to take it off and use the hanks or replace it. Some manufacturers make the drum removeable so that the luff grooves can be used for non-furling racing sails but if you're only looking to use it as a furling system, not a reefing system, then hanks should be fine and it's another thing that isn't there to breakdown.

Rob.

I wonder whether the foils are from a common supplier. Maybe a more suitable design from another gear might be compatible? Worth a polite call to Z Spars to enquire?
 
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Thanks for the replies.
None of those feeders will do the job unfortunately, when I say its awkward to get in, I mean the alignment has to be absolutely perfect, even holding it from underneath isn't enough, it has to be physically fed in, inch by painful inch.
It was on the boat when I bought her so its possible that someone has used a genoa with the wrong luff size, though that seems unlikely as once fully in the sail moves freely in the groove.

And lakesailor, yes Brough haven.

I've been thinking and I might leave the system in place and add a Solent Stay for setting a working and storm jib on.
 
Is it not possible to replace the foil. You do not have to replace the whole lot as they normally come in short lengths. Although first you have to decide which manufacturer
if you cannot replace the foil have you tried a pre feeder
I have one which I use for my foil. I pass a line through it, the line ties to the foil close to the top of the feeder attachment & also to a point below it. mine is made to be quickly removable but it is difficult to explain.
there are also feeders that go on the gooseneck of a mast . perhaps one of these could be pop riveted onto the foil to act as the feeder
Wichard make one that fits around the foil & sea sure make one with 2 tangs that could be bent to fit the foil & pop riveted in place to the sides of the foil
holt & harken make pre feeders as well
 
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Or Perhaps...

Reading the OP and responses I get the impression that most of us feel that a pre-feeder on a short strop, the most common arrangement, should work.
Ceirwan is sure it will not help so I wonder if the sail itself is actually the problem. Perhaps it was made with too big a luff wire for this furler.
Any chance of trying another jib, preferably with a pre-feeder?
This might offer an explanation if not the solution.
 
I've used the feeder on a strop that everyone is describing many a time, while these are great most of the time, in this situation they won't hold the sail luff with anywhere near the precision it requires to not jam.
I'll send an email to Z-Spars, and see what they think.

As has been said, its possible the luff tape is incorrect, but once fully in, it slides within the foil no problem.
 
It has occurred to me that the feeder on the mainsail track of my Phantom carbom mast came off & had to be refitted. It is about the same size & shape as the one on my facnor furler & it sits right at the bottom of the aluminium extrusion just the same
perhaps a call to Pinner & Bax to get one of those might be the answer. It fits with 2 pop rivets. from memory the luff rope on a Phantom sail is about 5-6mm so may well match yours. It can be expanded with a file
 
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