Genoa Reefing Line Control

[dunedin]

When I find it to hard to furl my Genoa by hand I use my electric sheet winch with just two turns around the winch so any excessive resistance the line slips on the winch I tail it by hand

Exactly how we do it in strong winds if need to get sail furled/reefed. Same for hoisting main with electric winch.
Two turns and hand tail, gives assistance but tells you if something caught.
Using three turns and or self tailer for furling jib (or hoisting main) strictly banned. Saved a lot of problems.

 

[johnalison]

Some of these replies are reassuring, as I've winched my genoa's furling line a couple of times recently and always feel guilty about it (since a more experienced skipper once told me it should never be done).

Mine is a 40' boat and the genoa can be furled reasonably easily by hand when there's no wind, but it's impossible in a hard blow (I need to practice using the inner jib).

I've owned the boat 18 months and have not disassembled the furling gear. I'm guessing I should do?

The instructions on my Furlex suggest lubrication the lowest point once every couple of years. This part is only involved in the first one and a half turns but needs the drum removed for access. Greasing it does make a significant difference to initiating furling and is worth doing. I always do it when on the hard since the small parts don't float.

 

[LadyInBed]

One of the causes of difficulty furling with a wind blowing is a slack fore / back stay. The wind pressure puts a bow in the furler foil making it difficult to turn.

 

[rotrax]

It's not considered advisable to ever winch the furling line. If it is too heavy to pull using one turning block, then there must be some unwanted friction in the system, caused by failed bearings, either in the drum or the bushings in the foil itself. Winching to overcome the friction of failed bushings in the foil can result in damage to the forestay.

Our boat was designed with one Lewmar 40 powered winch to control ALL sail work except freeing the sheets when required. In mast main, Harken cruiser roller furler.

I do, of course, check that both main and jib can be moved by hand from time to time and keep them clean and free.

So the statement " It is not considered adviseable ever to winch the furling line " is perhaps not strictly true.

Our boat, specificaly aimed at a mature cruising couple, was designed to be power winched when setting and furling both sails.

 

[KompetentKrew]

One of the causes of difficulty furling with a wind blowing is a slack fore / back stay. The wind pressure puts a bow in the furler foil making it difficult to turn.

Thanks very much. I'll have to look at that.

 

[FinesseChris]

One of the causes of difficulty furling with a wind blowing is a slack fore / back stay. The wind pressure puts a bow in the furler foil making it difficult to turn.

Try it with a gaffer with running backstays.... The only way there's enough forestay tension is with the main sheeted in hard, so we have to plan ahead a bit when furling the jib.

 

[AndyL]

It's not considered advisable to ever winch the furling line.

Try telling my missus that!

 

[AndyL]

Using a ratchet block on the pushpit helps. Plus easing the halyard tension, and bearing away to take the load off the sail.