failing furling fores'l fouling

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Shearwater

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failing furling fores\'l fouling

All of a sudden my furling fores'l is fouling the forestay. Why? I removed the jib as it needed re-stitching; while it was off tightened the forestay as it slapped about when running downwind. On re-installing I found that when opening the jib the very top of the foil fouled the halyard and twisted it around the foil. So what? Do I have an unacceptably slack forestay or ..what? i see some fores'ls have a plastic roller on the stay - this is perhaps to keep it a3way from the halyard for exactly this reason. Any pointers? Colin.
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

You should either have a disc around the forestay above the furler to hold the halyard away or the halyard should pass under a small upright block on the front face of the mast (a roller fairlead really I suppose) I believe the recommended angle to make between the halyard and the forestay is 10 degrees but perhaps it would be advisable to check that.
The discs are commonly seen on Plastimo furlers.

Can't think why tightening the forestay has precipitated the problem though.
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

Tks for this; it cnfms my observations that I must demount the foil and add a plastic disk onthe stay. Happily I can easily get hold of plastic wheels from castors of any size. I shall start withy 2" or so and develop from there. Tks again.
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

I may have a Plastimo disc laying about somewhere which I left off my last boat as the luff was too long, I fitted a block to the mast as VicS says. I will hunt for it and PM you if I find it.

Stan
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

If it did not foul before, check what is different now.
Was there a short strop at the jib head? Sometimes this is added to allow the halyard to make a sufficient angle to the foil.
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

I had this problem this season.

It shredded a brand new forestay after only 3 days out.

I had a wheel and this did not stop it happening.

I also have a fairlead near the top of the mast for the halyard.

I think that the sail stretched, the tension came off the halyard, the swivel on top was just stiff enough to allow the halyard wrap and catch in the slot in the foil.

I cured it by fitting a new forestay. Putting silicone on the swivel. and i put some plastic pipe and 2 jujilee clips at the top of the foil so that there is nothing to snag the halyard.

I took off the wheel because it did not work and also because it stopped me seeing what was going on at the top of the mast when lying on the deck with binoculars.

I have sailed about 20 times with this new setup and no problems.

Hope this helps.

Tony.
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

I shreaded a brand new plastimo furler earlier this year, because the angle between the top of the Halyard was too close to the forestay. That was an expensive trip out. The new plastimo was fitted and a small block to divert the halyard away fitted too.
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

The top swivel needs to be as close to the pulley at the masthead as is possible, to prevent the start of a twist. It is worth playing with this distance, to get it right and still have enough tension on the halyard. Failing this, the halyard deflector is more reliable than the wheel on the forestay.
Ken
 
Re: failing furling fores\'l fouling

I intended to take the foil off today but I now realise the stay and foil are an integrated unit ( Rotostay ), so impossible to fit a roller on the stay without lowering the mast. After a little fiddling I slackened off the foil adjustment and really heaved down on the halyard ( as per Ken KDS above) until there is no slack for the halyard to twist around the foil. Seems an odd way of solving a problem on the jib - doubt Robert Knox-J would do this on his present voyage !!!

thanks to all - Your interest appreciated. Colin
 
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