Jib furler swivel seized to foil

[ParaHandy]

This year I'm very late in getting the jib on and, for whatever reason, I found the swivel seized to the foil. So far, I've hammered it down to about 6' off the deck (it was suspended quite a lot higher than usual last year) and will get it to about 4' or so when I'm going to try and work it up and down and, hopefully, ease it off; I'm assuming it's crud that's got into the gap between swivel and foil.

Has anyone any advice to offer, please?

The furler is a Bulldog made by Jeckell; 20 years old and given flawless service up to now, boat's a Tradewind 35.

 

[ParaHandy]

A photo of the halyard swivel that has seized. It could well have failed because water gathered in the lower section of the foil through which the forestay passes and froze this past winter and expanded the foil. They are made by Rotostay and if anyone knows where one might be ...

 

[alahol2]

But if you think the foil has expanded then a new halyard swivel won't do you any good? Your best bet is to try and get it off the foil. If it's anything like my Rotostay (and it does look similar) I would try to get it off the top of the foil. That may mean putting a temporary forestay to hold the mast and then dropping the foil.

 

[cimo]

A photo of the halyard swivel that has seized. It could well have failed because water gathered in the lower section of the foil through which the forestay passes and froze this past winter and expanded the foil. They are made by Rotostay and if anyone knows where one might be ...

overhauled mine this year. there are drain holes towards the bottom to prevent water gathering - although they could have been blocked? Not obvious, they are located within the bolt rope channel a few inches above the furling drum. alahol2 put me onto barry locke who sorted me out with some foil (very helpful).

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?349814-looking-for-1-meter-of-rotostay-spar

 

[charles_reed]

It is a Rotostay, who no longer trade. Barry Locke has some spares.

If the foil has been distorted by ice (an unlikely factor) that will have to be replaced.

However if you get the swivel off you'll find 4 plastic bearing inserts, if any of these are missing or damaged the swivel will jam. Since it happened to me I've always carried a spare. If that is the problem, and you can't get a spare, I'm told that a piece of PTFE sheet cut to size can be used.

 

[ParaHandy]

But if you think the foil has expanded then a new halyard swivel won't do you any good? Your best bet is to try and get it off the foil.

I had the swivel about 9' off the deck and wanted to get it down to a safe level to try and ease it. This took some force because, if my diagnosis is correct which I think it is, it got progressively more difficult to haul it down; it required brute force and some damage is inevitable. I agree that the only course is to push it back up and off the foil. Once clear of the first, bottom, section I'm hoping it will go quickly.

I was given Barry Locke's name by Peter Sanders of sanders Sails. Both have been extremely helpful. As has Peter Cochrane of XW Rigging.

 

[DaveS]

While it won't help if the foil has been distorted by ice, have you tried slowly pouring a kettleful of hot water over it? If it's stuck because of crud or salt it might help to flush it out, and you might get some differential expansion to help move it. At worst, nothing lost but 3p worth of electricity.