SO40 - lower roller unit

[hoppy]

I was just thinking ahead to post summer sail upgrades as I expect my 9yo originals will be due for retirement.

When looking at more performance oriented cruising sails I got wondering if it is a realistic option to lower the unit closer to the deck to get a bit more sail area. If I was to lower the roller, I would probably go whole hog and replace the roller and the forestay.

It looks to me that it should be possible to lower the roller to a level where the top of the roller is the same hight as the light.





Does this seem a reasonable option?

I would be counting the roller and stay replacement as part of a preventative upgrade process.

[davideso37]

Hoppy,

I have done this on our SO37. Facnor supply shorter links. In most cases there will be enough lower foil inside the telescopic section to just pull our the extra length. From memory the lower section is 1.5 metres so if you measure how much is protruding below the outer foil you will know how much you have to spare. There is a pop rivet in the telescopic section that has to be drilled out taking care not to hit the forestay. There may also be a pop rivet in the plastic feeder than needs to be drilled out and replaced after the adjustment. It is a very simple job and cost very little.
Now a few details. Remove the genoa. The backstay and sidestays should be loosened to take the pressure off the bolt that goes through the forestay lower end swage. A halyard is then fixed to the bow roller to act as a temporary forestay. Another halyard must be attached to the upper part of the foil so that the foil can be hauled higher to prevent the furler body sliding down over the forestay. That would be embarrassing. Drill out the two pop rivets mentioned above making sure that the outer foil does not slide down over the telescopic section. That would indicate it is not held securely enough. Undo the two bolt on either side of the lower furler body. Now the telescopic section should be free to move up and down inside the outer section. Up to now the mast is still held with the forestay. This is the point where you make sure that there is enough slack in the forestay to remove the bolt, change over to the shorter links, replace the bolt in the forestay. Now that the mast is secure again it is simply a matter of putting the two bolts back into the now lowered furler body, setting the clearance at the top of the outer foil at the required distance below the top forestay swage, drilling new holes for replacement pop rivets, slackening off the temporary forestay, retensioning the back and side stays and replacing the genoa. Now that the genoa is lower you will have to add a short strop to the top of the genoa so that the angle from the halyard to the top furler roller remains as specified. If you don't add the strop, the top roller section may not rotate and you will end up with the halyard wrapped around the geona. Then you will have to go to the top and add the strop from the bosuns chair.
The change of the links is a two man job as you will have to hold the lower telescopic section up while you change the links. I would even put a rope hitch around the forestay between the furler and the swage to ensure you don't lose the swage up inside the furler body.
The genoa looks more attractive with the shortest links. If you go lower than this the genoa starts to catch the lifelines too much.
After 10 years the forestay will be due for replacement so I would recommend a new one next year. I think it requires a rigger to change the forestay and you would bring the whole furler assembly down to ground level. At ground level you can pull the foil sections apart and change the plastic bearings at each join. Each join has two Phillips head screw on either side of the join and these are secured with Loctite so it can be a job to undo them. You only need to take the screws out of one side of each join, I think about 12 screws in all. Don't forget to put them back in with Loctite. After that it should be as good as new. That's what I did with ours after 5 years but only because we were installing a taller mast.
Good luck.
David