Jamming inmast furler

[fossill]

I have an unknown make in mast furling system. Outhauling the mainsail has always been difficult but now impossible! The problem seems to be twofold. The sail is old and has a bit of ‘belly’. When out-hauling the furling foil with the sail furled round is drawn to the slot in the mast reducing the space for the sail to exit the mast.The sail also comes out with the next wrap of sail at the same time causing a jam. It can take up to a day to tease the sail out. Can the furling foil be tightened up so it is not slack and doesn’t pull towards the slot. When I had the mast horizontal after un- stepping the sail virtually fell out of the slot!
Most grateful for ideas/cures etc

 

[Supertramp]

You have sort of answered your own question!

I have an old sail on an old Selden furler and I achieved the same as you by furling the sail badly in strong wind. The cure was to tighten the furling rod in the mast and to make sure I watch the sail furling and avoid trapping a fold. If the sail is too old that might be impossible and replacement will be needed.

I also keep a note by my furling line to remind me to raise the topping lift a bit when furling to avoid overtensioning the leach and encouraging folds. It also goes better when I furl and unfurl on starboard tack because of the smoother entry/exit from the mast.

You will need to identify your system and find out how to tension - it might not be obvious!

 

[Aquanaught]

If your furling system is a Selden make then the foil tension can be adjusted so it does not move so much - pages 4/5 in attached Selden manual. If indeed your sail is old with a "belly" then the problem is creases can form when furling away which can jam when next outhauling. I lived with one of these for several seasons - careful furling away keeping tension on the outhaul can mitigate to a certain extent but in the end there is only one solution...

 

[dansaskip]

Perhaps an unpopular opinion but to my mind in-mast furling systems are the work of the devil. Seen and heard of so many with problems. Indeed as you have experienced. Wouldn't have one on my boat

 

[Tranona]

Perhaps an unpopular opinion but to my mind in-mast furling systems are the work of the devil. Seen and heard of so many with problems. Indeed as you have experienced. Wouldn't have one on my boat

You don't need one on your small boat but the thousands of people who deliberately specify them on their new boats seem very happy. I have seen and heard of so many problems with all sorts of rigs - are they all the work of the devil?

The OP has a specific problem which is well known and easily avoided by having the sail recut, or if it is past it having a new one made

 

[RogerJolly]

Perhaps an unpopular opinion but to my mind in-mast furling systems are the work of the devil. Seen and heard of so many with problems. Indeed as you have experienced. Wouldn't have one on my boat

You sound personally affronted by in-mast. What's the problem? Nobody will force it on you.

 

[Bobc]

Sounds like you need a new mainsail.

 

[capnsensible]

Always worth checking the boom is at the recommended angle to the mast. I've solved similar problems on yachts by trial and error with the boom. Above horizontal seems to work best.

Mebbe worth a try?

 

[RogerJolly]

How do loose footed sails get baggy?

With only being constrained along one edge, you’d think they’d just stretch, in a fore and aft direction.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

How do loose footed sails get baggy?

With only being constrained along one edge, you’d think they’d just stretch, in a fore and aft direction.

Don't know, they just stretch and lose their stiffness so they fold easier. I chartered a boat with exactly this problem many moons ago, outgoing sail picked up a fold and pulled it out the slot, jamming the furler. Had to go up the mast and ram it back in with a wooden spoon.

A new sail from modern cloth will solve the problem, and servicing the furler to ensure the tension is right will lead to years of trouble-free use.

Had Selden in-mast on my boats for 15 years with no incidence of jamming.

 

[Tranona]

How do loose footed sails get baggy?

With only being constrained along one edge, you’d think they’d just stretch, in a fore and aft direction.

Just stretch because often a basic cloth is used. Happens on slab reefed sails as well, but just not so obvious. I have had 2 in mast boats, both from new and after 4 years or so both got baggy mains which could have led to folds when furling if you don't take care to get the boom angle right and keep control of furling with the outhaul.

Solution simple. Get a sail made out of a low stretch stable cloth such as Vectran as I did with the second boat. in all respects a huge improvement and in addition takes away a lot of the criticism about shape and performance.

From my experience I have found that most people who have in mast (many after conventional sails) would never go back. Critics almost always have zero experience of owning an in mast boat. Much of the perceived problems exist in the mind rather than in reality.

 

[pandos]

I have similar difficulties with my relatively new to me boat. My main is new. The previous two owners also had the same issue. No trouble rolling in the sail but difficult to get it out.

They blamed the top bearing. I have since dropped the mast and there is no bearing just plenty of space to hold the top of the foil whilst allowing it to move without jamming.

Having looked closely at things I think the furling line may be too thick so it is causing friction and jamming as more and more line goes on the drum.

There may also be an issue in my boom with the outhaul as it seemed easier to drag the sail out by grabbing the clew than using the outhaul on a winch.

Until I bought this boat I hated the idea of in mast reefing but now I realise how good it is for reefing and tidying away when solo.

 

[Supertramp]

I have similar difficulties with my relatively new to me boat. My main is new. The previous two owners also had the same issue. No trouble rolling in the sail but difficult to get it out.

They blamed the top bearing. I have since dropped the mast and there is no bearing just plenty of space to hold the top of the foil whilst allowing it to move without jamming.

Having looked closely at things I think the furling line may be too thick so it is causing friction and jamming as more and more line goes on the drum.

There may also be an issue in my boom with the outhaul as it seemed easier to drag the sail out by grabbing the clew than using the outhaul on a winch.

Until I bought this boat I hated the idea of in mast reefing but now I realise how good it is for reefing and tidying away when solo.

I swapped my (endless) furling line and my outhaul to thinner ropes. It made a big difference. My biggest issue is friction because of poor rope runs and old blocks.

 

[robp]

I have an unknown make in mast furling system. Outhauling the mainsail has always been difficult but now impossible! The problem seems to be twofold. The sail is old and has a bit of ‘belly’. When out-hauling the furling foil with the sail furled round is drawn to the slot in the mast reducing the space for the sail to exit the mast.The sail also comes out with the next wrap of sail at the same time causing a jam. It can take up to a day to tease the sail out. Can the furling foil be tightened up so it is not slack and doesn’t pull towards the slot. When I had the mast horizontal after un- stepping the sail virtually fell out of the slot!
Most grateful for ideas/cures etc

If you can't tension the foil, you could try locking off the outhaul and putting half a turn of the furling line on the winch. If it's not too far gone you might be able to tighten the roll from the middle. A bit like getting a poster into a tube. Thereafter making sure it's furled tight on to the foil. You will need a new sail though