how to install genoa on roller furler

[boaterjen]

Hi guys,

I have a new 26M, and I need to put the genoa onto the furner up front. I'm looking at it, but I don't see how to do it.

First of all, it seemed harder than it should be to get the furler to pin onto the stem. I had to have someone help me pull it down, as if it was one inch too short. But we got it on.

But then on looking at the thing, I don't see how to install the genoa. I have a notch at the base, back side. I have a line, possibly the hallyard?, up the groove in the front. But that line, if it's the hallyard, doesn't come back down; it's only going up that slot to the top. I can't see how anything's attached at the top.

The furler rotates fine, easily.

I know the luff has to go into the slot through the notch at the base.

I know the head has to attach to the bottom of a hallyard, to take it up--tie a shackle to it? But If that line on the front is the hallyard, I don't see how it's going to pull the hallyard up the aft notch of that pvc furler.

ANd I haven't found any instructions on just how to do this. I've been thrugh the manual, and the info there is too skimpy to show me. If there's something specific for the furler, I haven't found it yet.

Ideas?

Jen
I know the clew has to attach to the bottom. That part's easy.

[Azzarac]

Hi Jen,
It would help to know what furler your working with. I'm going to take a guess that its one of CDI's models (model would help also ). I always need help getting the pin on and off also. They are supposed to be tight. On CDI the hallyard is internal going from the of the genoa up the track and then looping back down and exiting the furler at the front top of the drum. I have a link here that shows a pretty good diagram of how it should look once rigged. Hope it helps.
http://www.sailcdi.com/sailpdf/FF2%20manual%204.04.pdf

[boaterjen]

Hello Azzarac. Nice name. Native of Azaroth?

Ok. So I looked at the diagram in that link, and maybe I see something.

I was (mistakenly) thinking that there would be a hallyard on there, that I could tie onto the head, and then hoist it up the rearward slot in the furler, tie it off front bottom. My mast is alreay up...

But It looks like, per the diagram, that maybe I need to lower the mast again, drag the genoa through/up the rearward slot in the furler then tie it off at the head to the top end of the halyard, (then tie the tac off as well temporarily, then raise the mast again, then tighten the lines...

Because when I look at the way it's rigged while new and sitting there, mast up, the hallyard top end is waaaaay up there.

Shuckydarnpoopoo. But if that's what it takes, that's what I'll do.

Seeing that diagra, then yes, it's easy to do, and I can do it. I just didn't know there wasn't the kind of rigging I'd imagined. But I think I get it now.

thank you.

Jen

[K9Kampers]

I was (mistakenly) thinking that there would be a hallyard on there, that I could tie onto the head, and then hoist it up the rearward slot in the furler, tie it off front bottom. My mast is alreay up...

Jen- this is correct. Sounds like you may be missing the halyard, or at the least it is already pulled to the top, in which case you will need to lower the mast to retrieve it. Page 3 shows item K as the halyard. If yours is stuck at top, then you will have about 18 feet or so of it coming out the front groove.

I used to think that the RF needed to be on the ground to install the sail, but it is easiest to install/ remove the sail when mast up... you just need that halyard.

[Catigale]

Jen

If it is the CDI then the halyard is internal in the grey plastic extrusion that fits around the forestay. It is too short to have halyard on deck with the genoa or jib down...this is by design so you don't have a tangle of furler at the bottom with the head sail up.

Pinning furler or forestay with correct tension is hard solo..I use a Johnson lever to attach, then tension. I'll link mod.

Solo, you can also use this trick....sit with furler between knees, tie a line to furler and then make a loop for your foot so you can stretch the stay down with your foot, leaving both hands free to put the pin in. I confess I've also over come guy-disease and asked someone to pull down while I pin when I launch at Mass too...much faster..

I think you are sailing MDR...are you sure genoa is the right sail for those waters? Higher winds mean jib for these boats

[captronr]

I got a johnson lever for the backstay. That way I can loosen it so I can more easily pin the furler at the bow, then retighten to get better sail shape.

At least that's my plan--haven't installed it yet.

Ron

[Azzarac]

The name does indeed hail from Azaroth, though I am only an occasional visitor there now that I have developed a taste for sailing. Funny thing about boats, they can eat up a tremendous amount of ones free time!

Good luck on the genoa and let us know how it goes for you.

[parttimesailor]

IF you have a CDI flexible furler (sort of sounds like you do), google them and read the instruction manual. On mine, I attach a messenger line to the halyard while installing the sail. Once the sail is on, you can take away the messenger line.

[K9Kampers]

...messenger line...

Yes, that's the part I forgot. The 33 ft description on the parts pic threw me to say there'd be all that extra line if the halyard was at the top.

[Catigale]

I got a johnson lever for the backstay. That way I can loosen it so I can more easily pin the furler at the bow, then retighten to get better sail shape.

At least that's my plan--haven't installed it yet.

Ron

Ron - the tension on the forestay, once correctly rigged, comes from the side stays, not the backstay. This is important because loose rigging will fail from fatigue. You cant fail this rigging by being too tight, the hull will give out first..

[boaterjen]

Okay, I think I'm it. Thank u guys