Roller Reefing Question...

[MedSailor]

I now have installed a brand spankin' new Harken cruising furler 2 and a new %120 Rolly Tasker sail (compliments of Dirk at national sail supply). I've been owning sailboats for 9+ years and have never had either roller furling or a new sail before. So.....

YAY!!!!!

Now my question. Do I need to slack the halyard when I roll up the sail to avoid damage to the halyard, sail, or furling gear? It would seem to me that if I wanted to roller reef I would already have a bar-taught halyard, so keeping it tight would be easiest, but I wanted to ask so I don't break my new toy...

MedSailor

(10 days till my 3 week cruise...)

[knothead]

Originally Posted by MedSailor

I now have installed a brand spankin' new Harken cruising furler 2 and a new %120 Rolly Tasker sail (compliments of Dirk at national sail supply). I've been owning sailboats for 9+ years and have never had either roller furling or a new sail before. So.....

YAY!!!!!

Now my question. Do I need to slack the halyard when I roll up the sail to avoid damage to the halyard, sail, or furling gear? It would seem to me that if I wanted to roller reef I would already have a bar-taught halyard, so keeping it tight would be easiest, but I wanted to ask so I don't break my new toy...

MedSailor


(10 days till my 3 week cruise...)

Don't keep it bar tight, there's no reason to. Just wears out the bearings sooner. But don't slacken it up to roll it either. Better chance of wraping. You did install a halyard restrainer didn't you?
It doesn't hurt to slacken it after it's rolled up though.

[sailingfool]

What's your manual say... as KH says, I believe with most furlers, maybe all, you should furl with normal tension on...releasing tension after furling being a sensible practice.