So 37 furling genoa

[scallywagtoo]

Does anyone here have to use a winch to furll/unfurl the headsail
Mines is pretty tight and jams sometimes has anyone else had this problem

[hoppy]

Mine was once a bit like that. This is what caused my problem

jeanneau.proboards.com/thread/3103/roller-forestay-ooops

My problem was also noticeable when turning the roller by hand when the sail was furled.

[scallywagtoo]

Thank you I'll investigate that

[hoppy]

it could also be roller bearings or even that the halyard is to tight.

[Caxton]

Definitely could be that the halyard is to tight, try that first.

Caxton

[so36idavid]

On a 37' boat you shouldn't need a winch to furl. You almost certainly have some kind of problem, there's friction somewhere in the system. If yours feels really tight ask your neighbors if you can try theirs, get a feel for what it should feel like. Make sure to ease the sheets and halyard before furling. It requires a good pull but not a winch. If you're winching then you're putting a bunch of strain on parts that aren't designed for it. 

[Deleted]

I lost the bearings from the deflector wheel as it was a foolish design whereby they are puched in from the bottom. When then the halyard is too tight the line can get tangled and make it impossible to furl. Then first release the tension. So check the deflector wheel if it is located correctly.

This wheel has become obsolety and is replaced with a new type from Facnor.

[gerry1]

Apr 6, 2017 17:44:29 GMT Caxton said:

Definitely could be that the halyard is to tight, try that first.

Caxton

So how do you know when you have it not too tight and not too slack?

[Caxton]

Proper tension is a manner of feel and experience but there should be no wrinkles in the jib luff.

Here are some tips from my Fancor LS 180 Furler manual:


11- FURLING TIPS

• When you reef, check the Genoa car to ensure the correct tension on the leach and foot.



• Keep the Genoa halyard tight when furling in and out. Do not tighten excessively the halyard; stop tightening as soon as the folds in the sail have disappeared.



• Before leaving your boat, make sure that the sail is tightly furled and that the jib sheets are wrapped around the furled sail two or three times, and the reefing line is secured.



• When reefing in light air, maintain some tension on the jib sheets to ensure the sail is properly rolled up.



• Slack the halyard at the harbour.



• In case of difficult rotation, check that no halyard (Spinnaker halyard for instance) is interfering.



• DO NOT FORCE the reefing system. Check for reasons if the sail is difficult to furl and contact your agent.

[jdl01]

A less obvious cause of furler difficulties can be forestay tension. A forestay and hence furler foil that sags off going to weather will create differential loading on the foil bearings along the forestay creating more friction when trying to reef at this point of sail. I'm assuming sailing vs. powering dead into the wind.

[dbostrom]

An error that came up in these here parts was lubrication of the furler bearings w/McLube. As it turns out (at least on our boat) we have "Torlon balls" and lubricant makes these increasingly sluggish and gluey, to the point that the upper swivel can cause the sail to cease furling (a Bad Thing). They're intended to run dry.

Soaking the parts in a bucket of warm water w/detergent and then exercising them while submerged in the solution fixes that particular problem*. The bearings will loosen up to the point that the parts will spin freely. Failing any of the other excellent suggestions above, maybe something else to investigate.

Excellent general write-up on furler maintenance by Brian Toss: www.briontoss.com/education/archive/miscnov03.htm 

*and add a label to the parts: "No lubricants." Way better than ordering a US $600 swivel...