MAC FURLER LINE

[jaguar496]

Hi Y'all: Has anyone replaced the rat line in the Mac furler with a larger diameter line? I had a mishap last week, trying to furl the genny in squirrely 15-20kt winds, when the wind direction changed briefly while furling, causing a backlash, which totally stopped any furling. I motored to a shore where the wind was calm, but during the motor, approx. 2 miles, the jenny recieved damage caused by the hardware that holds the speaders. I called MacGregor, but no help there, quite vauge when I asked about a greater diameter line, saying it would fill the furler, although I suggested another eighth inch only. This is the fourth time this has happened while underway, AND, this happened to me while tied up in no wind condition while I practlced furling/unfurling in ideal conditions. Second problem, how difficult is it to remove the jenny, as I need to have it repaired? Thanks for your time, stew king

[argonaut]

I don't think thicker line is the solution, and yes... it will just clog the spool. On my X there's scarcely room for the tiny stuff that's already in there.
When mine got worn I replaced it with new same diameter from WM.
Problem was on my X-boat it kept getting caught on my baby stay on the port side at the worst time.
I bought two Ronstan fairleads that are made to mount on the stanchions 7/8 diameter pipe.
Ronstan Fairlead
I mounted one outboard on the middle stanchion and the other low on the pulpit, so now the line has doesn't fly all over the place when I furl and unfurl.
Worked great for me.

[Québec 1]

Stew
Removing the jenny from the furler is real easy. Just take pictures of the way its attached at the top and the bottom of the furler before you start. The sail just slides down off the furler luff extrution and taking the sail off the bottom sail feed slot is very easy. Just pay attention ( take a few pics) to the way the sail is tied down to the halyard and tack anchor shackles on the drum before you take it appart and it will be painless putting it back together again.

If its cdi the manuals are on their site.
http://www.sailcdi.com/sailpdf/FF2%20manual%207_06.pdf

Q1

[Rick Westlake]

Furler lines generally are pretty skinny, because of the limited size of that drum and because the stresses on the furler line rarely demand a lot of pull.

You might be able to get a thicker line, for the comfort of your hands, spliced to the end of a thin line that fills the drum; but you'd better make sure the splice will run through the stanchion fairleads or blocks. I think you could rig it so you were handling and cleating the heavy line, but only the skinny line would be wrapping up on the drum.

I just replaced the line in my CDI furler with a longer piece of 3/16" StaSet, so I can cleat off the furler line back by the helm. I single-hand most of the time, and it's worthwhile for me to be able to reach the line and "reef in a little" without having to go forward. (Yeah, I could put "Otto" to work, but West Marine was having their special and it was $14 for the length of line that I wanted.)

Hope it works out for you - good luck.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Stew ...do a search. On decoring furler line for a possible solution

you won't be able to fit a thicker line with a 150 genny; a standard jib might let you upgrade

[raycarlson]

i also had problems with the mac furler jamming .I went up one size i think it was 1/4 to 5/16. my genoa requires about 15 wraps of line to fully furl an it just barely holods 15 wraps without the drum binding.the most important thing ive found when furling is to keep tension on both lines when furling and if any binding is felt just alternate some quick tugs on the lines (on-off-on-off)and it will always resume furling very smoothly. i also hose the whole drum ,rope and all with dry sailkote lube.

[DaveB]

Sounds like you have the New Furler and not the CDI 2 most of us has. I went with a thicker line and took out the inner core so it would lay flat on the drum for about 12 ft.
That was 2 years ago and rolls easy without jambing on the spool.
Be sure the fairlead is 90 degrees to headstay or the line will bunch on you.
Always try to have tension on the line while you roll the furler otherwise it will bunch up in heavier wind.
Dave

Hi Y'all: Has anyone replaced the rat line in the Mac furler with a larger diameter line? I had a mishap last week, trying to furl the genny in squirrely 15-20kt winds, when the wind direction changed briefly while furling, causing a backlash, which totally stopped any furling. I motored to a shore where the wind was calm, but during the motor, approx. 2 miles, the jenny recieved damage caused by the hardware that holds the speaders. I called MacGregor, but no help there, quite vauge when I asked about a greater diameter line, saying it would fill the furler, although I suggested another eighth inch only. This is the fourth time this has happened while underway, AND, this happened to me while tied up in no wind condition while I practlced furling/unfurling in ideal conditions. Second problem, how difficult is it to remove the jenny, as I need to have it repaired? Thanks for your time, stew king