Possible Problem - Need Advice

[BarbofCapeCod]

When Kudu was rigged last week, the CDI roller furling was not put back on the boat correctly: it was attached to the deck with just a pin without having a turnbuckle. I am embarrassed to admit I did not notice this until the furling line fouled the first time I attempted to furl the sail back. The drum was so low to the deck it caused the line to rub against the top of the drum housing and wound around only the top of the drum. It seems the yard lost the fitting and put the stay on without it.

Here is my concern: I noticed a space of about a 1/3 of an inch, from the bow to about foot back on each side, between the top of the hull and underside of the bow pulpit. Is it possible the much tighter stay pulled the bow pulpit up off the top of the hull?

The owners manual http://www.capedory.org/manuals/CD25-1978-Manual.pdf states on PDF page 29:

Under no circumstances take up the rigging to bar tight tension. Both the mast and the boat can be severely damaged by the excessive tension.

The yard addressed the space issue by corking the space, but perhaps this requires more attention.

[Neil Gordon]

The CDI furler fits over the forestay and doesn't have a turnbuckle of its own. The turnbuckle is under the drum and is hidden when the furler is installed. Remove the pin on the furler so all can slide up to reveal the turnbuckle.

Is the lead of the furling line the same as it was last fall?

Over-tightening and/or separation of the bow pulpit from the hull is an issue separate from the furler, I suspect.

[BarbofCapeCod]

The CDI furler fits over the forestay and doesn't have a turnbuckle of its own. The turnbuckle is under the drum and is hidden when the furler is installed. Remove the pin on the furler so all can slide up to reveal the turnbuckle.

Is the lead of the furling line the same as it was last fall?

Over-tightening and/or separation of the bow pulpit from the hull is an issue separate from the furler, I suspect.

The lead was the same, but I lowered the last lead, which was attached to the lifeline stanchion, as far as I could to correct the angle, but the drum was still too low. The drum is definitely lower this year and we noticed the sail was catching across the deck a bit more on tacks as well. So everything seems lower.

[Ray Garcia]

Is it possible the much tighter stay pulled the bow pulpit up off the top of the hull? -- Yes, it can.

You should see what it can do to a cabin top. You can easily fix this by using the jib halyard as a temporary forestay. If you can't reach the mounting hole for the forestay you can rig a bridle to the pulpit. I would remove the boom and sail if attached to put less strain on the mast. The yard should either find the turnbuckle or provide a new one.

Here is CDI's website and a link to the install manual in case you don't have a copy.

http://www.sailcdi.com

http://www.sailcdi.com/sailpdf/FF4&6%20 ... 207_06.pdf

[Neil Gordon]

Is it possible the drum (and maybe the turnbuckle) were turned when the stay was reinstalled? That might change the angle of attach of the furling line with respect to the furler drum.

[BarbofCapeCod]

Not at the boat, but should be Friday afternoon or Saturday. I'll check what is what. Thanks for the suggestions.

[BarbofCapeCod]

I reexamined the furling drum. The drum base is attacked directly to the fitting on the deck, with no turnbuckle under or inside the drum.

The corking under the bow pulpit is as it was, no apparent increase in the space.

Decided to go to a different yard that does a lot of rigging for a tuning/re-rigging.

[Troy Scott]

This is not clear to me at all. The only way I can envision this happening is if the attachment point for the forestay is actually part of the bow pulpit weldment. Is that how it is on a CD28? It seems to me that the new gap may actually be between the deck and the bottom of the bow-sprit. Maybe the bob-stay is loose?