Top tip. Jammed jib furler and need to drop sail.

[fredrussell]

I’m putting this on here as it’s a useful thing to know - I realise many of you already know this technique but there’s probably a few that don’t, so...

A couple of weeks back my headsail furler jammed ‘mid-unroll’, this on a blustery day gusting to F6. I needed to drop the sail but obviously this is impossible with five or six turns of the sail around the foil. After scratching my head for a bit I realised that if I took the sheets off and just motored around in circles in the opposite direction to that in which the sail furls the sail would just unwind and be droppable. There’s a fair bit of flogging with sheets off, needless to say, but small price to pay for getting that sail down.

Like I say, old news to most of you, but some may not know of it.

Turned out the Delrin bearings in the top bearing assembly were either non-present or very worn, nice easy fix for once. Tragically, lost my hat in all the excitement though.

 

[Ningaloo]

Interesting solution. My jib jammed last week when trying to furl it. In my case it was simply an overriding turn on the drum (start of season error). I was able to manually unroll the sail and had to drop it which is difficult with vertical battens!
Not sure if your tip would have worked for me but certainly worth considering.

 

[LadyInBed]

'Luckily' mine jammed up just as I was starting to unfurl, so I didn't have to do anything immediately.
I rigged my inner forestay and used a hank on Yankee to get to my destination. Then when tied up and the wind had dropped I could unwrap it from the furler and drop it.
The problem was also a jammed bearing in the top bearing assembly which had caused a halyard wrap.

 

[[159032]]

I’m putting this on here as it’s a useful thing to know - I realise many of you already know this technique but there’s probably a few that don’t, so...

A couple of weeks back my headsail furler jammed ‘mid-unroll’, this on a blustery day gusting to F6. I needed to drop the sail but obviously this is impossible with five or six turns of the sail around the foil. After scratching my head for a bit I realised that if I took the sheets off and just motored around in circles in the opposite direction to that in which the sail furls the sail would just unwind and be droppable. There’s a fair bit of flogging with sheets off, needless to say, but small price to pay for getting that sail down.

Like I say, old news to most of you, but some may not know of it.

Turned out the Delrin bearings in the top bearing assembly were either non-present or very worn, nice easy fix for once. Tragically, lost my hat in all the excitement though.

If it's a smaller yacht it may be easier to bundle the sheets and pass them around the forestay pulling the sail with them until it is either furled or unfurled (if you still want to drop it).
If the boat is a bit bigger it can be too much of a struggle and possibly too dangerous.

 

[cherod]

I’m putting this on here as it’s a useful thing to know - I realise many of you already know this technique but there’s probably a few that don’t, so...

A couple of weeks back my headsail furler jammed ‘mid-unroll’, this on a blustery day gusting to F6. I needed to drop the sail but obviously this is impossible with five or six turns of the sail around the foil. After scratching my head for a bit I realised that if I took the sheets off and just motored around in circles in the opposite direction to that in which the sail furls the sail would just unwind and be droppable. There’s a fair bit of flogging with sheets off, needless to say, but small price to pay for getting that sail down.

Like I say, old news to most of you, but some may not know of it.

Turned out the Delrin bearings in the top bearing assembly were either non-present or very worn, nice easy fix for once. Tragically, lost my hat in all the excitement though.

TY ,, new to me ?

 

[fredrussell]

If it's a smaller yacht it may be easier to bundle the sheets and pass them around the forestay pulling the sail with them until it is either furled or unfurled (if you still want to drop it).

In a F5 to F6 with the sail more than half out? No chance.

 

[cherod]

( sorry it is on its side ) , on topic of furlers , this Profurl , can anyone tell me what the ring is , or for , it usually sits at the botton , with no obvious use , prevented from going any higher by location screw ,,, been like that since i bought the boat with no signs of damage , anyone ?

 

[[159032]]

In a F5 to F6 with the sail more than half out? No chance.

Yes, well. Not in your particular circumstance. Not everyone will been in that situation.
However I was offering a method for anyone in suitable sized boat in suitable conditions. I made the assumption that most sailors could assess that for themselves. That's why I suggested it may be too difficult or dangerous.

That's the trouble with offering advice on here. People seem to love biting back.

 

[graham]

Once or twice in the past I have seen yachts motoring towards harbour with a jammed roller headsail flogging itself into shreds. Freds suggestion could ha ve been used the opposite way to furl the sail back up and save a big sailmakers bill.

 

[pcatterall]

Once or twice in the past I have seen yachts motoring towards harbour with a jammed roller headsail flogging itself into shreds. Freds suggestion could ha ve been used the opposite way to furl the sail back up and save a big sailmakers bill.

yes, winding it in by circling was my first thought, then sorting in better conditions.

 

[Refueler]

My answer is to take a spinnaker halyard and wind it round and round the furler after making fast clew and sheets to bow area killing the sail as much as possible .. the spinny halyard will basically lash the sail enough to stop it flogging and no need to do pirouettes in heavy weather ...

 

[Catalina36]

I used the same technique years ago when inattention allowed the cruising chute to take not one but several turns around the forestay when the wind died away. Once it started, it seemed to be caught in a self-perpetuating vortex - flip, flip, flip, until it had about half a dozen turns making a lovely wineglass. Engine on, motor in circles as each one popped out. Not sure what the flag signals are for that manoeuvre.

 

[Biggles Wader]

( sorry it is on its side ) , on topic of furlers , this Profurl , can anyone tell me what the ring is , or for , it usually sits at the botton , with no obvious use , prevented from going any higher by location screw ,,, been like that since i bought the boat with no signs of damage , anyone ?

Dont know but my Profurl doesnt have it.

 

[Refueler]

Dont know but my Profurl doesnt have it.

I was going to say that but thought better not ... I might have not been supplied it !!

I fitted myself on a Snapdragon .. Profurl system and don't remember anything like that.

 

[fredrussell]

My answer is to take a spinnaker halyard and wind it round and round the furler after making fast clew and sheets to bow area killing the sail as much as possible .. the spinny halyard will basically lash the sail enough to stop it flogging and no need to do pirouettes in heavy weather ...

Might have worked in my situation but with 30 kts of breeze it would have been exhausting and quite a pain in the arse calming that sail by hand with the spinny halyard. Better to let the boat to the work I thought.

 

[Refueler]

Might have worked in my situation but with 30 kts of breeze it would have been exhausting and quite a pain in the arse calming that sail by hand with the spinny halyard. Better to let the boat to the work I thought.

Its one of those events that each will decide an action ... I cannot say mine would have been better or worse in your situation as I was not there .. no idea on what else was around you / risks etc.

 

[awol]

( sorry it is on its side ) , on topic of furlers , this Profurl , can anyone tell me what the ring is , or for , it usually sits at the botton , with no obvious use , prevented from going any higher by location screw ,,, been like that since i bought the boat with no signs of damage , anyone ?

It's a feeder. Feed jib luff into it first and then into luff groove. The ring falls down once the sail is hoisted.

 

[cherod]

It's a feeder. Feed jib luff into it first and then into luff groove. The ring falls down once the sail is hoisted.

thank you Awol , that is what i thot ,, coincidentally i just watched a Patrick Childress vid on Profurl and i could not see one fitted on his boat . ( guess mine must be the delux version )

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

My answer is to take a spinnaker halyard and wind it round and round the furler after making fast clew and sheets to bow area killing the sail as much as possible .. the spinny halyard will basically lash the sail enough to stop it flogging and no need to do pirouettes in heavy weather ...

Without wishing to be accused of biting back (see posts passim...) that would have been a right old laugh in 35kts+ when I had to do the circles in Lymington's entrance 4 year ago. Go near a flogging headsail & sheets on a 37' boat? No thanks.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I used the same technique years ago when inattention allowed the cruising chute to take not one but several turns around the forestay when the wind died away. Once it started, it seemed to be caught in a self-perpetuating vortex - flip, flip, flip, until it had about half a dozen turns making a lovely wineglass. Engine on, motor in circles as each one popped out. Not sure what the flag signals are for that manoeuvre.

My secret tip for wrapped spinnakers, and I hope competitors aren't reading.... Sail by the lee and that flow reverses, unwinding the sail.