dropping the mast with roller furling headsails

[triciaautr]

I am considering the purchase of a boat that will have to be trailered to her new home. The vessel in question has roller furling headsail and staysail. In thinking about all the things that can go wrong with moving a boat, I have visions of the foils getting generally mangled in the process. Surely this has been done zillions of times, but I have not talked to anyone who's actually done this. Any words of comfort, advice or warning from the collective?

[Faster]

Use the mast to support the foils during transport?

[jrd22]

My son just moved his boat from NC to WA and did just what Faster suggests. He secured the foils (cutter) to the mast with carpet remnants separating everything to prevent them from rubbing and removed all the other standing rigging and coiled them up. Everything transported fine, well, except for the hull which was damaged from two of the jackstands, but that's for another thread.

[Ocarina II]

Have someone holding the stem end of the furler and foil as the mast comes out. Keep the foil undercontrol as the crane swings around and sets the mast down horizontaly. Try to keep the foil out from under the mast when its on the rack or sawhorses or deck. If the boat is being transported by a sufficiently large trailor the mast can be placed on the trailer or cradle, otherwise, some lumber should be used to create a support on deck.
Remove antennaes and wind instruments or they will disappear, and take off any other pieces vibration might loosen. Foils aren't that flimsy, I wouldn't worry too much about them. The most common mistake I've seen when traillering is forehatches blowing open on the highway and being torn off by the wind.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by Ocarina II

Have someone holding the stem end of the furler and foil as the mast comes out. Keep the foil undercontrol as the crane swings around and sets the mast down horizontaly. Try to keep the foil out from under the mast when its on the rack or sawhorses or deck. If the boat is being transported by a sufficiently large trailor the mast can be placed on the trailer or cradle, otherwise, some lumber should be used to create a support on deck.
Remove antennaes and wind instruments or they will disappear, and take off any other pieces vibration might loosen. Foils aren't that flimsy, I wouldn't worry too much about them. The most common mistake I've seen when traillering is forehatches blowing open on the highway and being torn off by the wind.

I may be wrong, but it sounds like you are suggesting that someone try to hold the furler as the mast is pulled.
The only way I will pull a mast out of a boat is if all the shrouds and stays are tied off to the base of the spar. I usually use the tails of the halyards. The mast will have to be lifted a few feet before the furler can be tied but the last thing you want is to leave it, (or anything else for that matter), loose as the spar is lowered horizontally.
It should be tied to the mast securely with the rest of the rigging.

[MikeOReilly]

I drop my mast almost every year for winter storage. Managing a furler is no big deal. Just go slow. We usually fasten a control line to the base of the furled so it can be kept out of harms way as the stick goes up. Once horizontal, detach spreaders, and secure standing rigging to mast (including furlers on stays).

[knothead]

Originally Posted by MikeOReilly

I drop my mast almost every year for winter storage. Managing a furler is no big deal. Just go slow. We usually fasten a control line to the base of the furled so it can be kept out of harms way as the stick goes up. Once horizontal, detach spreaders, and secure standing rigging to mast (including furlers on stays).

You're right, it's no big deal. If you tie it off.
Seriously, just tie it off to the mast and you won't have any problems. If you let it swing it could make the mast top heavy which would be a real problem. If it's not secured, the foil is much more likely to be damaged.

[tommays]

Even with a relatively short deck stepped mast i have not had a problem

[Barquito]

What size boat are we talking about here? On our Catalina 22 lowering the mast with the sail on the furler was no problem. It helped to have the sail off the furler when we raised the mast. In transport, the furling foil only extended beyond the mast about 3'. For our short trip, it was safe to just let it bounce around. For longer trips I would consider lashing a board to the mast and furler to keep it from bouncing.