Unsafe furling drum connection - how best to resolve?

[Bertie1972]

My furling drum has a bottle screw between it and the genoa luff groove (see photo).

I realise wiser forumites will tell me I've been lucky that it's never come apart, but (and this is my somewhat limp excuse) the previous owner had it this way, when I bought it my local yard put it back the same way, and in the 17 years I've had her I've never thought to question it. Until, that is, a rigger recently brought the danger to my attention.

Do forumites think it has at some time been assembled incorrectly when the bottle screw should actually be below the drum?

Should I swap them round (the drum and bearings seem fine) or simply replace with Plastimo or similar?

I should add the standing rigging is about to be replaced so I may have answered my own question - but I'd still be interested in opinions.

 

[lw395]

You could replace it with a couple of plates with holes at intervals?
Assuming your rigger can make a decent copy of you forestay, you should only need a small amount of adjustment?
It's not always necessary to adjust the forestay under tension, many boats you can slack the backstay and pull the mast forward with a halyard.
But having a bottlescrew under the drum might be nice.

 

[pvb]

I should add the standing rigging is about to be replaced so I may have answered my own question - but I'd still be interested in opinions.

So just get the forestay made the right length.

 

[seadog30]

Just a thought, has the solid spacer below the drum been added due to the drum getting in the way of the anchor or chain getting caught ?

regards

 

[William_H]

As said you do not normally need an adjustment of the length of the forestay as the back stay can provide adjustment while sailing. I am not so familiar with furlers but I thought the drum was normally much closer to the deck so the foot of the jib is closer to the deck whcih reduces the heeling moment of the jib and tends to seal off the bottom to get an end plate effect. Now there may be lots of reasons on your boat to have it up high but at least you should consider lowering it by removing or shortening the spacer under the drum and yes have a new forestay long enough to allow removal of the turnscrew. olewill

 

[Stemar]

As previously suggested, get the new forestay made the right length and throw the bottle screw in the odds & sods box.

Since the forestay is mounted on the bow roller, there are advantages in keeping the drum of the furler fairly high, it makes putting the anchor on the bow easier and gives a bit of space to manoeuvre when picking up a buoy. I'd be inclined to keep it where it is provided everything works OK.

 

[Bertie1972]

Many thanks guys - we now have a plan.

Bertie