[C320-list] Mainsail Hard to Raise/Lower

[Len]

My concerns over several potential problems inherent with the in-mast
furling system led me to research the in-boom furling system.  When I bought
#1070 new in October 2005 I had Catalina change out the in-mast furling
system /mast to an in-boom furling system.  Boat was commissioned and
sailing by mid-Jan '06.  Works like a charm, and you have a full roach with
normal battens.  If the in-boom furler were ever to jam (has never occurred)
you can always just lower the main.  I've never understood why more owners
do not opt for the in-boom system.
Len Krane
AQUA5   #1070

On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 4:01 PM, Robert Seastream <
robert.seastream at comcast.net> wrote:

> David:
>
> Thanks for your input.  Now I know it's not just me or my imagination.  It
> gives me fresh perspective, and a concrete point to proceed from.
>
> Bob
>
> On Oct 13, 2008, at 5:02 PM, Henderson, David wrote:
>
>  This is a somewhat delayed response to Bob Seastream's post of a couple of
>> weeks ago.  Bob, yes, I have had issues raising and lowering my in-mast
>> (Charleston Spar) furling main on my four year old 320 (#1049), and I think
>> I have discovered a potentially serious problem.  I would love to know if
>> others have encountered this issue.
>>
>> I noticed the problem for the first time during the 2007 season.  It was
>> slightly worse this past spring when I raised the main, and now just last
>> week when I tried to take it down in preparation for haul-out, it is worse
>> still and I couldn't get the sail down.  It appeared that the head of the
>> sail and/or the swivel first stuck at the upper spreader.  I was able to
>> force it through.  But then it became really stuck at the lower spreader.  I
>> feared that the luff tape was cut or frayed and somehow hanging up in the
>> groove in the foil.  I also wondered if perhaps there was a joint in the
>> foil that it might be catching on.
>>
>> This past weekend my 25 year old daughter went aloft to take a look (my
>> days of going a loft are long over).  When she opened the shackle and
>> disconnected the sail from the swivel, the sail fell easily down through the
>> foil.  So it was now clear that the problem was not the luff tape or the
>> sail, but rather the swivel seemed to be the culprit.
>>
>> Upon closer inspection, it became clear that groove in the outer part of
>> the mast (that the sail passes through to wind onto the foil) was slightly
>> narrowed in the area of the spreader.  And in fact, the entire mast cavity
>> had narrowed and was pinching the swivel enough that it could not slide up
>> and down through it.  She then went up to the second spreader and lo and
>> behold, same problem, just slightly less severe.
>>
>> The broker who sold me the boat came by today for a look, and after
>> attempting to raise and lower the swivel, he confirmed the problem.  He even
>> pointed out that the narrowing in the outer mast slot is readily visible by
>> line of sight as you look up the mast.  Our joint conclusion is that the
>> load carried by the spreaders is slowly but surely bending the mast and
>> narrowing the slot and cavity, and it is a progressive problem.  Not being
>> able to raise or lower the main is the first level of concern, but ultimate
>> mast failure is obviously an even a greater concern.
>>
>> Though I am told that I am out of warranty, the broker immediately offered
>> to contact Charleston Spar and Catalina on my behalf.  Needless to say, I
>> anxiously await their response.  Meantine, I wanted to bring this to the
>> attention of anyone else with a similar vintage 320 that may be experiencing
>> similar mast issues.
>>
>> Dave Henderson
>>
>> Dottie B    #1049
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>>
>> Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 20:16:39 -0400
>>
>> From: Robert Seastream <robert.seastream at comcast.net>
>>
>> Subject: [C320-list] Mainsail hard to raise
>>
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>
>> Message-ID: <AADF86C2-2204-418F-BFC2-BF17EEE6486F at comcast.net>
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>>
>> All:
>>
>> Has anyone ever had issues raising their (in mast furling) mainsail
>>
>> past roughly the two thirds point, almost requiring winching to raise
>>
>> it fully?
>>
>> We've had this issue since we bought the (used) boat.  I don't think
>>
>> there's any 'burrs' in the furler track; I'd expect rips in the luff
>>
>> if that were true.
>>
>> I'm wondering if the roller furler might have gotten bent, although I
>>
>> can't imagine how.  By comparison, the roller furling jib goes up its'
>>
>> own track smooth as silk.
>>
>> Another question is how does one access the furling mechanism for
>>
>> inspection/repair, once the mast is unstepped?  Perhaps that's a
>>
>> question for Charleston Spars.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Bob Seastream
>>
>> Intuition # 906
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>