Fitting a jib furler to a Snapdragon 26

[lonpfs]

Want to fit a jib furler to my Snapdragon 26 to make it easier for single handed sailing. Any recommendations for an economical(!) solution, fitting etc?

Further complication is that I have to lower the mast frequently (when on Norfolk Broads). Current arrangement is a bottle screw on the forestay which I slacken of before detaching the forestay from the deck, re-attaching the forestay to a spar (which acts as a lever) attached to the bottom of the mast within the tabernacle arrangement and the lowering the mast with a triple block arrangement. Would want to keep that arrangement (or better).

Thanks

 

[Kyle2]

My Snapdragon 747 has a furling jib, and the forestay still attaches with a bottle screw. In fact, I recently lowered the mast using a technique similar to that you describe. There are certainly new jib furlers that can be used with a bottle screw on the forestay - for example the Plastimo 608 I believe. You would have to take care not to damage the furler while lowering the mast, though.
Hope this helps.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
for example the Plastimo 608 I believe

[/ QUOTE ] The trouble with the Plastimo systems is those two slotted plates either side of the bottle screw. They restrict access to the bottle screw and you would have to disconnect them as well as the bottle screw in order to lower the mast. I was going to suggest the Plastimo earlier as it is designed for easy owner retro fitting to an existing forestay but for the above reason did not!

If a reefing is not a requirement then a simple furling system without a spar would be a better choice as the spar does complicate mast raising and lowering and one has to be conscious of the risk of damaging it

 

[misterg]

[ QUOTE ]
The trouble with the Plastimo systems is those two slotted plates either side of the bottle screw. They restrict access to the bottle screw and you would have to disconnect them as well as the bottle screw in order to lower the mast.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily so. It's possible to connect the bottle-screw / bottom fitting on the forestay part way along the two perforated strips, and just have to disconnect the end of the strips from the stem-head to lower the mast.

Andy

 

[l'escargot]

I have no bottlescrew on mine - the forestay has an eye in the bottom and is just held by a clevis pin through the two plates, which are secured onto the stem head fitting with another clevis pin. Rough adjustment by choosing upper or lower holes on the two plates, then tensioned by the backstay bottlescrew.

I would be reluctant to frequently use a forestay with a roller reefing foil on it to raise and lower the mast - a lot of opportunity to damage it.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
It's possible to connect the bottle-screw / bottom fitting on the forestay part way along the two perforated strips, and just have to disconnect the end of the strips from the stem-head to lower the mast

[/ QUOTE ] That's a solution but then the bottle screw becomes superfluous so you do as the snail suggests and tension the forestay with the back stay! But with a bit of luck one could keep the existing forestay without adjusting its length and bottle screw provided the bottle screw would wind in enough to get it to fit one hole further up the perforated plates. Otherwise as suggested do away with the bottle screw.

Problems overcome, objections withdrawn, just be careful with the spar.

 

[DavidTav]

I have a better solution to this problem on my boat which was suggested by the riggers who recently replaced my wires. They made a replacement pin to go through the chainplates and the bottlescrew fitting on my Plastimo 608 system. The pin is about 50mm in length and has a split pin at each end. To adjust the bottlescrew all you do is remove the chain plate from each side one at a time and replace the split pin. The bottlescrew can then be adjusted easily. It seems to work really well and I don't know why Plastimo don't adopt this as standard.