Is anyone having Furler Kit issues?
Background: I am a newbie kayak sailor who recently purchased a 2014 Oasis and am loving it. I first sailed it in Lake Tahoe with the Sidekick Ama kit and it worked flawlessly for the most part. The only issues were front end hop, the sail banging around loudly as I set up the boat on the beach and the seat clip pin popping out, the sail pulling the main sheet threaded through the seat clip as per instructions.
Initial solutions: I had already read posts here, on this Forum, about adding weight/ballast to the front by using (old) dry bags, so I got dry bags online/ebay for $5 ea. To solve the loose sail issue, I got the Hobie Furler Kit.
Test Runs w/Dry Bags and Furler Kit: The dry bags hold the front end down, so that is working. My experience with the Furler Kit has not been so successful.
First Trial: Since the dealer installed the kit, I’ve taken the Oasis out twice in San Francisco (Sausalito/Richardson Bay). The first time, I found the furler hard to pull and operate on the beach. Holding the main sheet I could get it to furl, but as soon as I let go it unfurled. On the water, things got worse. I tried to reef the sail. As I furled the sale the entire mast base unscrewed from the hull. I limped backed to base with the mast dangling at a 45 degree angle. (With guidance from Hobie Customer Service, I was able to easily screw the mast base back in, so that was an easy fix.)
Second Trial: The second time I took the boat out, I again had trouble just furling it and unfurling it on the beach. It wouldn’t stay furled. When I took it out (10knts with gusts up to 18kts), somehow – not really sure how – it wrapped around itself once, and though it should have then operated as a reefed sail with more control, it seemed to catch wind and push me backwards. I had even less control. Unfortunately, I could not turn back around (to use the wind to unwrap the sail) as there was a dock right there. The only thing I could do is take the mast out and pedal home with the mast/sail wrapped under one arm. (By the way, I know the boat is not designed for gusts above so many knots and, as such, do not fault Hobie for lack of high wind performance. Indeed, I have no complaints about the company or its products, which are awesome.)
I guess my very minor issues with the Furler Kit are: 1) it just doesn’t seem that easy to furl and unfurl, 2) it doesn’t stay furled once you let go of the main sheet and 3) I can’t figure out if it is intended to be used as a reefing device or just to furl the sail all the way in/out. Also, with respect to knot locations, the dealer installed the Furler Kit with the knots equal distance from the loop ‘ends’ so I could pull towards me whether I was furling out or in, instead of pulling in opposite directions as indicated in the instructions. Hobie Customer Service thought this would work but I’m not sure. It seems the opposite ball hits the fair lead before the sail is all the way in and/or out. Anyway, I’m going to move the knots so I can see if I can get more turns/revolutions. Maybe getting the sail fully wrapped and/or unwrapped will help.
Anyone else had minor problems?
Should it be wrapping clockwise/counterclockwise/does it matter?
All comments invited.
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