[C320-list] Fore Stay Furling Gear

[Scott Thompson]

It can be a very bad idea to leave slack in the furling line since this 
could let the sail start to unfurl in high winds.  And once it starts to 
unfurl in a breeze, major damage can follow.  A boat in Annapolis 
suffered major damage in a microburst via this mechanism not too long 
ago.  It was out of the water and blew over on its side.  If you leave 
slack in the furling line it's very important that you secure the sail 
some other way so it can't unfurl at all.

I'm thinking that the main problem with switching the lead to the 
starboard side is that the furling line will then cross the anchor rode. 
  I wouldn't want to get those tangled even a little bit.  I saw a 
Catalina (can't recall which model) at the Annapolis Boat show a few 
years ago that had the furling line make two 90 degree bends immediately 
aft of the anchor locker to route it to the starboard side of the 
deckhouse without crossing the Anchor.  Both bends were led through 
fairleads only, with no turning blocks.  Why Catalina did this, I don't 
know, but it seemed like an incredibly bad idea to add all of that 
friction in a critical, high load control line.  Plus it created a 
tripping hazard on the foredeck.  I'm far more worried about tripping 
hazards while I am sailing than ones I have to worry about only at the dock.


Pat Moriarty wrote:
> Sounds good to switch but you will have the sail cover on the wrong 
> side of the sail. You can do like I did and move the becket to the 
> stanchion in front of the walk thru then let the loose line hang over 
> the side a little out of tripping range.
> 
> Pat #130
> 
> At 09:53 AM 5/4/2006, you wrote:
>> This year (just launched) I dock to port (bow in).  I board the boat from a
>> dock finger into the cockpit on the port side and have a tripping hazard
>> which is a line for the furling gear.  It's only a matter of time before
>> someone goes into the lake when coming in docking.  Can the furling be
>> configured to the line can run to starboard instead of port?  Do I have to
>> replace the drum or is it reversible?
>>
>> Quentin Murphy
>> Celtic Knot  #667
>>
>>
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