In mast Furling

[Guest]

I bought my boat last year (A seamaster 925) and the previous owner had fitted in mast furling to the main sail.

Of course no instructions came with the boat on maintanace or set up of the furling, and I am about to dismantle it to service the sails and lubricate anything that needs it.

Can anyone tell me where I might find some information for setting up, using and maintaining the system?

Also I never seemed to be able to set the shape of the sail correctly when using it, it just didn't look natural, Am I doing someting obviously wrong or over looking something?

Regards

Sean Foster

 

[toad]

Try e.mailing the manufacturer,is the sail made for inmast reefing.One that is recut rarely sets well

 

[Guest]

I've just helped my chum sort out his in mast furling. He had great difficulty in pulling out the main and getting it back again, all because the mast had been set with a slight bend in it. The mast must be straight! Another problem found was the main halyard was too slack, allowing the bottom hook securing the tack of the sail to swivel on the furling gear and partially jam inside the mast. If the halyard was too tight, it caused a fold in the sail which transferred to the furling gear, also jamming it. So halyard tension is critical. Hope this is of use to you.

Regards

Tony_R

 

[DanTribe]

I also bought a boat with bolt on in mast reefing and decided to give it a try for two seasons.My main complaints are;-
1/It normally jambs if you try to reef when its windy
2/The main is so inneficient it makes little difference if its in or out.
3/ Loads of weight aloft.
The only way I can see to improve it is to drop it over the side, but thats probably illegal!
Does anyone know of another use for a dead in-mast reef system?e.g.linen prop?

 

[Guest]

I thought my main looked inefficient, that's probably why I get over taken so often!

I was given the original main with the boat, I think I'll try it out!

Regards

Sean

 

[mldpt]

I have Westerly Corsair with in mast reefing, originally it was a Bamar retro fit, and in the last two years I have had a Seldon/Kemp inmast reefing mast instaled. I have done around 30,000 nm in the last ten years in this boat with this rig and at no time have i had any problems. It will reef easily almost any point of sail, although on a run can be a bit difficult, the sail area is infinetly adjustable and is stowed in seconds, all my controls are done from the cockpit, I have a 150% genoa and find my boat sails comfortably at 6/7 kts acording to wind direction and speed, if I loose out it is in very light winds when I have less main sail area. But I feel that the added safety of being able to reef easily and quickly is well worth the cost in small main, I sail most of my passages single handed.
Sean what make of mast or retrofit do you have, the sail will never look as good as a traditional on as yours will not have any roach, unless you have one with vertical battons, it is most important that you have the boom at the correct hight so that it is at right angles to the Mast or even slightly lower at the end when you stow it and you should keep some tention on the out haul as you pull it in, its just a matter of trial and error, best tried in the marina an a wind less day. I guess is just a matter of personal prefference, But I love mine and wouldnt be with out it, but then I like an Automatic car. Mike,

 

[Guest]

Mike,

Thanks for your advice, I do admit, the in mast reefeing is very handy especially when short handed, I suppose I'm just not used to using it, but I'll definately experiment this season, I can't remember what make it is without going down to my boat and looking at it, (I remember it is a french make).

Are there any useful books on the subject that anyone knows of?

Regards

Sean