Worn boltrope won't fit into furling track

[DangerousPirate]

Just wanted to try one of the sails on the boat, it was always in the back of the locker and never got around before. It looks alright, old and stained but otherwise from the head corner fine. Except I can't feed it into the furler. It just blocks right at the entrance, and tricks how I can make it fit today?

Will have to bring it to the sailmaker otherwise, which will take time and cost money.

PS: Sail came with the boat, please don't lynch me for the criminal neglection :S neglection :S

 

[NickRobinson]

Did it ever fit? Not off this boat?
More helpfully, silicone furniture polish (Lidadl 65p ) may assist with raising.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Did it ever fit? Not off this boat?
More helpfully, silicone furniture polish (Lidadl 65p ) may assist with raising.

Did it ever fit. Good question. I suppose yes, because why else would you sell a boat with this sail, instead of selling the sail separately? I also remember there was another similarily worn bolt rope headsail, a different one, which I managed to feed into the track after some time, but it was not that far gone. Also from comparing the jib to the genoa, that I was flyign until now, they seem to be the same thickness. I think it's just the corner that's an issue, once that's in, it should raise fine.

Then again, the boat came rigged with a genoa that was a meter too long and bunched up at thebottom despite being fully raised.

Edit: Anway, I just used some fairy lube, and that didn't help. It just bunches up on itself and that's what's blocking the feed. Not sure I can't just cut the top bit off with scissors and feed from below, but not sure if it will unravel

 

[Stingo]

Pour some dishwashing detergent onto it to lubricate it.
EDIT: using other grease type lubricants will trap dust and you will end up with a nasty gunge, whereas dishwashing detergent washes away in the rain.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Pour some dishwashing detergent onto it to lubricate it.

Just did that.

 

[Stingo]

Just did that.

Did that work, as promised?

 

[DangerousPirate]

Did that work, as promised?

Unfortunately not. The material just sort of bunhes up on itself and blocks the thing, it's less of a friction problem. I was thinking about cutting the top 2 centimeters out and feed the lower bit, that shouldn't bunch up. You think I can just do that?

 

[Stingo]

Best to ask a sailmaker that question.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Almost impossible to give an absolute answer, but the headfoil looks relatively new, could the previous owner have replaced the headfoil, but left a couple of old sails for a previous larger slot headfoil on board?

 

[DangerousPirate]

Almost impossible to give an absolute answer, but the headfoil looks relatively new, could the previous owner have replaced the headfoil, but left a couple of old sails for a previous larger slot headfoil on board?

It is new, and maybe you're right. A very good point. Well, I suppose I just go back to the genoa then and sell this one.

 

[srm]

I was thinking about cutting the top 2 centimeters out and feed the lower bit, that shouldn't bunch up. You think I can just do that?

That was my thought looking at the pics. However, I would cut with a hot knife to seal the edges and taper the top to give a hard leading edge. Other than the damaged top is the luff a size that will fit the foil?

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Cut last 12mm of bolt rope at 45 degrees and re seal it with a solder blade or lighter

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Is that a Profurl furler .? If it is there is a little gizmo prefeeder that lips in on some of them and makes feeding in much easier.Measure bolt rope size diameter and let me know which furling gear and I can tell if you have the right bolt rope .
That luff tape will have to be replaced if it’s not the co one as it’s sewn thru all way up the cord

 

[DangerousPirate]

I decided against cutting it, and just finished changing the sail (amongst other things). The reason being : I am not even sure if it fits lengthwise.

I'll bring the genoa to the sailmaker (different sail) and get the length fitted, it's only a few cm.

Sorry for opening a thread and not pulling through with it :S I forgot that the furler is new and that the sails are older than that. And now I am just convinced the sails are all a few cm too long and will all have the same issue.

The furler is a plastimo btw. Got the manual on the boat still.

 

[Martin_J]

A bit late to the chat but it does look like a patch with a lot of extra stitching in the way at the top of the luff tape. I'd have removed that patch, cut the top with a hot knife and probably stuck/stitched a new patch in its place. A quick job for a Sailmaker.



I was however intrigued by the part between the twin grooves... I looks like it's partially blocking both grooves and gives a sharp edge rubbing against the luff as you host and drop. I've only had Selden furlers recently. Is this there in the Plastimo for a reason?

 

[DangerousPirate]

I was however intrigued by the part between the twin grooves... I looks like it's partially blocking both grooves and gives a sharp edge rubbing against the luff as you host and drop. I've only had Selden furlers recently. Is this there in the Plastimo for a reason?

View attachment 151402

Is that not normal? All of my boats until now had that?

 

[Refueler]

Have to say more I look at that first few cms - the more I think that could be the problem.

I have a 'rough' start to my genny and it catches in furler ... even as it passes odd joints in the alloy sections ... it wasn't the diameter of boltrope part - it was where the stitching and material end was where it should be narrow ... looks like OP's has had some rough use round that ....

 

[Tranona]

If that is a twin luff groove Plastimo 811T then the luff tape/bolt rope should be 5mm. Your sail looks bigger than that.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Yes the newer Plastimo twin groove has much smaller hole for the bolt ropes than the old style which could easily take up to 7mm diameter.
so luff tape change requirement .

 

[jamie N]

Fit these, and ditch this shite

Better sail shape and controllable power, more reliable, and far more easily maintained for greater safety.
Anything else is less.