[Rhodes22-list] Furling line tensioner

Tue Jun 1 12:53:11 EDT 2021

Todd, you may have missed the drama from GB on the forum when I posted the
links to the video on the forum. I was promptly accused by an employee of
GB of trying to subvert $$ away from GB through my evil corporate
machinations. Mike Wiesner (sp?) intervened and they apologised. I'm sure
the whole drama is in the archives.

Moving on from that, here are the links for the video of the furler
tensioner mounted on the boat and how it works:
https://youtu.be/wwsH9xFgWYU
https://youtu.be/NQTuE34GOKE

All the metal parts on it are 316 ss. Each side of the tensioner rollers
have a set screw to change the tension on the line. The initial set up
takes a few minutes to get the tension the way you want it, but allows for
a range of line sizes. I started with a 3/16" diameter line in it then
changed to 1/4". It only took a few minutes to change the tension on the
rollers to accommodate the larger line size. One change that will be
implemented in the final iteration is to add a spring under the set screw
on one side so the tensioner can be pushed open with your fingers to allow
easier insertion of the line during rigging if you trailer sail like I do.

I talked to my machinist friend and he's still interested in making some
for you all. He's working on a price. He's retired and machining is a hobby
for him so he responds kinda slowly. Anyone who is interested, send me a pm
at mike at traildesign.com

Michael Riter
SV EmmaB

On Thu, May 27, 2021 at 10:44 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I have used a homemade roller furler control line tensioner solution for
> 25+ years.  The 1st image is from www.defendercom<http://www.defendercom>
> :
>
> [cid:image002.png at 01D752E5.314346C0]
> This off-the-shelf piece of hardware is a C.S. Johnson Roller Furling Bail
> (Johnson P/N: 40-505).  It’s designed to be mounted on the base of the
> lifeline stanchions, just above the toe rail.  You mount one on each
> stanchion from the bow back to the cockpit.  S/V Dynamic Equilibrium has 4
> such stanchions.  At the stanchion in the front of the cockpit, you replace
> the simple fairlead with this piece of off-the shelf hardware, (Harken P/N:
> 239) also available from www.defender.com
>
> [cid:image005.png at 01D752E5.314346C0]
> The following picture from the Rhodes-22 archives shows how my roller
> furling control line is routed thru a block on a stand-up spring and then
> along the toe rail back to the cockpit:
>
> [cid:image007.jpg at 01D752E3.64CB0700]
>
> Note how the block only changes the direction of the roller furler control
> line by a few degrees.  Similarly, as the control line passes thru the
> fairleads on each lifeline stanchion, the curvature of the foredeck causes
> the control line to change direction slightly at each stanchion.  This
> slight change of direction at each fairlead is the key.  Slightly changing
> direction 5 times introduces just enough friction into the system to absorb
> the kinetic energy and keep slight tension on the control line in order to
> prevent a snarl on the furling drum.  When unfurling the genoa, you can
> literally just let go of the control line and this passive system will
> control the line tension all by itself!  I haven’t had a snarled control
> line in over 25 years.  It just works!
>
> Roger Pihlaja
> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
> From: Jesse Shumaker<mailto:jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2021 8:27 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Furling line tensioner
>
> Mike, the tensioner is a great idea.  I suspect many of us might be
> interested if your friend would be up for doing a bulk run of those.  Would
> just need to know what the cost would be (I'm guessing that would depend on
> the volume).  What size line do you use for the furler?
>
> Jesse Shumaker
> S/V Zephyr
>
> On Wed, May 26, 2021 at 7:13 PM Mike Riter <mike at traildesign.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Jeff.
> > I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I'm not marketing any
> products. I
> > needed a better mousetrap for my furling line and worked with a friend of
> > mine who is an engineer and machinist to come up with the item I showed
> > everyone on the forum. I've had the prototype on the boat for a year now
> > and it continues to work very well. The only thing I didn't like is
> having
> > to loosen the tensioner to thread the line through it when I rigged. But
> it
> > turned out to not be such a big deal after I marked the spot to
> re-tension
> > after I set up the boat.
> >
> > I think he would be happy to make another one for anyone who wants one,
> but
> > this isn't something we're doing for profit. I'm just another Rhodie with
> > an overactive imagination.
> >
> > Michael Riter
> > SV Emma B.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, May 26, 2021 at 2:26 PM JeffSmith <jeffsmithphoto at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > To Mike Riter,
> > > Last year you showed a tensioner that you wer considering marketing.
> Did
> > > the
> > > marketing part come to fruition?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----
> > > Jeff Smith
> > > 2009/2016 R22 #101 RADIANT
> > > Atlantic Highlands Municpal Harbor
> > > Atlantic Highlands, NJ
> > >
> > > --
> > > Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
> > >
> >
>
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