Roller Furler getting a bit tight??

[capnsensible]

The shackle pin is half hanging out.

 

[capnsensible]

That just about covers it Capnsensible!

Back to being charter boat skipper today though. Seeing as that involves ladies in bikinis, there is a plus side!

 

[mjcoon]

The shackle pin is half hanging out.

And no sign of mousing wire or cable-tie (probably the point!)...

Mike.

 

[mjcoon]

Back to being charter boat skipper today though. Seeing as that involves ladies in bikinis, there is a plus side!

Are they hired to drape themselves over boats, like (deprecated) at motor shows?

Mike.

 

[lw395]

The shackle pin is half hanging out.

And it looks to me like the bottom half of the swivel is out of line with the top half, but it could be just the camera angle/short lens?

 

[capnsensible]

Are they hired to drape themselves over boats, like (deprecated) at motor shows?

Mike.

They hire me!! :encouragement:

 

[capnsensible]

And it looks to me like the bottom half of the swivel is out of line with the top half, but it could be just the camera angle/short lens?

The only concern I would have there is the shackle pin, I reckon.

 

[Brent Swain]

Normally poorly working furlers are caused by 'not being Harken'.

Mine have been working fine since 1982, as have others like it. Cost me around $80 .Definitely not Harken. Much simpler and more practical.Cant see how I would jam a 5/8th ID pipe on a 5/16th stay ,or plastic bushings with a 3/8th hole on a 5/16th stay.
Only one moving part.

 

[Mandarin331]

And it looks to me like the bottom half of the swivel is out of line with the top half, but it could be just the camera angle/short lens?

Probably because the undone shackle is twisting it

 

[Donside]

Well spotted and quickly repaired.

Another thing that can make a furler hard to turn is hard grease in the bearings. It does mean stripping the bearings and cleaning everything including all the ball bearings (my Furlex has 64!). Then grease and re-assemble.

I'd been told not to grease the bearings as they were stainless and greasing the balls meant they would collect crud which would help grind them down.??
Better to have them washed regularly with fresh water. A difficult thing on the west coast of Scotland.

 

[Brent Swain]

I'd been told not to grease the bearings as they were stainless and greasing the balls meant they would collect crud which would help grind them down.??
Better to have them washed regularly with fresh water. A difficult thing on the west coast of Scotland.

Grease on the bottom end can hold water in, causing it to freeze solid in cold weather.

 

[mjcoon]

Grease on the bottom end can hold water in, causing it to freeze solid in cold weather.

Ah, rinse with low freezing-point gin, then...

Mike.

 

[Stemar]

I'd been told not to grease the bearings as they were stainless and greasing the balls meant they would collect crud which would help grind them down.??

That's my understanding as well

Better to have them washed regularly with fresh water. A difficult thing on the west coast of Scotland.

Having spent many a raincoated holiday in the area as a child, that made me smile.

 

[westhinder]

Oh! Just got a quote to have Furlex installed as I thought it was one of the better products. Now I’m confused!!

Previous boat had Harken, this one has Furlex, never had a problem with either.
If you do the regular, very basic maintenance, both will serve you for a very long time. Rinse the bearings with plenty of fresh water at every opportunity.

 

[mdonnelly]

Previous boat had Harken, this one has Furlex, never had a problem with either.
If you do the regular, very basic maintenance, both will serve you for a very long time. Rinse the bearings with plenty of fresh water at every opportunity.

Thanks for the advice. Have gone and ordered the Furlex. It’s certainly not cheap!

 

[Flier2]

My furlex was playing up sporadically- Took advice to drop sail by a few cms - worked straightvaway .
Goota love these forums 2 mins and sorted or marine prices and copious sucking of teeth. Leading to a
Much lighter wallet , cheers folks appreciated

 

[jwilson]

On my boat (modern Facnor furling) halyard tension is absolutely critical: too slack and you get halyard wrap (despite diverter fitted, and then if someone winches the jammed system you unwind the strands of the forestay, in extremis breaking it. Too tight and the drum and swivel bearings get progressively stiffer making it harder to furl. This winter I'm changing to a dyneema halyard to try to avoid adjustment.

The current Facnor 165 bearings are pretty "sticky" brand new, you can't spin them like you often can with Furlex. Just had a new swivel fitted, now the third on a 13 year old boat. Also on second bottom drum unit. The swivel was £800-ish. Non-serviceable sealed bearings pressed in.

Our local rigger says not much difference in quality and overall life between Facnor and Furlex: if you want better use Harken, but costs a lot more.

 

[Brent Swain]

On my boat (modern Facnor furling) halyard tension is absolutely critical: too slack and you get halyard wrap (despite diverter fitted, and then if someone winches the jammed system you unwind the strands of the forestay, in extremis breaking it. Too tight and the drum and swivel bearings get progressively stiffer making it harder to furl. This winter I'm changing to a dyneema halyard to try to avoid adjustment.

The current Facnor 165 bearings are pretty "sticky" brand new, you can't spin them like you often can with Furlex. Just had a new swivel fitted, now the third on a 13 year old boat. Also on second bottom drum unit. The swivel was £800-ish. Non-serviceable sealed bearings pressed in.

Our local rigger says not much difference in quality and overall life between Facnor and Furlex: if you want better use Harken, but costs a lot more.

Mine has absolutely none of these problems. No bearings or halyard swivel to jam, or get sticky. The whole rig, halyard and all rattles on the forestay. The entire furler cost me $80, and has given me zero problems in over 30 years of mostly full time cruising, including several Pacific crossings.
The commercially made one called "Simplicty" is similar, as is one made by Famet, and at least one other I have seen around.
Keep it simple.
The horrendous complexity of some rigs is totally unjustified.

 

[geem]

Mine has absolutely none of these problems. No bearings or halyard swivel to jam, or get sticky. The whole rig, halyard and all rattles on the forestay. The entire furler cost me $80, and has given me zero problems in over 30 years of mostly full time cruising, including several Pacific crossings.
The commercially made one called "Simplicty" is similar, as is one made by Famet, and at least one other I have seen around.
Keep it simple.
The horrendous complexity of some rigs is totally unjustified.

I have yet to see a horrendously complex furler. We have both Selden and Profurl mast head furlers. Both have good reputations and both are simple designs. I prefer the Selden design as it has external bearings. Can be fiddley to ensure you dont lose the bearings but a large bag of 316s/s bearings can be had for £20. This unit is crica 1990 and still going strong. The Profurl has internal bearings that are sealed. Different concept with a ten year warranty. Never changed the bearings but I believe it can be a pain if corrosion has got in to the sealed part.

 

[robertj]

I have yet to see a horrendously complex furler. We have both Selden and Profurl mast head furlers. Both have good reputations and both are simple designs. I prefer the Selden design as it has external bearings. Can be fiddley to ensure you dont lose the bearings but a large bag of 316s/s bearings can be had for £20. This unit is crica 1990 and still going strong. The Profurl has internal bearings that are sealed. Different concept with a ten year warranty. Never changed the bearings but I believe it can be a pain if corrosion has got in to the sealed part.

Do you find the profurl stiff more so than other designs?