[C320-list] Jib Furler Parts

[Mark Cole]

Hi, David;

The furling gear was one of the few major things called out on our survey when we bought Fiddler’s Green.  The lower bearing has worn to the point that damage was done to the forestay and both had to be replaced to the tune of $2800.  We went with the Hood 707 furler at the recommendation of the rigger and it has worked well so far.  He also said that replacement bearings for the old Hood were very difficult to find.  One other very important part to make sure your furling system has to work well is a halyard restrainer.  It is installed a few inches below the jib halyard sheave at the top of the mast and prevents the jib halyard from wrapping around the forestay when you unfurl the headsail.  Catalina Direct sells item Z3781 for $31.26, but it is a Schaefer part and your rigger should have access to it.  You can check the masthead with binoculars to see if your boat has one now.  If the halyard comes straight out of the mast and attaches to the furler bearing at the top of the extrusion, you don’t have a restrainer now.

Mark Cole
Fiddler’s Green #8

> On May 13, 2020, at 7:58 AM, Jason Reynolds <jereyns at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> We just replaced our original hood furler this year with a Schaefer furler. We had a rigger tell us the bearings we not in good order.  We had some difficulty furling last year in high winds.
> 
> Jason Reynolds
> s/v Affinity ‘94 #68
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On May 13, 2020, at 10:38 AM, sail-ability at sympatico.ca wrote:
>> 
>> All Cats come now with Schaefer, not cheap but one of the better ones. 
>> JohnM
>> 1999#574
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On May 13, 2020, at 10:28 AM, David Veeneman <davidv at veeneman.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I’ve had problems with my jib furler (a Hood Seafurl, which I gather was OEM equipment on the C320 when mine was new) since I bought my boat a year ago. My rigger went up the mast yesterday and identified the problem as being the top bearing. It’s missing an insert that keeps the bearing in line with the extrusion. That leads me to several questions:
>>> 
>>> - Does anyone know of a source of parts for this furler? The rigger says new parts aren’t available.
>>> 
>>> - Does anyone know where I might find a used Hood Seafurl that I could cannibalize for parts?
>>> 
>>> - If I end up replacing the furler, what brand and model would you recommend for general cruising (non-racing) purposes?
>>> 
>>> Thanks for your help.
>>> 
>>> --
>>> David Veeneman
>>> Dana Point, CA
>>> SV Adelante, C320 #131
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>