How to repair a stuck genoa furler?
The genoa is the triangular shaped sail standing at the front of the mast. Larger than the mainsail, it is located around the forestay and is, in most cases, installed on a reel, allowing the crew to roll or unroll it as they wish depending on the wind. However, this tool having made navigation much easier, can turn into a real headache when it crashes. If this happens to you, don't panic: the furling genoa is not essential on board, even if it makes your maneuvers easier. If you meet a genoa furler that gets stuck, these few maintenance tips provided by our team work on Harken, Profurl, Facnor, Furlex and Plastismo genoa furlers. They can save you a lot of stress and help you get back to normal navigation.
Contents of the page
Blocked genoa furler: possible causes
- Several causes blocking the genoa furler come back frequently. The first is by far the overriding of the furling line. It is said that the furling line has been overridden when it is incorrectly wound up. Usually, it is the tensioned part of the bump that winds over the relaxed part, inevitably causing a blockage.
- It is also advisable to regularly monitor the top of the retractor, more specifically the swivel area. This is what allows the reel to turn on itself without taking the rest of the equipment with it. It is located just below the spinnaker halyard which, when not tight enough, is liable to wind up and completely paralyze your mechanism.
- There are also sometimes genoa furling concerns caused by the running rigging, particularly the genoa halyard. The latter is, like the spinnaker halyard, sometimes poorly stretched and may also paralyze the mechanism.
Stuck genoa furler: what solutions?
Resolve overpathing problems in the bump
Upstream, overpathing likely to block the genoa furler can be avoided by maintaining a light tension on the line at all times, both when rolling and unwinding.
If the reel of your sailboat is already blocked, you will first have to leave the cockpit to join the mechanism, and act manually. Turn the reel, checking the line, until it is wrapped correctly, and you can resume your action in the opposite direction. In the event that the furler continues to resist you, even by hand, lower the genoa completely to fix winding problems of the bump.
Solve swivel problems
Un sail furler that gets stuck due to a swivel stuck by the spinnaker halyard can be released by first unrolling the genoa as far as possible, manually if this is not possible with the furler. Then, tighten the halyard as far as possible so that it is no longer an obstacle for the reel as for the swivel. You should now be able to roll up your genoa without blocking.
If the problem persists, make sure your swivel is not seized. If so, we recommend that you un-seize very quickly, or replace it as soon as possible.
Solve running rigging issues
Problems with the genoa halyard and running rigging are usually resolved fairly quickly. To unlock your genoa and maneuver as you wish, shock the genoa halyard before continuing to furl.
What to do with a genoa furler that still gets stuck?
Each case blocked genoa furler is unique, and the problem encountered may be complex and may take some time to be resolved. Above all, do not force! You run the risk of damaging the entire mechanism, and therefore aggravating your problem.
If you cannot find an explanation for your blocked reel, consult a professional who can fully inspect your boat in order to find a solution.
Find out more about sail furlers for boats:
How to lubricate a genoa furler on a boat?
