Boom furler on Morgan 34, Frozen?

[inshallamiami]

Although not used in a Long, long time, our Morgan 34 has the original furler (famet) which rolled the sail around the boom but it appears to be frozen. We have the handle (used for the outhaul also) but it just won't turn. Is there a lock of some kind? Any ideas how to free it? We don't really need to use it, we're just going a little nuts trying to see if it COULD work.

[Faster]

I wouldn't bother.... it's a crappy way to reef the sail anyway, and if the mechanism is already questionable then it may be more trouble than it's worth.

If the boat has been fitted with a vang in the interim that will negate using the feature too ...

[inshallamiami]

True Faster, but it's kinda like an itch I can't scratch!

[gpwil3847]

I agree, roller furling is not as good as a set of reef points. I know on some smaller boats you pull the boom out then start rolling - yeah - oops have to take off the boom vang. I suppose you could take the boom off and go at it with penetrating lubricants, and perhaps tapping with a small hammer later to see if you can jar anything loose while trying to work it back and forth???

[inshallamiami]

We'll we've been lubricating and tap tap tapping and it is just frozen. I just wanted to make sure theres not some button or something you have to push or move. Sometimes this boat has her secrets ( like how to adjust the outhaul.)

[inshallamiami]

And... this boom is almost 16 ft long and weighs a ton, so I don't think That removing it for reefing is such an attractive idea. We did disconnect it once just to see.....but no effect on furling.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by inshallamiami

Although not used in a Long, long time, our Morgan 34 has the original furler (famet) which rolled the sail around the boom but it appears to be frozen. We have the handle (used for the outhaul also) but it just won't turn. Is there a lock of some kind? Any ideas how to free it? We don't really need to use it, we're just going a little nuts trying to see if it COULD work.

The entire cranking mechanism has to be removed from the boom. A few years ago I had a customer with a frozen one and it was pretty easy to get it working again once I got it out.
I can't recall much about how it worked, but I remember that the mechanism is made from good material. Bronze and stainless mostly I think. I just had to soak it and tap it and work it until it started moving and then just cleaned it up, lubed it and put it back.
I lubed the outboard end too and it turned like a charm.
I have no idea if he ever actually used it to furl or not, but I pretty much agree that it's not going to give you the best end result. However, sometimes, with some boats and some owners, a less than perfect result is satisfactory.

[gpwil3847]

So glad somebody got back to you - In a 24' Morgan the boom is much smaller and lighter! Did not think about wench handles to work such.

[inshallamiami]

Thanks knothead, will consider trying to remove it, just for fun.