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The final weekend of "things to do on the boat" before we put it in the water and of course something goes wrong! We tried to put the Genoa on the furler only to have it stick about 6 feet up. The furler is a CDI, the boat is 3 years old. Last year we lowered the mast and bungee corded the furler along the mast during which time it developed a slight curve near the top portion. This past winter we did not lower the mast, left everything in place and just covered with tarps. There was a little trouble attaching the genny last year but nothing like the problems we're having this time. I think if we pull any harder we'll bring the whole mast/furler down but it's not budging past approx. 6 feet.

1- is the bend the problem, although it's up much higher on the furler?
2- could there be a blockage in the slot where the "pulling line" runs? (good terminology, right )

We are going to ask that the boat be moved to an area where we can lower the mast to check out the channels of the furler but if anyone has any other thoughts - insights they are appreciated.

As always - thanks for sharing of knowledge and experience.

Kevin

The slot in the furler foil has a tendency to narrow if it sits in direct sunlight without a luff in it. We always had to lower the mast to change out sails.

Or do what I do...never take the Genoa off the furler.

I guess someday I will have to.

Good luck,
Jim

The slot in the furler foil has a tendency to narrow if it sits in direct sunlight without a luff in it. We always had to lower the mast to change out sails.

Scott - do you mean that you put the Genny on with the mast down and the furler foil loose on the deck and then connect it to the bow when the mast is raised?

The old saying of "a picture is worth a thousand words"is so true Can one be posted

When I lower the mast for Winter storage, I leave the Genny on, with a tarp covering the boat. There is a slight curve, and sometimes it is difficult to attach it to the bow when the Spring comes. I find that a day of two in the warm sun will allow some straightening of the furler.

If you can, post a picture.

Ray

do you mean that you put the Genny on with the mast down and the furler foil loose on the deck and then connect it to the bow when the mast is raised?

Yes, and if we changed sails (almost ran the entire time I owned it without removing the Genoa from the furler) I did it when the mast was down.

I would not try raising a Genoa without first using Sailkote on it. Makes things so much easier. If the furler is up you can insert the straw into the nozzel and spray inside the slot as high as you can reach, then spray the sail edge cording on both sides. Or, ideally, spray the entire length of the track if you have it down. Unless you have other issues with binding (halyard, previously mentioned warping etc) to solve, doing this simple task will make you say "WOW" at the difference after having used it.

I use this product on all sorts of things, on or off a boat. It's unique virtue over other lubricants is that it's not sticky (ie silicone etc) doesn't pick up dirt, and is itself very clean. It lasts a long time when applied.

(Unfortuneately) I have no stock in the company.

http://www.amazon.com/SailKote-Dry-Lubr ... B001TCYGWG

Mine fights me as well, but here are a couple of tips.

1) Lube the track. First I bought a pricey little kit called "Fastrac" from west marine.
Later decided that a tube of diaelectric gel lube from Radio Shack would work good enough. Just squirt some in the groove and on the sail bead.

2) wrap the line around your foot while holding the free end. You can use your body weight to pull the sail up.
even so, I do this and push up on the sail as well.

Its a pain and takes me a couple hours but it works. Just raised mine last weekend.

My tip for running a sail up the furler is Silicone Spray.

Spray the boltrope as you feed it into the furler and spray the furler track as far up as you can reach.

I have never bent a sail onto the furler other than on the water and with the furler in place, on the forestay, with the mast up.

Two produts in an Australian catalogue: "McLube Sailkote" and Ronstan "Silicone Spray". The latter lists Head Foils among the recommendations.

I'm sure that, if you look around, or ask a sail maker, you will find a magic can.

Failing silicone spray, try liberal application of candle wax or bar soap.

I spray the mast track as well. Just takes all the weight out of the halyard.

Does anyony have a bad news story contradicting the above?

Tks
C ya.

Check that, three hits in a row with the same idea.

Surely we three deserve a complimentary can of Sailkote!

Tks
C ya.

Scott wrote:

do you mean that you put the Genny on with the mast down and the furler foil loose on the deck and then connect it to the bow when the mast is raised?

Yes, and if we changed sails (almost ran the entire time I owned it without removing the Genoa from the furler) I did it when the mast was down.

Ditto

Ray

craiglaforce wrote:Mine fights me as well ... Its a pain and takes me a couple hours.

Wow! And I was fussing this April because it took me twenty MINUTES!

Seems to me the CDI was engineered to leave the jib in place all season. But maybe, next time I drop the mast, I'll take off the jib first and spray Sailkote into the boltrope and halyard tracks.

(I might still leave up the working jib and use the gennaker for light winds, though....)

I sailcoat both channels on the furler while on the ground = 5 minutes tops

Attach another line to the line on the roller. Feed it into the channel and pull the line. = 15 minutes tops

You can get some dry lube ptfe from most big box stores - 1/4 the price of sailkote, but leaves a tough white residue. works wonderful though! Sailkote is totally clear. awesome product, but not cheap!

Check your ring dings on the inside of the furler drum! One of mine came off!!

Seems to me the CDI was engineered to leave the jib in place all season

More so it was engineered to be cheap.

Ive sail a few boats with high dollar furlers and the luff extrusions were aluminum. It would have to be sailed on the surface of the sun to collapse the luff channel on those.

This weekend the Admiral and I will lower the mast, disconnect the furler from the bow and spray some Sailkote in all the channels and then pull, pull, pull When I checked the CDI site they say not to spray anything in the channels as it could collect dirt, etc. but if some of you have used it or similar products without any problems I'll give it a try also - just want to get the boat in the water! Thanks again!