Trouble attaching Furler

[igooba]

I attempted to put up the mast on my 26m last weekend but could not attach the CDI furler as I was about 10cm too short.
The previous owner left the mast up all the time and told me he liked it fairly tight but I couldn't get anywhere near even 5cm close to connection.
I also opened up the CDI furler but found that the internal adjustment would only give me a few cm's.

I used the same holes in all the lines as the previous owner (he left them attached and you could see the rust marks) and also tried over cranking the winch a little as I had read in other posts but still no luck. I was by myself when doing this so next weekend plan to try again with a friend.

1) To give me some more length on the forestay/furler should I be increasing the length of the rear stays?
2) I would like to setup an additional line for the forestay in case the CDI became detached, does anyone know where I can get a made up wire line I can use to attach from the top of the mast to the anchor roller hole? Or do you need to make these lines yourself with some sort of crimping tool? (excuse the amateur questions)

thanks for your help
Pete

[Catigale]

Pete - check the thimbles on the shrouds to make sure one or more isnt kinked....10 cm is way too much length to be 'lost'

My guess is something is hung up somewhere, and when you sort it out the furler will magically lengthen

[iredrider1177]

same thing happened to me the first time i put my mast up. turns out the thimbles would occasionally kink. always check them now while mast raising is in progress. not a big deal. i suggest making your own redundent cable. i used 304 s.s. cable from lowes with zinc coated copper swages,and s.s. thimbles. you can buy the tool there also for 35$ think i had 70$ in mine and have a swag tool now too

[Retcoastie]

Also, check the running light plug. Sometimes it gets under the mast base plate.

[mikelinmon]

Actually, the extra forestay is a problem to the furler and to the sail shape. Any load on the spare forestay will come off of the headstay causing too much headstay sag. it will also hang up the furler somtimes spinning into the furling sail. And your fellow sailors got it right about the sidestays kinking at the stay adjusters. It has happened to us all.
Mike

[Clemo]

Pete, I sail an X out of Batemans Bay and live in Goulburn.

Where are you sailing, and have you sussed your forestay problem?

As a belt and bracers, you can use the original hanked on headsail halyard as a second forestay. (Or your kite halyard if you have one.)

A second stay, under the furler will foul your headsail.

Rather than set up a second forstay I would be looking at a spinaker halyard, 'cause a kite is a real good accessory to aim for. This halyard exits the mast well above the hounds.

C ya,
Clemo.

[igooba]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the late reply, far less important things (work) has got in the way
Thanks for all the suggestions I plan to have another attempt this weekend and will let you know.

Clemo, I am just getting started so have yet to take the first sail, but plan to go around the Sydney area.
I have family in Canberra and often go to Batemans Bay and with the new trailer plan on bringing the Mac.
Will let you know before and I might try to bribe a sailing lesson from you!

Image below, is from someone else's post on this site who setup a backup forestay.
Forward of the Furler and attaches higher up the mast so should keep out of the way, the only thing I don't like is the anchor rope might get caught.
I would keep this fairly loose as it is only a backup, I contemplated just using some spectra rope as it would be softer and more flexible when putting the mast up and down on the trailer.