CDI track jam

[Dreamcatcher]

Anyone have experience with the jib jamming in the track while trying to raise it on at CDI furler. This occurs on two different jibs, so it's not the sail that's causing it. Last summer, it required a really big guy hauling on the halyard to get the sail up. This year, the only way was to drop the mast and feed the sail up the track by hand and then raise the mast again. The X is a 2001 and I have only sailed her these two seasons. I don't know how old the CDI is. While I'm on a roll, I am getting ready to replace the main sail which i presume is the original and really baggy. Does a loose-footed main have any real advantages or should I stick with a bolt-rope footed sail. It seems to me that the latter would be stronger. Does the loose footed sail offer more control over the draft?
Dream Catcher

[rtshinn]

I had the same problem w/my CDI furler, but never figured it out.
Of course, I haven't looked at it yet.... :>)

[kevinnem]

mine is kinda tied off in a little fumy way, I don't use the "macgregor" halyard, but the one that comes back on the other 1/2 of the track. there was a tremendous amount of friction at teh top, were the lines does a u-turn, and comes back down.

you might consider asking WERE the friction is, it might not be at the sail, it might be in the rope end. this would be tested by droping the rig, and pulling only the sail up track.

[Catigale]

...per the CDI manual, if you are using massive force to raise the sail, you risk breaking the extrusion. My genoa goes up the track with a single arm pulling on the halyard...if you are doing more than this, its an indication of a jam or something in the track....

[Dreamcatcher]

Do you lubricate anything? I will be taking it apart tomorrow and I will look for sources of interference.

[ualpow]

I had the same issue. Hard to raise and couldn't get it all the way up with my X. ( and was she a looker...badum bum....I'll be here all week) I sprayed sailcote on the halyard and the luff as I hoisted it. Went up very easy then.

[vizwhiz]

I had the same issue. Hard to raise and couldn't get it all the way up with my X. ( and was she a looker...badum bum....I'll be here all week)

[133bhp]

seems on mine, anything less than a straight feed it binds. I have to feed it a bit then pull, seemes to go up smoothly in stages then.

[Steve K]

McLube (Sailkote)

Flush the furler foil with water, using a nozzle.

Liberally spray both the foil track and the luff rope of the sail. Oh! and the CDI Halyard too

This will solve the problem.

When I did this on my X boat, the sail would slide down the furler track on it's own, with just a tug.

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[Steve K]

Another thing;
If the sail cloth around the luff rope is all crinkled, this will cause it to bind and also indicates a shrunken luff rope. This will cause poor sail shape also.

If this is the case, hang the sail out somewhere, by the tack and head grommets. Use a winch, come-along or mainsheet at one end. Stretch out the luff rope, tight, and let it set that way for a day or two. Pull it tight enough to pull the crinkles out of the sail cloth, but be careful not to tear the sail.

The end result will be a better feeding luff and improved sail shape, overall.
This works on mains also.

If the bolt rope, or luff rope has shrunken too much (cheaper luff/bolt ropes seem to shrink more readily) to solve the issue, then some sail repair is in order. This is easier on the main sail, as the rope can sometimes be un-stitched at one end and re-sewn a little farther up the sail, with no ill effects. With a head sail you'll usually have to replace the luff rope completely, but not always.

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[Retcoastie]

A friend had this problem last winter. We tried silicone and track lube and nothing helped. After close inspection we found a spot on the halyard where the rope core had came out of the outer sheathing just a little. This caused a little bump on the line. That bump was enough to jam the halyard. Once we found the core sticking out, a little massage and coaxing got it back inside the outer sheathing. Problem solved.

I hope your fix is as simple.