Fitting the furler

In our case we fitted the top fitting, put the mast up, then fitted the bottom part. With the mast up, you would at least miss the heart-in-mouth moment when your mast and new furler are dangling from two 6m aluminium scaffolding tubes! 1. The top fitting is simply a clevis pin through a toggle. 2. At the bottom, two toggles lift the system 80mm off the deck. This is inherited from our old furler and the sail is cut accordingly; if we buy a new sail I will remove the toggles and use the offcut of foil to lengthen the furler and allow for a longer luff. 3. Set the forestay length with the bottlescrew (see PBO August 2017 for some tips on setting mast rake) before locking the threads with the locknuts. 4. The torque tube can now slide down the foil. Align the holes and partially wind out the assembly grub screw to hold it in position. 5. You can now fit the final screws. Fit the first one to lock the inner bush, then remove the assembly screw and replace it with the second screw. 6. The torque tube is attached to the drum with four dome nuts, secured with Loctite. 7. The furling line lead can be adjusted by releasing the grub screw under the drum and rotating the drum shield. 8. Lead the furling line aft using the double blocks provided, attached to the stanchions. 9. Finally, attach the halyard to the top swivel, shackle and mouse the sail to the swivel and torque tube, and hoist! 10. Our first furl worked beautifully.