[alberg30] Roller Furling Considerations

[Guy Lalonde]

I'm all for roller furling and would not want anything else where I sail
(Ottawa River).

However they are mechanical devices and here are 2 things to watch out for
which happened to me. Regular inspection (especially at the masthead) and
maintenance should be high on one's list.

1. Halyard wrap. Most furler systems are tubes connected to each other
(which the forestay runs through), bearings of some kind at the top, where
the tubes join, at the bottom and them a drum. Halyard wrap occurs when
trying to furl or unfurl, the top end somehow snags the genoa halyard and it
wraps around the furler and can cause some serious damage up there. This is
why most systems have some sort of disc on top to keep the halyard away from
the furling system. Nigel Calder`s "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical
Manual" has a chapter of roller furling systems which covers halyard wrap.
If the system has its own halyard, then this is one less thing to worry
about.

My brother was the previous owner of my A30 for barely one season. He
mentionned after an outing that the system jammed, seemingly at the top end,
and he had to use considerable force to unjam it. I bought the boat from him
at the end of that season and when I took the mast down I noticed the top
end of the forestay itself was unraveled, I could see daylight between the
outer strands. Could have been catastrophic. I don't know for sure that that
incident was the cause. Needless to say I replaced the forestay.

2. Drum jam. Jammed up last season. Good thing it happened in light winds.
Back at the marina, it unjammed after manipulating it. Don't know why it
jammed in the first place. Anyhow I have the drum at home and will  be
inspecting it soon. Probably the less moving parts there are the better.
Mine is a Merriman and I think they are no longer made. Depending on what I
find I may have to replace the whole system.

Guy
#466


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Newman" <bnewman at netcom.ca>
To: "Alberg 30 Group" <alberg30 at egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2000 10:16 AM
Subject: [alberg30] Roller Furling Considerations


> Kevin
>
> I don't have roller furling on my Alberg but did have it on a Endurance
> 40 footer I owned previously. These are the advantages and disadvantages
> as I see them.
>
> Advantages
>
> If you do a lot of day sailing, the boat can be readied and put to bed
> with less time and effort.
>
> The space occupied by stored large Genny becomes available for other
> uses.
>
> The head sail can be reduced or completely furled quickly in case of a
> sudden change of weather.
>
> You can sail more and motor less in a confined waterway such as the
> inter coastal when the wind is fair for a short while and then foul for
> a short while.  With a hanked sail you probably won't bother.
>
> Disadvantages
>
> Initial cost of the hardware and luff conversion of all head sails, i.e.
> $2000 - 3000 plus $300-400 per sail conversion.
>
> It is much harder to change up or down under way, than with hanked
> sails.  You can furl a bit instead but you don't get a good sail shape
> and a furled No. 1 is usually too light a cloth to be used partially
> furled in strong winds.  The sail will be stretched or possibly torn.
>
> Furling is something else that can to wrong when things hit the fan.  I
> haven't had the problem but have heard lots of stories about jamming
> with the sail out in windy conditions.
>
> In boats 30 ft. and less , the head sails are not so large that they are
> so difficult to handle.  A well rigged downhaul at a cost of about $50
> line and hardware, will bring the head sail down between the life lines
> without having to go forward to wrestle with it. In rough conditions you
> can then usually wait until you are in calm water to go forward and
> reduce the possibility of going over the side.
>
> Bill Newman
> Marion Rose III, #233
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> BTW: Did you buy that new car yet?
> If not, check this site out.
> They're called CarsDirect.com and it's a pretty sweet way to buy a car.
> http://click.egroups.com/1/6847/10/_/476031/_/964275553/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>


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