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I've just built a 48 ft aluminium sailing cat. I want to fly a cruising chute, (or similar sail) using a top down furling arrangement. The cost of these furlers are quite expensive, so I want to make my own. Does anybody know the mechanism that grips the furling rope in the drum?
Thanks, Minnewaska. It's going to be a big sail on a 48 ft. cat. so I want the easiest & best furling solution. I understand that my best option is a top down furler.
I've built the Cat. from plans, I have my own engineering workshop, & I'm sure I can make one, if I know all the details. [ I've made the sheaves / pulley's complete with Torlon balls etc. ]
Furlers are awesome and I might agree are the best solution. More power to you.
Socks, however, are used on even larger boats, so they are at least a DIY option. You do want to be sure your DIY furler is safe. Coming down on your head would not be good.
as in drum you mean the sheave that turns the torque rope? most are a sheave that is drilled through so as to create teeth on the inside of the sheave and one of the best rope I have found to use for the furling line is Samson trophy braid. it is a bit fuzzy and grips the sheave very well. it will end to end splice and you can.t even feel or see the splice.
not quite the same as a ratchet block. the sheave grips in both directions.
get the best torque rope money can buy and you will be successful http://www.facnor.com/uk/products/gennaker__code_0_furlers/fichiers/fxplus_facnor20.pdf
For larger kites, TDF's have proven to be troublesome. Wish that weren't the case, I would love to use them on our kites. Stick with an ATN to avoid problems.
Thanks overbored & shockwave.
I think that I will go with the engineering solution, rather than a dousing sock. I can make the sheave / drum assembly on the laser cut, or water jet system, using the CAD / CAM method.
I've got a couple of winter months to mess about with it, should be an interesting project.
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