Rotostay Foil

[RTB]

I have a Rotostay IV furling system and to my discredit I, or someone on a visit 2 years ago, turned the cage when loading the drum and loosened the forestay. As a result the foil got bent when furling the sail. I have tried last year, with some help, various ways of straightening the foil and have managed it quite a bit but it's still not right. i.e. the foil still "whips" round when furling or deploying the sail and I have to use a winch to get sufficient strength to turn the drum.
Does anyone have a good idea on how to straighten the foil?

 

[Avocet]

I'm afraid not. Can you see the point where it's bent, or is it too gentle a bend to actually be able to put your finger on the precise location? If it's the former, you could TRY bending it the other way, but depending on how severe it is, you might crack something. If it's like our Rotostay, the foil is in several sections, joined with tapped fishplates and small screws. These are coated with a thread locking compound. You can get them apart again by heating to just over boiling point (about 120 degrees C, I think). That might allow easier dis-assembly for straightening. Only other thing I could suggest, would be to then take the bend section to an engineering shop and ask them to put it in a lathe with a 4-jaw chuck. That, at least, gives a good grip on it and allows it to be held rigidly while rotatetd slowly - which will show up the bend a bit easier. (And by "slowly" I really mean by hand)!

Failing that, just make sure your forestay is good and ticht, and live with it. They all flop about a little bit!

 

[Frankie-H]

I have a Rotostay IV furling system and to my discredit I, or someone on a visit 2 years ago, turned the cage when loading the drum and loosened the forestay. As a result the foil got bent when furling the sail. I have tried last year, with some help, various ways of straightening the foil and have managed it quite a bit but it's still not right. i.e. the foil still "whips" round when furling or deploying the sail and I have to use a winch to get sufficient strength to turn the drum.
Does anyone have a good idea on how to straighten the foil?

If you have managed to straighten a lot of the bend but it is still bent, it sounds as though the bend was fairly bad. If this is the case and you can see the bent section, as Avocet says, then try contacting Rotostay for a new section of foil. Heat the machine screws, remove the section and replace. Not forgetting to use high strength Locktite or similar. The result will be much more satisfactory.

Just a thought. If the foil is 'whipping' have you got the forestay tight enough?

 

[savageseadog]

I've got some spare Rotostay foil, not free but you would have to confirm profile.

 

[RTB]

Rotostay IV foil

Thanks for the replies and the PM. I'll go down to the boat tomorrow and photograph the foil section to send on as requested.

 

[rhumlady]

Unfortunately Rotomarine are no more. A call to XW Rigging may help though as they are the other side of the business.

 

[chewi]

I have a Rotostay IV furling system and to my discredit I, or someone on a visit 2 years ago, turned the cage when loading the drum and loosened the forestay. As a result the foil got bent when furling the sail. I have tried last year, with some help, various ways of straightening the foil and have managed it quite a bit but it's still not right. i.e. the foil still "whips" round when furling or deploying the sail and I have to use a winch to get sufficient strength to turn the drum.
Does anyone have a good idea on how to straighten the foil?

I think it would have to be still a serious bend I think to have that much effect. I would look to the bearings to see that they weren't the real problem when there is load on them, or an overtight halyard trying to straighten the luff instead of the fore/back stays.

 

[RTB]

Rotostay IV foil

As promised here are a couple of photos which show the slightly bent foil. Any and all suggestions are welcome

 

[Avocet]

I think you could get that straighter than it is by shoving the end in a stout bit of tube, with plenty of protection round it (old tea towel) to minimise bruising, and just pull on it. It won't be perfect, but you'll get it better than it is.

 

[savageseadog]

I agree that it should be possible to straighten it