total new question. how don't pull the jib off the furler?

NewportNewbie · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011

Need to patch my jib and it's on a furler. Never pulled one before. How? Can I do it alone or is it a 2 man job? I literally have no clue how to get it down.

Tempest · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011

It makes life a little easier if you have two, but it can be done solo.

You genoa luff slides into a track in a foil. In order to take it down you need to unfurl it and ease the halyard while you pull the genoa down at the bow.

Keep the working sheet ( leeward) on a winch and trim the sail in, and cleat the sheet.

If you have help, someone just eases the halyard down slowly while you guide the luff out of the track and gather the sail at the same time. ( Keep the foot from going over the lifelines and into the water.)

It helps if you pick a windless day or at least light wind day.

If you're solo, I would bring the halyard forward with you to the bow, keeping tension on it. You would have to bring it back to the first fairlead block..probably at the base of the mast taking it out of any other leads. Then ease the halyard while you lower the sail as above.

It's pretty easy, just keep the sail out of the water, and try not to let any edges of the foil tear the luff.

simpsoned · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011

What Tempest says is pretty straight forward...depending on your furler you may have to release the tack and pull the bottom 18" or so up to free the genny...or if you have a newer CDI, make sure you don't pull the head past about 5 feet off the deck, otherwise you will have the internal halyard ferrule pull out of the foil...been there, done that...and I'm both too old and too large to go scrambling up the mast again to reset the halyard...
Ed Simpson
S/V Das Dawg Haus
Newport 30...

MarkSF · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011

Whatever you do, when the sail is down, secure BOTH ENDS of the jib halyard. The end that was at the top of the jib and is now at the deck (even if it's still attached to the the furler block - cos that can slide back up to the top of the mast) AND the end that normally goes around the winch. Otherwise either end can go up to the top, and you'll have a problem!

I once got too enthusiastic taking the jib down, and pulled the winch end of the jib halyard up too far. Fortunately I could get something around it and pull it back down. That's when a second man comes in handy, to ease out the halyard at the winch and make sure it's secured.

A second man really helps for raising as you'll want one to feed the sail into the furler, and the other to winch on the halyard.

Tempest · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011

Yes, Mark's points can't be overstated.... If I'm doing it solo, I never take the halyard out past the block at the base of the mast and always have a figure 8 or other stopper knot in it in either case...solo or with help..

NewportNewbie · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2011

Great thanks guys....I'll actually lower it just enough to patch the sail, then raise it. I actually don't need to remove it completely as the tear is near the leech.

celenoglu · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2011

In any wind anchor your boat and get it down as described above. The sail will never go to water.

NewportNewbie · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2011

Well I did it today...wow was that easy. I was TOTALLY over thinking it. Thx!