Facnor main sail repair

[Gil Marshall]

I have a Facnore main which has a small tear in the leech. It rolls up into a tube bolted to the back of the mask. I would like to get it repaired but am not sure how to remove the sail. There doesn't seem to be much on the web apart from how to install the system. Can anyone advise me on the best way to do this and whether it would be possible on my own?

 

[William_H]

No one sems to be able to help. I have never seen a in mast furling main sail. So just to bump the post. I would imagine you must pull the mainsail out to full size. I imagine there will be a main sail halyard on a winch or clutch and this should be released. I then imagine you pull the main sail down and out of a track (inside the tube) which rotates to furl the sail. I imagine there will be at the bottom of the luff an attachment for tack. From there you allow the clew to slide along the boom and release the clew of the sail fromm the car on the boom. Perhaps all this is obvious to you in which case i appologise. good luck ol'will

 

[Gil Marshall]

Thanks William, that sounds logical. I've had a brief reply from Facnor along the same lines. There's an upper swivel with halyard and a central tube, which rotates, and which I assume must have a central slot in which the luff slides. The boat is on the hard so I have to choose a day with no wind. Thanks again for the advice, Gil.

 

[gavin400]

I have one of those
Unfurl the sail
You will see the tack is fixed with a captive shackle with an allen key bolt
Turn the assembly using the outhaul rope until the allen key head is visible at the slot in the assembly
Undo the bolt
Loosen the halyard and pull the sail down the groove/slot, much like you would with a headsail on a furler

 

[Supertramp]

+1 for the above replies. I have a selden system and the sail drops in the same way. Dropping can be done alone. Raising it and feeding into the groove is much easier with 2.

 

[Gil Marshall]

Thanks Gavin, that is very helpful. The sail appears to have slipped and the tear was caused by someone trying to unfurl it whilst jammed. Given the size of the mast at around 17m, I must have the largest of their offerings. Are you happy with the system, I've read fairly mixed reviews on the web? Gil

 

[gavin400]

Thanks Gavin, that is very helpful. The sail appears to have slipped and the tear was caused by someone trying to unfurl it whilst jammed. Given the size of the mast at around 17m, I must have the largest of their offerings. Are you happy with the system, I've read fairly mixed reviews on the web? Gil

Hi Gil,

Mine is on a very modest rig - a Fisher 25
I like it - I had a lot of problems with friction and had to go the mast to unfurl/furl but that has been solved by installing new furling line (although the end to end splice did defeat me)
There is very little/non existent detail re maintenance etc, even from the manufacturer