MKIV hydraulic unit 3
30
Furl and reef
To furl or reef, ease jib sheets and press correct
switch to furl sail.
In very light air, it may be necessary to place
some tension on jib sheet to insure a tight furl.
To furl in a breeze, ease sheets gradually and
furl sail in small increments until sail is furled
or reefed.
When furling or reefing, make sure that nothing
is jammed. Review swivel height, lead angle, halyard restrainer information. Make sure operator has a good view of sail
and stops furling when sail is rolled and sheets have a wrap or two on the furled sail. Stop immediately if sheets jam or
halyard wraps. If operator does not have a good view, station a crew member with good visibility. If motor is laboring,
stop and check for reason. Consult the Troubleshooting Guide on page 35.
Raise sails
1. Install prefeeder by securely tying end of line to a deck fitting or to toggle below
furler so it is 610 mm (2') below feeder.
2. Shackle tack of sail to lower unit. Install shackle so screw pin head is on same
side as sun cover.
3. Secure genoa sheets to clew of sail.
4. Attach genoa halyard to halyard swivel.
5. Pass luff tape through prefeeder and feeder into foil groove.
6. Attach head of sail or pendant at head of sail to halyard swivel.
7. Hoist sail.
8. Attach genoa tack to lower unit shackle.
8. Once sail is raised, determine the direction of furling so suncover will shield sail
from UV rays when furled.
9. Suncover on port side of sail, furl clockwise. Suncover on starboard, furl
counterclockwise.
Tip: Once you have determined the direction of furl to match suncover,
mark remote furler switches, i.e. “furl/unfurl” or “in/out”.
Tip: New sails are often stiff and can hang up on prefeeder while raising.
Do not force sail when it hangs up—lower and remove twist. Sails break-in with
use and will become easier to raise.
Storm sails
Most sailors onlly use one multi-purpose genoa when sailing, but it is not good seamanship to go offshore
without storm sails.
Heavy-air working jibs and storm sails may be used with your unit. These sails need to have luff tape added
so they can be raised in headstay foils.
Sails will generally require pendants to ensure that halyard swivel is properly positioned at top of headstay.
See page 28.
Remember that heavy-air working jibs and storm jibs may be reefed and furled like any other sail.
Operation
Raise Sail/Storm Sail/Reefing
WARNING! A hydraulic furling system is very powerful and jammed parts can break suddenly at high
load. Stop furling immediately and correct problem.
