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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Maiden Voyage; furler glitch

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reuben
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USA
202 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/08/2004 : 23:26:17

It was our first day out in a boat so new (to us) it's still unnamed. Some of the sailors in the marina were wishing for more wind, but I was grateful for the light NW breeze which gave us the opportunity to learn some things about the 250 in easygoing fashion. First, backing with one's outboard out of a slip isn't as easy as it looks; second, the boat is remarkably graceful & quick when there's barely enough wind to ripple the lake - we went flat across the bay in what felt like 7 mph and kept a steady 3.6 knots; and third, that the drum of our CDI furler will literally pop out of its casing if you try hoisting the jib to proper height. As it was my first experience with a furler of any kind, I wasn't able to see why it was happening - but it was as if some pin or piece of hardware were missing, the drum would simply pop up (think rock'em sock'em robots) and so we had to sail main-only or with the jib foot bending somewhat over the forward lifelines. Has anyone dealt with a similar problem?

Back to the outboard: I've never driven one before, and we didn't have a disaster, but did have to fend off a couple of docks & the sterns of innocent boats. So when we reached a lonesome bay we dropped a fender over the side and pretended it was the corner of our slip. We probably spent 90 minutes approaching, cutting power, rounding in; and when we came in for real in the late afternoon, it went just fine. Again: glad for the light wind.

Reuben
C-250 WK #499
Bayfield, WI

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ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2004 : 04:47:40

Rueben,
Congratulations on the maiden voyage..
Yes there is a pin that holds the assembley together if it is CDI Furler..I will try to get a pic for you tomorrow,
Steve

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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2980 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2004 : 07:00:07

Steve has it right about the pin which holds the drum down. I'll offer a few more comments to help with understanding the furler.

The CDI has an integrated halyard and unlike using a regular halyard, it is ineffective when setting the sails luff tension. The sails tack should be provided with a downhaul. I believe the best method for this is a good quality 1/8 inch nylon line about five feet long. Secure it to the tack.

Hoist the sail to the stop of the furler (all the way up). Then reave the tack line through the drum slot and sail tack a couple of times. The equivelant of a block and tackle now exist for tensioning the tack, draw the tack down, reave one more loop and half hitch several times to secure.

The furler itself should be inspected to insure that a few conditions are met. If it has a nylon bearing block within, the surface of the block will crud over with dirt which should be cleaned away. The turnbuckle MUST have either cotter pins or circle clips to prevent the spinning furler from spinning the turnbuckle and releasing the stay

. The clevis under the drum should have the proper shim washers to limit the drum up and down play.

Hope these help.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2004 : 13:48:46

There is a pin which goes through the top of the drum on which the foil rests (foil grey, drum black) the integral halyard forces the foil and the drum to stay together and then provides luff tension.If the pin is not in place the drum can ride up over the foil negating any luff tension.

If it's all in place properly it is technically possible to lift the whole thing (drum foil and sail) up out of the metal shell and slide it up on the head stay, this would require great force. I doubt that was what was going on....

My mast is down so a good picture of the setup/pin is hard to do right now.....If you can't figure it out let me know I'll make a diagram.

Oscar, on the road in Austin TX.

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reuben
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2004 : 07:54:33

Thanks, gentlemen. On return to the boat I'll be able to attack the problem with an idea in mind.

Word is, also, that the head of CDI picks up his phone and answers questions, even from neophytes - well, God bless sailing people, says I.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2004 : 18:46:50

This is the diagram from my CDI manual.

standby, I'll try to get a better picture.

Edited by - Ben - FL on 05/15/2004 18:50:42

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2004 : 21:42:17

Nice one Ben.....

The pin I was referring to in my diatribe is on the drawing labeled "C"...

Oscar
250WB#618 Lady Kay on the Chesapeake

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2004 : 20:57:46

If a copy of this manual is needed I'm sure I could dupe it and fax or email it without infringing copyright laws.

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reuben
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2004 : 23:07:10

Thanks, Ben - the diagram is most helpful. Steve Steakley also sent a couple of good photos via email, which I was able to compare with pictures I took of the boat the day we took delivery and at crane-in the following day. It's interesting: the pin is visible on the delivery pix - but it appears to be gone after crane-in. Somehow it came out during that 24 hours. Tuesday night we return to the boat & will find out for certain.

Edited by - on

reuben
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2004 : 20:47:17

Weather has prevented our getting back to the lake, but I'm quite sure what's missing in the CDI (model FF4) is the luff support pin, a clevis-type pin the manual says is 1/4 X 2 1/4. However, West Marine and a couple of online hardware catalogues offer no clevis pin of that size -- the longest 1/4 pin I've located is only 1 1/4 inches long. I've emailed CDI a couple of times, and will try Sailnet's toll-free number in the morning as they offer service on CDI furlers. In the meantime, any suggestions on juryrigs/temp fixes?

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2004 : 21:56:02

Stainless steel bolt of appropriate size with self locking nut (with nylon insert ring) on the end. Should be readily available at your local marine supply, about 2 bucks.....

Oscar, in the schoolhouse in Houston....

Edited by - Oscar on 05/19/2004 21:57:23

River Harley
Navigator

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132 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2004 : 16:16:47

Congratulations on your boat. Just a comment on the backing problem. We had the same problem on our first moorage departure. Breeze + high freeboard = we went to back the boat into a turn and it DIDN'T! Since installing Arlyn's softlink for tandem rudder/motor pivot, there is no longer any issue with turning - wind or no. Go to Arlyn's modification website for more info. R.H.

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zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2004 : 11:58:18

Congrats on the boat. I had major backing problems whenever I tried to back out while the wind was coing in over the stern. A few times I even had to back out and down the slips to open water-very embarassing. If you are really lazy, like me, and dont mind spending the $$, you can purchase a link shown below on my boat, Papa's Boat II.

If you need more info on it, or want to see the installation pictures just email me.

Edited by - on

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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.