More self furling jib questions...

[wildcard]

I have never seen one up close so I hope these questions dont sound too stupid....If I have a roller on and want to change sails, can I drop the roller and hank on a conventional sail or must it be modified to fit the roller? and second, Im asuming that it does not have a solid rod or something in the middle but works off the standing rigging? Im concerned about shipping to Hawaii. ANd finaly, will I have to use a man lift to install the top end or can I do it from the mast?
Thanks in advance!

[sailingdog]

Wildcard-

Most of the roller furlers have an aluminum extrusion over the forestay... the luff of the roller furling jib or genoa has a wire that slides into the groove and holds it to the forestay, instead of hanking on.

In general, you can't drop the roller and hank on a sail...it has to be modified to fit the furling groove.

While you don't need a lift to install the top end, to install a roller furling system you have to:

1) disconnect the bottom of the forestay
2) Cut off the swage and then slide the foil sections up the forestay
3) Put on the roller
4) Put on the mechanical terminal fitting — either StaLok, Hi-Mod or Norseman.
5) Re-attach the bottom of the forestay.

If your rigging is more that five years old, most roller furling manufacturers will recommend that you replace the forestay, to install the roller furling unit.

This is a very rough overview of installing a roller furling unit. Details are specific to each brand and model.

[Faster]

As an added note, "Furlex" provides a new (wire) forestay & fitting with their furlers and I understand that they are fairly easily installed DIY.

[sailingdog]

BTW, I have a Furlex on my boat, and yes, they're relatively easy to install, and to maintain.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

BTW, I have a Furlex on my boat, and yes, they're relatively easy to install, and to maintain.

But they can be a right pain in the butt if you need to adjust your forestay.

[sailingdog]

Also very true mr. wombat... have to agree with you there...

[wildcard]

Thanks for the input!

[BeneteauMark]

I have a Furlex on my Benetea 235, and don't know how I sailed without it the first several seasons. Though I'm mechanically inclined, the fee I paid a local rigger for installation was worth every dime -- piece of mind, given the stakes.

He installed the furler with the mast down, since the forestay has to be disconnected.

Mark

[Idiens]

My Furlex was replaced with the mast up. For safety, we tensioned the jib halyard from the bow.
For the staysail, my sailmaker is trying to sell me a racing system that rolls the sail around a strong rope luff and lets it be tensioned or removed entirely. (Note: no reefing possible, the sail is either all in or all out). www.deltavoiles.com/hookmatic.htm

[wildcard]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Wildcard-

Most of the roller furlers have an aluminum extrusion over the forestay... the luff of the roller furling jib or genoa has a wire that slides into the groove and holds it to the forestay, instead of hanking on.

In general, you can't drop the roller and hank on a sail...it has to be modified to fit the furling groove.

While you don't need a lift to install the top end, to install a roller furling system you have to:

1) disconnect the bottom of the forestay
2) Cut off the swage and then slide the foil sections up the forestay
3) Put on the roller
4) Put on the mechanical terminal fitting — either StaLok, Hi-Mod or Norseman.
5) Re-attach the bottom of the forestay.

If your rigging is more that five years old, most roller furling manufacturers will recommend that you replace the forestay, to install the roller furling unit.

This is a very rough overview of installing a roller furling unit. Details are specific to each brand and model.

Is this aluminum extrusion one piece or is it in sections? I am in Hawaii, well the boat is anyway and shipping a 42 foot piece of tube would be spendy.