MaxiRoach Easy reef Help

[Mikedefieslife]

I have an Easyreef system but no Maxi-roach sail (whoever made them?). My sail is old and baggy now, so really need replacing, but the furling system still works well. Old baggy sails are probably the major cause of in-mast (behind the mast) furling system jams.

 

[Pagetslady]

Hi if considering a new main sail, I have a Crusader inmast main with batons which is a great improvement on one without, I did have a Maxi roach for many years also with batons I was lucky I bought it for £200 it was like new from someone who hated inmast and his new to him boat came with a retro fit version, when that was finally passed it's to use date it started to jam at the very top. Crusader made me a new one I have to say getting it was a long drawn out experience. But once I received it and have used it most days over the last four years I am very pleased with it.
Mike

 

[GeorgeH]

I had it on an oceanis 36cc and did suffer some sticking but got it to work fine in the end. My suggestion would be:
First - ensure that the furling spar rotates easily with no sail on it - that basically means that their should be no mast bend. You basically can't tension the back stay in any meaningful way as the mast MUST remain straight.
Assuming that the mast is straight then ensure the sail is fully hoisted but not too much tension - you don't want any creases of any sort - vertical or horizontal.
Battens are tricky. Within each pocket there is a small tube of sailcloth, not much larger than the battens themselves. you must ensure that the battens are fed through this and into the batten pocket. The long strip with Velcro then goes over the end of that so that the end of the batten can't move at all. If the batten is just in the batten pocket itself then it will slip and cause you no end of issues. If that is the case - you can only fix by removing the batten and re inserting. The tube of sailcloth is really hard to spot at first as it is flat and easily mistaken for strengthening of the sail.
As other have said - ensure the boom is perpendicular to the mast.
When furling - note that it is really hard if you're on port tack - the slot is biased so that it furls much more easily on starboard tack. You can do it on port in calm wind but I would personally only do that if bending on / removing sails at a berth in a virtual flat calm.
When on starboard - keep some tension on the outhaul - you don't want to fill the sail but also don't want it flogging around so let the mainsheet off - single turn of the outhaul round a convenient winch and REALLY light pressure just to ensure the sail is furled tightly - same principle as getting a nice tight furl on a genny.

When furling - keep an eye aloft for any folds starting to emerge that might get dragged into the slot. STOP immediately that you see one. WInfing it into the slot will make your day much worse - if you see one - unfurl the sail a little until it disappears, then re furl but with a little more tension. If it happens again then your boom may not be perpendicular - assuming that the leech is where the fold occurs, just tighten the boom vang / kicking strap and try again.

I have the Easy Reef system on a Southerly 95, it now works well having spent hours getting the boom height right, mine had to go above right angles to the mast. My question is, how do I take the sail off? The lower window slot in the mast reveals the luff foot shackle and fitment to the inner furling rod. Only problem is there is no enlarged slit in the furling rod to allow the luff 'rope' to exit. I guess I could just open out the slit rod but there must have been a pukka method to drop the sail for maintenance. Any suggestions please?

 

[bartsbutt]

I have the easy reef system on my moody 27 and I am trying different ways of outhaul and reefing . In my mainsail I have 3 vertical battens but they are round not flat could anyone advise me on whether flat would be better. I am thinking they might be as round ones add thickness to the furled sail.

 

[Whiterose]

Well I’ve tried everything, I think there is something wrong with the whole furling system. We have had it in and out of the mast twice this evening and it just jams up and is very difficult to roll in or out. At one point I thought it was well and truly stuck. We’ve noticed while trying to get the sail out the whole furler with the sail wrapped around it is just pulling right into the slot so it’s not unrolling, it’s just pulling on the whole thing, even though there seems to be plenty of room inside, this feels like it gets worse when the sail is very nearly out. I think it may be a bearing issue.... can’t find any info online for maintaining them. Guess I’ll have to try ringing the number above tomorrow.

I had Easyreef system and was always having problems until I had a new sail cut for it..sailmaker said it doesn’t take much wear for them to jam!