In Mast Furling - top swivel maintenance

[Chris_Robb]

I read the recent YM on in mast reefing. It says basically the point of failure is always the top swivel.

I have a Kemp (now Seldon) mast of 91 vintage - it work well, now that I have got used to the whole alien idea. But - there is no way to maintain the top swivel.

I haven't yet taken the mainsail down - does the swivel come down with the sail - if so, I suppose that is the time to look at it.

Any ideas - its worrying me somewhat!

Chris

 

[stephenh]

Chris - its very simple, very similar to a furling forestay.
Yes the top swivel comes down with the sail and is easy to access through the 4 small 'hatches' in the side of the mast. Don't lose the little plastic bolts that keep these fastened - they are a bugger to replace.
A 3 or 4 mm allen key is handy to twist the grooved bar round so that you can line things up.
All will be obvious - it would take me a shorter time to take your m'sail down and check the top swivel than it has taken me to type this !!!

good luck

 

[greeny]

Don't know about the Kemp system but mine is a z-spar and the swivel comes down with the sail as you suggested. I would think that the Kemp will be similar. If you're worried just drop the main and have a look at the swivel assembly at the head.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Thanks for that! The way the article was written suggested that they were the weak link - in that you had to work on them at the top of the mast.

I would still prefer a nice slab jobby, but they really are sooo convenient. SWMBO likes it - so must be good.

 

[stephenh]

It occurs to me that I do not know how one 'maintains' the swivel - its a lump of plastic with shackles top and bottom with , presumably , a st. st. bar going through the centre and some sort of internal bearing ?
Other than making sure that the shackles are moused with tie wraps, what are you supposed to do ?
Did the article say ?
I haven't read it ....

...and you would have to work at the top of the mast if it were to break!!!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Perhaps after 15 years it should be changed for a new one, or does that come under the heading "if it aint broken, don't fix it"

 

[rwoofer]

I think that they are the weak link, because they are not maintained properly/often enough.

I had mine done professionally when the mast was down over winter and don't think it cost too much. I tried to understand the diagrams from Selden and am sure it would have taken several hours of my time versus 15 mins of someone who knows what they are doing.

 

[misterg]

No help, sorry, but if anyone knows how to service the top swivel on TAB mainsail reefing (on 22' er), I would be extremely grateful!

Andy