Roller Furling problem

[davidpm]

My friends Catalina 30 has a couple of problem on the Roller Furling unit. The bottom track is bent and the top is said to look like someone took a can opener to it. The result is that it is a challenge to roll up and the sail will not drop unless someone goes up the mast to release it.

Does it make sense to replace two sections of track if the rest of the unit is OK or replace the whole unit?

[knothead]

Originally Posted by davidpm

My friends Catalina 30 has a couple of problem on the Roller Furling unit. The bottom track is bent and the top is said to look like someone took a can opener to it. The result is that it is a challenge to roll up and the sail will not drop unless someone goes up the mast to release it.

Does it make sense to replace two sections of track if the rest of the unit is OK or replace the whole unit?

It may make sense depending on the model and age.
It sounds like a system that has had halyard wrap with a wire halyard. That will need to be corrected also.

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by knothead

It may make sense depending on the model and age.
It sounds like a system that has had halyard wrap with a wire halyard. That will need to be corrected also.

It has a rope halyard. The cause of the damage to the top of the extrusion is unknown.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by davidpm

It has a rope halyard. The cause of the damage to the top of the extrusion is unknown.

There generally aren't too many things that will tear up the top of an extrusion the way you have described.
It should be possible to determine what caused it.
Could there have been a wire halyard on the boat previously? There are usually telltale signs of that.
I don't really know what to tell you because you haven't told me much about the unit.
To determine whether or not it would be prudent to repair or replace a furler, we need to know what kind it is, how old it is, and what's wrong with it.
You have only shared one of these things.


edit; if you can take a photo of it, that would help.

[davidpm]

I'll try to get a picture tonite.

[davidpm]

The picture thing is not going to happen unless I get a telephoto lens. Apparently the boat had a wire jib halyard at one time. The top of the roller furling extrusion was ripped up a bit and the new rope halyard would get snagged on the rough protrusions on the extrusion. We fixed the problem by riveting a block with a spring about 8” down from the top of the mast.
This way the halyard goes over the mast head sheeve then straight down to the new block then out at about 45% to the furling extrusion.
The angle makes is possible to tension the sail but makes it unlikely for the halyard to wrap.
Seems to work and I notice that about ľ of the boats have the same setup.

[Rockter]

Get a price on the new sections. Complete units are very expensive.

[sailingdog]

You're going to want to replace the foil sections. It ain't rocket science... call up the manufacturer and see if the foils are available.

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

You're going to want to replace the foil sections. It ain't rocket science... call up the manufacturer and see if the foils are available.

They are not we checked.
Maybe if the captain keeps the boat.

[sailingdog]

If he is keeping the boat, it might be a good idea to get a new furling unit.