rotostay furlers, how are they?

[eranb2]

Hi

I just want to know if a damaged rotostay furler can cut or destroy the stay/ shroud ?

what kind of furlers are they ? like harken(good) or like facnor (bad) ?

I just don't know anything about the quality of rotostay products.

Thanks

 

[savageseadog]

I've got a Rotostay II it works and is reasonably well engineered. I can't imagine there is a way that it could cut or damage the stay unless something has gone dramatically wrong.

 

[Talbot]

Agreed - not the rolls royce of systems, but still one of the better ones.

 

[Georgio]

Woud suggest you have a conversation with the chaps at XW Rigging in Gosport. They know Rotostay kit very well.

 

[richardabeattie]

You don't say which bit is damaged but aluminium will probably not saw through stainless steel.

 

[Poignard]

For: very convenient to use, especially when singlehanded
Against: something else to go wrong and if it does there will be a delay waiting for spare parts.

Can it damage the forestay? I can't see how mine [Rotostay] possibly could, but strange things happen at sea! I have just overhauled mine after 10 years and there is no sign of any deterioration of the forestay. However, I have renewed the forestay just because it is 10 years old and stainless steel rigging is reputed to mysteriously fail without warning but I probably didn't need to. At least I now have a emergency spare!

 

[eranb2]

How did you fix it ?
7 years ago the rigger told me that it should be replaced.
I don't know why but just the fact that when I will replace the shrouds again I may not be able to install it again.

How can I fix a damaged rotostay furler?
is there any part that needs a replacement?

the rigger told me that the furler takes the stay and turn it
again and again untill it breakes.

I emailed the company and no reply.

Thanks

 

[savageseadog]

???

 

[Poignard]

If you can repair a bicycle you can probably repair an early Rotostay,.

The drum and the top swivel are simple devices containing ball bearings. No special tools are needed to dismantle them except for the top swivel which ideally needs a peg-spanner but you can improvise something else to do the job. New bearings are obtainable from Rotomarine/XM Rigging. Renew any gaskets because salt water will destroy the bearings.

The hardest thing is pulling the aluminium foil sections apart because they will have corroded together. Try heat and a penetrating oil and patience. If this does not work you can saw off the ends of the foil sections where they fit over the coupling pieces and buy an extra length from Rotomarine/XM Rigging to restore the original length.

Examine the old forestay very carefully and, if you have any doubt about it, buy a new one. They are expensive because of the special fittings but a lot cheaper than a new mast.

My advice is to dismantle it, examine it and then decide what to do.

This webpage may help you. It shows what is inside the drum and top swivel. See here

Remember that your life could be endangered if you do not do the work properly [just like a bicycle repair!].

 

[geoffatstanpit]

I have a Rotostay "E" from 1995 on my Parker 21 and the comments on this thread don't seem to make any sense at all! There are clearly a number of very different arrangements going under the Rotostay name. My version works beautifully and the construction seems to be entirely logical. There is a thrust bearing at the bottom that takes the halyard tension and at the top the foil has a plastic cap with a hole to fit the forestay which slides up and down a bit as you alter the stay tension with the backstay. I can't see any of it causing any significant wear on the stay.

 

[gandy]

Just a thought. If the top swivel was jamming or sticky then furling/unfurling could put quite a bit of twisting force onto the stay. If that's the case then new bearings in the top swivel should sort it out.