Facnor halyard swivel.

[capnsensible]

Have recently been on a boat where this jammed up and wasnt very helpful as regards sailing a saily boat....

Dropped the sail and found the swivel very stiff.

However. Googled a bit, went on to owners association, looked on here and a few other cruiser forums.

Basically, it happens a lot. A lot a lot. So its mebbe a bit crap. When you discover the issue you need to get in somewhere , drop sail and give it a rinse out with fresh water.

So, sorry Mr Facnor, I'm giving your product a score like a British Eurovision song contest entry.

Nil.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Mine did the same, also a friend of ours as well, both were Jeanneau's of different vintages, A very nice man in Turkey took mine off and put new bearings in.

 

[dom]

That'll be the old metal ball bearing system - right royal PITA

As you say, thoroughly rinse with warm water and washing-up liquid and then a good spray of PTFE spray using the straw applicator. Do not lube with oil or this will attract sand and dust and back to square one.

Repeat once a season and as you will of course know, don't let an inexperienced crew become over zealous with the winch. ?

Slackening the halyard for furling normally works as an emergency solution.

 

[capnsensible]

Dom I just read your thread from about 2015!

Now people are trotting down to their boats after a long while, hope this helps as a reminder.

Bayonna to Soto would have been a fab downwind romp....

 

[Skylark]

I wrote a similar thread less than a month ago!

My LS180 top swivel is seized solid, boat is 7 years old. After spending a lifetime in mechanical/manufacturing engineering I was reduced to tears when quoted £750+ for a replacement.

I decided to whinge to Facnor, France, and, to be honest, was delighted with their response. Inappropriate to give details but suffice to say that I shall shortly have replacement top swivel and bottom drum installed. The U.K. Agent is also being very helpful. Top marks to both for giving fair and reasonable support to a product that is well out of normal warranty.

 

[capnsensible]

The one I was using was less than three years old.

It's very poor. I probably shouldnt say its rubbish so I wont.

 

[jwilson]

I ditched a complete Facnor 165 system this year after being on second new drum unit and third top swivel, all at eyewatering prices, in 15 years from new...... According to UK agents bearings are totally non-replaceable, though some people appear to have managed it. When they start to fail - which can be quite sudden - copious rinsing with very hot water followed by some McLube seems to keep them just about going for a few weeks.

 

[Clancy Moped]

The one I was using was less than three years old.

It's very poor. I probably shouldnt say its rubbish so I wont.

Mine didn't do much better, but as Dom said slack the halyard an it was workable of a fashion.

 

[vyv_cox]

Mine failed at about 18 years old fairly heavily used. The replacement, as said at considerable cost, has a very different design with sealed bearings.

 

[capnsensible]

Mine didn't do much better, but as Dom said slack the halyard an it was workable of a fashion.

Didnt work for me. Had several days of playing around with it too. Well jammed.

 

[dslittle]

Dom I just read your thread from about 2015!

Now people are trotting down to their boats after a long while, hope this helps as a reminder.

Bayonna to Soto would have been a fab downwind romp....

My foresail is off and the swivel down so when (if) I get back to the boat, I will be giving it a good clean. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Skylark]

I don’t believe that cleaning is effective. The only service recommendation appears to be “clean with water” which I always did at the start and end of a season as the headsail was fitted and removed. Once it had seized, selectively, boiling water, WD40, Plus Gas and GT85 made virtually no difference to mine.

 

[capnsensible]

Posters on other sites I looked at were very specific in saying 'do not use any kind of oil' . Dunno if it damages the bearing material.

 

[dom]

Posters on other sites I looked at were very specific in saying 'do not use any kind of oil' . Dunno if it damages the bearing material.

I was told it causes sand and grit to stick which forms a nice little grinding emulsion which buggers up the swivel. PTFE avoids this.

Great tip to check this out though. Mine once jammed on a blast reach into Braye Harbour (Alderney).

Nice showy balls-out approach with 15-odd knots on the dial: whip away the genny, blow the stack-pack, then open a beer and meander over to a free buoy.

When the missus said, "The ***ing furling line is jammed"
"What do you mean?" I asked, although quite why men say this is hard to know

So the Question of Seamanship Question was this:

A: Part the boat beside the leading light halfway up the hill and then walk back down to fill in the Custom's Form.​

B: Throw in a massive broach to starboard to avoid the sunken end of the breakwater and almost capsize in the process ?​

At least I wouldn't have had to ask for my grade if you had been marking me that day!

 

[capnsensible]

Many tides ago I was taking a yacht across to St Vaast from Pompey, north winds, rainy, late season. Left Friday lunchtime and made a quick passage.

Ran under headsail from Barfleur, bouncy and wet. Went for the pose and rolled up sail just before lock gate almost bang on high water. Furling line snapped, full sail out and shot through lock at what felt like warp speed, got lock keeper all frenchly agitated.
In Marina, luffed hard, dropped perfectly on to a spindly finger pontoon, lots of astern revs.
It really looked like I meant to do it....
Luck shone brightly!
Was in time for drinks at the bar.

 

[dom]

Many tides ago I was taking a yacht across to St Vaast from Pompey, north winds, rainy, late season. Left Friday lunchtime and made a quick passage.

Ran under headsail from Barfleur, bouncy and wet. Went for the pose and rolled up sail just before lock gate almost bang on high water. Furling line snapped, full sail out and shot through lock at what felt like warp speed, got lock keeper all frenchly agitated.
In Marina, luffed hard, dropped perfectly on to a spindly finger pontoon, lots of astern revs.
It really looked like I meant to do it....
Luck shone brightly!
Was in time for drinks at the bar.

The lock keeper was probably surprised at all those revs.

French boats normally ride-up on the pontoon a little to stop the vessel, then while Monsieur is adjusting his single fender, Madame is already setting out lunch.

All very civilised!

 

[dslittle]

The lock keeper was probably surprised at all those revs.

French boats normally ride-up on the pontoon a little to stop the vessel, then while Monsieur is adjusting his single fender, Madame is already setting out lunch.

All very civilised!

Ahh but don’t forget that Monsieur still has to get a line out from his locker to tie up avant dejeuner…

 

[capnsensible]

Ahh but don’t forget that Monsieur still has to get a line out from his locker to tie up avant dejeuner…

How true. Watched a local chap in Cherbourg arrive alongside, tie the boat up with the end of his main sheet. After nipping below for a moment, he re appeared with two milk bottle sized fenders. He rigged them and then wandered off.....