Brewer 44 - In Mast Mainsail Furling

My Brewer has Hood in-mast furling. 2 comments.

1. Important to keep the boom elevated at the aft end so the sail doesn't wrap directly on top of the wrap underneath of it, rather you want a spiral like you normally see for the head sail. I think your photo shows this, so this may not be your problem in this case. Use the topping lift before starting to furl the sail. About 5-10 degrees from horizontal.

2. You want a tight wrap of the sail around the foil inside the mast. You must keep tension on the outhaul while pulling on the furling line to wind the sail in. this is a delicate balance of tensions. If you don't keep tension on the outhaul, the wraps will not be tight, but loose with gaps, which cause problems the next time you try to pull the sail out.

Once we got these 2 things figured out, we have not had any problems.

Terry, ISLAND TIME

Matt
It sounds like one or both bearings on the furler are shot. When the sail is furled in the diameter of the sail row is largest and when you start to unfurl the diameter reduces which results in a smaller moment force to unwind the sail. I would find out first which or both bearings are bad by placing a observer at the upper bearing and someone at the lower bearing with 1more at the out haul. Try to unfurl the sail If the lower part of the curler rotates minutly with out the upper rotating it is the upper bearing if both ends move at same time suspect lower bearing or it may be both but the chance of that is slim
Rocky

Well, we are proud owners of a 1990 Brewer 44!

We were able to fully unfurl the sail after repeated attempts. We then lowered and removed it. Bearings seem to be just fine. It was the actual sail that looks to be the problem. After getting it down, we noticed two considerable tears on the leech that are in the same area as where it would jam. I am hoping after a good cleaning of the furler, a new mainsail, new boomcar and track, and new lines, we will be back in business! Thanks again to all who commented. - Matt

Great news. Congratulations! Don't forget the individual blocks. We and our surveyor thought we needed a new track and car but we didn't.