Hi All
I have a 1988 Fisher 32 which has a Furlway Hydraulic in mast furling system that has recently jammed.
The system has been working fine until I recently removed the main sail to be repaired.
When I replaced the main sail the Furler would not rotate to furl in the sail the Hydraulic motor is working but the furling tube inside the mast appears jammed.
The sail ran smoothly when hoisted to the top of the track.
Does any Fisher owners have a diagram of how the system works ????
Or does anyone have any ideas as to what may be jamming the Furler ???
I have asked a couple of Riggers in Melbourne and " Googled " but can't find any info on the Furlway System
so far only dead ends.
Any advise would be appreciated.
Cheers
Barry

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Firey said..
Any advise would be appreciated.

You got to be careful about advice Barry. If it costs nothing, that's usually what it is worth and I am not giving any out tonight.

I have a question for you though. Do you think maybe that in mast furler that is giving you so much trouble may be carrying a bit more weight aloft than is adviseable for a Fisher 32.

I am sure you could sail your boat a lot better with battening your main and having a couple of slab reefs put in it.

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Firey said..
Hi All
I have a 1988 Fisher 32 which has a Furlway Hydraulic in mast furling system that has recently jammed.
The system has been working fine until I recently removed the main sail to be repaired.
When I replaced the main sail the Furler would not rotate to furl in the sail the Hydraulic motor is working but the furling tube inside the mast appears jammed.
The sail ran smoothly when hoisted to the top of the track.
Does any Fisher owners have a diagram of how the system works ????
Or does anyone have any ideas as to what may be jamming the Furler ???
I have asked a couple of Riggers in Melbourne and " Googled " but can't find any info on the Furlway System
so far only dead ends.
Any advise would be appreciated.
Cheers
Barry

Have you tried with the sail removed? If not may just be the halyard tension to tight?

cisco...I totally agree about advise, as far as changing the set up I get that in some minds it's not perfect but up until I pulled the sail down to get repaired it was working fine and suits me at my late stage in sailing on my own and with all the "old" body complaints this system allows me to at least be out there sailing for a bit longer. " I hope ".

Twodogs ...the main was removed nothing touched or moved and the main hoisted once repaired went up smoothly
but would not furl.
The main is off again and it still won't turn, hydraulics ok.
I'm hoping someone might have a diagram of how the system works.

Thanks for your thoughts.....
Cheers
Barry

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Firey said..
cisco...I totally agree about advise, as far as changing the set up I get that in some minds it's not perfect but up until I pulled the sail down to get repaired it was working fine and suits me at my late stage in sailing on my own and with all the "old" body complaints this system allows me to at least be out there sailing for a bit longer. " I hope ".

Twodogs ...the main was removed nothing touched or moved and the main hoisted once repaired went up smoothly
but would not furl.
The main is off again and it still won't turn, hydraulics ok.
I'm hoping someone might have a diagram of how the system works.

Thanks for your thoughts.....
Cheers
Barry

Hi, can you find another fisher owner and have a look/discus with them? I know that there aren't that many of us and I can't help as mine has an in boom furling system.

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cisco...I totally agree about advise, as far as changing the set up I get that in some minds it's not perfect but up until I pulled the sail down to get repaired it was working fine and suits me at my late stage in sailing on my own and with all the "old" body complaints this system allows me to at least be out there sailing for a bit longer. " I hope ".

Firey, I've got in mast furling too, and I wouldn't sell it for quids.
It's great.- you have an infinitely variable reefing system that can be set up to balance virtually any boat under any conditions.
It's easily managed singlehanded - and from the cockpit.

Sure, a traditional main with slab reefing may perform better, but often doesn't because of the skill or lack of interest of the operator.
So don't let others convince you that in mast furling is some sort of second class system.

More and more new boats have in mast furling and I expect that trend will continue.
There have always been die-hards out there who will poo-poo any new technological development be it catamarans, timber vs fibreglass, carbon fibre, etc, etc

regards,
allan

PS: Doctor google has helped a bit - Call PETER on 0419 336 099 (he used to repair them & said he should be able to advise)

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Firey said..
cisco...I totally agree about advise, as far as changing the set up I get that in some minds it's not perfect but up until I pulled the sail down to get repaired it was working fine and suits me at my late stage in sailing on my own and with all the "old" body complaints this system allows me to at least be out there sailing for a bit longer. " I hope ".

Twodogs ...the main was removed nothing touched or moved and the main hoisted once repaired went up smoothly
but would not furl.
The main is off again and it still won't turn, hydraulics ok.
I'm hoping someone might have a diagram of how the system works.

Thanks for your thoughts.....
Cheers
Barry

Is the hydraulic motor staled and the furler not turning ??,,, or is the hydraulic motor running {turning) but the furler is not turning.
Any shear pins or keys that may have sheared?
Can you rotate the furler by hand ?

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Jolene said..

Firey said..
cisco...I totally agree about advise, as far as changing the set up I get that in some minds it's not perfect but up until I pulled the sail down to get repaired it was working fine and suits me at my late stage in sailing on my own and with all the "old" body complaints this system allows me to at least be out there sailing for a bit longer. " I hope ".

Twodogs ...the main was removed nothing touched or moved and the main hoisted once repaired went up smoothly
but would not furl.
The main is off again and it still won't turn, hydraulics ok.
I'm hoping someone might have a diagram of how the system works.

Thanks for your thoughts.....
Cheers
Barry

Is the hydraulic motor staled and the furler not turning ??,,, or is the hydraulic motor running {turning) but the furler is not turning.
Any shear pins or keys that may have sheared?
Can you rotate the furler by hand ?

These are the key questions. There has got to be a hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor. Maybe it is just the pump running, and not the motor. Could be out of hydraulic oil? Bypass valve open? Voltage too low? Might not be generating enough pressure if the voltage is low. See if you can take some photos.
Google hydraulic drive and you will get some typical diagrams.

Thanks everyone
This weekend is going to be ordinary weather so hopefully early next week I can get to boat and check out your suggestions
I have talked to other Fisher owners in Melb but unable to sort it so far .
The hydraulic motor pressure valve is operating and the tube is trying to turn but seems jammed you can turn by hand but it is difficult
I am thinking that when the main was dropped that the halyard has got twisted at the top of mast and is jamming when the tube tries to rotate but when hoisting and dropping main it runs freely ???
I have removed the cover plates at bottom of mast and can see chain drive on both motor and bush at bottom of tube
all looks ok.
I have tried operating with engine running in case battery voltage was low but still the same.
I don't know how the mechanism at top of mast tube works and how / where the halyard runs.
I am waiting for a mates young bloke ( Fitter / Turner ) to go up the mast to see if he can nut it out about the halyard
in the mean time I was hoping someone might know or have a drawing .

Appreciate the response
hopefully I'll be back sailing soon
Cheers
Barry

Does the end of the halyard tie off on the rotating drum? If so it would be similar to a basic furling heads ail rig, which has nothing fancy , just a simple turning block at the top of the tube. The hydraulic pump and reservoir has got to be found.

I'm guessing the halyard attaches to a hoistable swivel that attaches to the main head?
To see if you have a halyard wrap that is causing it, take the sail down, remove the halyard and take it out of the mast and aft to see if it has a direct run to the masthead block.
Also check the head swivel is moving freely.
There could be a deflector block inside the masthead to stop halyard wrap that disappeared somehow. This would mean the sail would run up and down ok and the furler would turn without the sail on it, but the halyard would jam the head swivel after a turn or two when furling when hoisted.
Hope that makes sense.

Yara ... Picture shows how main is attached to bottom drum, yes same as my Headsail furler.
Hydraulic motor and pump appear ok.
Second photo shows the hydraulic gear mounted on mast near boom attachment which is chain driven with a large sprocket on the bottom of mast tube and smaller sprocket on hydraulic gear.

Rumblefish.... The Wire halyard is only the length of sail, you attach a long piece of cord to the Wire halyard end that is attached to the white cord in picture and as the sail comes down the cord goes up the mast till you have the head of sail.
Initially when I pulled main down I attached long cord to both ends of wire halyard and had a continuous loop then tied back on an angle to the boom.
Reflecting on your answers I think I may have dislodged the halyard at the top Swivel/block by pulling on angle instead of keeping line taught straight down the mast.
Hopefully all will be revealed when I get Brett up the mast although there is only a small opening in mast section to see what's going on.

Thanks again Guys.
Barry

Nice classic boat. Ideal for Tassie! Can you disconnect the chain easily? That would at least clarify whether it is the furler or the hydraulics causing the problem.
Is the hydraulic pump dedicated to just the furler, or does it also drive other things like an anchor winch?

Yara... It appears that there are 4 studs at bottom of furler base to disconnect the sprocket that is my next step to check that out.
the hydraulic pump only drives Furler.