Selden Furling Main

[nealeholl]

The instructions for my furling main (old boat, new to me) say that in most cases the sail furls anti-clockwise when viewed from above. Mine rolls clockwise. Is this likely to be a specific equipment discrepancy, or simply wrongly labelled endless furl in/ furl out lines? Could I just wind the sail onto the foil by pulling it out on the out haul and then furling it with the ‘other’ furling line?

 

[[2574]]

The instructions for my furling main (old boat, new to me) say that in most cases the sail furls anti-clockwise when viewed from above. Mine rolls clockwise. Is this likely to be a specific equipment discrepancy, or simply wrongly labelled endless furl in/ furl out lines? Could I just wind the sail onto the foil by pulling it out on the out haul and then furling it with the ‘other’ furling line?

Yes it can be furled either way but the convention is anti-clock looking from above. When furling you need the sail on starboard tack to ease the sail easily in to the slot and around the foil.

You've posted this in a rather specialist area of the forum, you’d receive many more replies in either the Scuttlebut or PBO forums.

 

[nealeholl]

Thanks for your reply, and for the advice on where to post…still learning my way round my boat and these forums!

 

[Bodach na mara]

It depends on which side of the sail the sacrificial strip is, assuming you have one. On my boat the strip is on the port side of the sail so the drum must rotate clockwise, looking down, to ensure that the strip is on the outside of the sail to protect it from the fierce Scottish sun.
Seriously, even here the sun can cause deterioration. Many Baveneteaus came with foresails without sacrificial strips and owners found that after two seasons they were seriously weakened.

 

[Tranona]

It depends on which side of the sail the sacrificial strip is, assuming you have one. On my boat the strip is on the port side of the sail so the drum must rotate clockwise, looking down, to ensure that the strip is on the outside of the sail to protect it from the fierce Scottish sun.
Seriously, even here the sun can cause deterioration. Many Baveneteaus came with foresails without sacrificial strips and owners found that after two seasons they were seriously weakened.

The question is about a mainsail which does not have a sacrificial strip (although usually have a small bit at the clew). Usual is anti clockwise and the slot in the mast is often shaped for the sail to enter this way with boat on starboard tack.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

If it's a Selden furler then check if there is a ratchet at the mast to prevent the sail unfurling accidentally. When the ratchet is engaged it locks the furler and prevents it rotating clockwise, so to reduce sail it can rotate anti-clockwise with the ratchet clicking as the sail furls in.

This ratchet is usually left off (free) if a continuous furling line is fitted. The other option is using a winch handle at the mast.

If there is a ratchet then to furl in should really be anti-clockwise. Should you ever want to lock the sail in the mast (due to failure of the continuous furling line) then it needs to furl anti-clockwise - otherwise the ratchet when engaged will only allow the sail to come out and not go in when it should be the other way round.

 

[[2574]]

If it's a Selden furler then check if there is a ratchet at the mast to prevent the sail unfurling accidentally. When the ratchet is engaged it locks the furler and prevents it rotating clockwise, so to reduce sail it can rotate anti-clockwise with the ratchet clicking as the sail furls in.

This ratchet is usually left off (free) if a continuous furling line is fitted. The other option is using a winch handle at the mast.

If there is a ratchet then to furl in should really be anti-clockwise. Should you ever want to lock the sail in the mast (due to failure of the continuous furling line) then it needs to furl anti-clockwise - otherwise the ratchet when engaged will only allow the sail to come out and not go in when it should be the other way round.

View attachment 175836

That's a very good point and, as an aside, I would add that I often use the ratchet if the wind is up to be doubly sure that the main can't unfurl by the furling line slipping in the toothed winch block. Many years ago I was advised by Allspars that having a non-functioning ratchet was a safety issue because it couldn't be used to lock the furling winch to prevent unfurling in strong winds.

 

[coperlio]

As you suspected, the most likely scenario is that the "endless furl in/out" lines are simply mislabeled. In most furling systems, viewed from above, the line pulled to furl the sail (inwards) goes clockwise, and the line pulled to unfurl the sail (outwards) goes anti-clockwise.