Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Securing roller furling headsail
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

MiNO
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
32 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/30/2009 :  20:39:23  Show Profile
After installing a new CDI roller furling and a new headsail, we finally got a chance to give it a try, and it was fantastic. We were finishing some painting, so it was about a month since we installed it and put on the sail that we got to try it.

That was Saturday, and today, after driving up to the marina, to my surprise, I saw the sail had come halfway loose. We had tied the jib sheets around the sail to make sure this wouldn't occur. The clew of the headsail had made its way under and above the looped jib sheets and the top half of the sail was loose. One part of the clew needs to be repaired because part of it came apart. It took a beating, and there a small areas of the UV cover that have worn away and small pinholes where the sail was creased and worn. Thankfully, no tears. I wonder it would have been worse or better if the entire sail came loose because it was creased and worm around where the jib sheets were looped around it. The jib sheets had tightened up with all the pulling and it took some effort to untie them.

I think that we didn't roll the sail up tight enough when we furled in the sail. Also, the line that furls the drum had some slack wrapped in the drum, so only one direction of the furler was being prevented from turning, not both.

So other than making sure the sail is tightly rolled, having the furling line completely unwrapped from inside the drum to prevent it from turning in both directions, and securing the jib sheets around and above the clew, is there any other ways to make sure this never happens? We had a few storms that rolled through with 20 knot winds for a few hours, but then most of the wind was around 10-14 knots at the most.

-Kurt

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2009 :  21:14:21  Show Profile
Cleat off the bitter end of the furler line so that it cannot give. When you furl the sail keep some pressure on the active sheet so that the furler line is not loose on the drum. When you unfurl keep some pressure on the furler line as well. Doing both those things helps keep the furler line nicely wound and the genny wound tight. We put two velcro straps around the furled genny, each about 6" above/below the clew. We've had winds in the mid 20's lately and no problems. You want that clew held closely against the furled sail.

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Kip C
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
243 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 :  06:22:58  Show Profile
Kurt,
We have about 10 extra wraps on the drum compared to normal. It gives us about 5 or 6 wraps of the jib sheets around the sail to secure the sail. We're left with just enough of the bitter end of the jib sheets to wrap the winches about 4 times and are then secured with the winch covers. This was our way to secure the sail and tidy up the bitter end of jib sheets. The furling line is cleated off, but I leave it very loose, because where it's at on our boat it can be a trip hazard.
Just my 2 cents.


Edited by - Kip C on 07/01/2009 06:25:21
Go to Top of Page

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 :  07:06:31  Show Profile
The furling line should be properly cleated (Some people don't know how to tie a line to a cleat, or are careless in doing so). The furling line, when well secured, is your best defense against the sail coming unfurled. In a major storm, headsails should be removed, but, with proper precautions, a furling headsail should stay furled through hurricane force winds. Use the techniques that have already been described here, but do it with meticulous care every time. When you put the boat away for a week or two, you can never know whether a major storm will pass through in the next two weeks before you go to the boat again, so you never want to leave it with a loosely furled sail, or poorly secured furling line. Neatness isn't just a matter of aesthetics. It prevents the wind from getting under a corner of fabric and shaking it until a knot becomes untied or a line becomes uncleated.

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 :  08:08:29  Show Profile
I have 3 wraps of sheets with the furling line and sheets snuggly cleated, but I always attach a short piece of line to the cringle and and wrap and tie the genoa when I leave the boat at the end of my stay.

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 :  08:14:30  Show Profile
With the CDI, you have a spare jib halyard... I like John Russell's approach--wrapping that halyard a few turns around the furled sail in the reverse direction from the furl (although I never had that spare halyard). Also, I found that furling the sail while under way (not luffing), so the sail is filled and a sheet is tensioned, gives the tightest, smoothest wrap. When unfurling, keep some tension on the furling line so it wraps snugly on the drum. My genny stayed tight through many violent storms, but I removed it and the main a few times when tropical storms/hurricanes were threatening.

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 :  12:30:08  Show Profile
In addition to the above, we tie on a piece of line, about 4' long, in a series of half hitches from just above the clew to below the clew. It's my chicken line, for when all else fails, or gets messed with...

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Chris Z
Captain

Members Avatar

452 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2009 :  08:04:10  Show Profile  Visit Chris Z's Homepage
Two thoughts on this need. My Harken furler has a place for a pin in the drum to secure it from unrolling. My brother says that if you are in an area that could get big winds, this is the only way of insuring that it will stay rolled. The other is a jib sock that will keep it from unrolling and help in the life of the sail. i bought mine at http://leesailcovers.com/index.html

Their prices are very good. I had a problem with one zipper and their service to fix and insure my problem was fixed was excellent.

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2009 :  08:34:40  Show Profile
Ever the contrarian... While passing some marinas on a recent, windy day, I noticed a jib sock flailing away, undoubtedly chafing the leech and foot of the furled sail inside. Just an observation...

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

crcalhoon
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2009 :  09:04:05  Show Profile
I used to have a jib sock on a roller furler and I confess that I liked it very much. However, it flogged so badly in high winds that I always made it a point to remove it and just lash the sail up good and tight if I thought there was a chance of a really good blow. That would be the next to last step before just removing the sail altogether.

In similar vein, for some years I have kept one of those blue plastic tarps strung over the boom on my C25. About a month ago I noticed that it had flogged enough to wear two little holes in my 3 year old main cover. I have taken the tarp off and will live with the leaks for awhile. Am considering having a couple of sacrificial patches sewn on top of the repair when I get that done.

Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

windsong
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2009 :  12:45:16  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Dave Bristle</i>
<br />I found that furling the sail while under way (not luffing), so the sail is filled and a sheet is tensioned, gives the tightest, smoothest wrap. When unfurling, keep some tension on the furling line so it wraps snugly on the drum.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave, I agree that keeping the sheets and furling line tensioned is critical. Three wraps of the sheets around the furled sail, as many of already pointed out, is also important. Beyond that, I'm intrigued by the suggestions about using an additional line to secure the sail from unfurling while docked. That's a great idea, particularly for winter, and I'll definitely heed that advice.

Edited by - windsong on 07/04/2009 12:45:58
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.