Ronstan Series 80 Top-Down Furler (PDF)

OWNER'S MANUAL

Setting up the Ronstan Series 80 top-down furler for asymmetrics, reachers and gennakers (and straight-luff sails): tack attachment on the floating collar, loading the 8mm furling line, guide arm alignment, the lashing pin and load ratings.

DocumentRonstan Series 80 Top-Down Furler User Manual & Spec Sheet

FormatPDF · 6 pages · 4.0 MB

LanguageEnglish

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System Specifications Setup Accessories Maintenance Products

Ronstan Series 80 Top-Down Furler — User Manual & Spec Sheet

Furler System

Soft-luff sails (top-down)

Top-down furling of soft-luff, full mid-section sails (coded asymmetrics, reachers, gennakers), generally sailed at true wind angles above 90°. The tack is lashed to the "floating" swivel collar, the head to the top swivel; the torsion rope turns the top swivel and the sail furls from the head down to the tack.

Torsion rope
Continuous furling line
Top swivel
Thimble
Furler
Top down swivel collar (tack attachment)
Shackle, snap shackle or 2:1 fairlead

Straight-luff sails

Designed for sails with a "straight" luff (code zero, screecher, staysail), generally sailed at true wind angles below 90°. The tack attaches to the furler and the head to the top swivel, so the sail furls along the entire length of the luff.

Torsion rope
Continuous furling line
Top swivel
Thimble
Furler
Shackle, snap shackle or 2:1 fairlead

The sail must be either completely unfurled or completely furled: the furler cannot be used with a partially furled sail.
You need a synthetic luff cable (torsion line) with a thimble at each end, connected between the fork of the furler at the bottom and the swivel at the top. Ronstan recommends agreeing torsion line type, diameter and length with your sailmaker.
Furling line alignment matters: the line must lead fair into the guide. Use blocks or fairleads to guide it where required; the furling line can be cleated to keep the sail from unfurling.

Tack Attachment

Lash the tack to the floating collar through all three holes: even load distribution, free swivelling.
The offset lugs and holes keep the tack clear of the rotating torsion rope.
Tip: a very stiff tack can catch on the torsion line while furling. Attach an additional loose line to the tack and pull on it while furling to keep the tack clear.

Effective top-down furling relies on the size and quality of the torsion rope: use the largest size that will fit in the thimble.

S80 Top-Down Furler & Top Swivel (RS208100 + RS208010)

Part no.	Item	MWL	BL	Weight	Notes
RS208100	Top-down furler & shackle	950kg (2090lb)	1900kg (4190lb)	241g (8.5oz)*	Furler line Ø 8mm (5/16"); shackle 6mm	View part →
RS208010	Top swivel & shackle with flush pin	950kg (2090lb)	1900kg (4190lb)	111g (3.9oz)*	Shackle 6mm	View part →
RS208020	Snap shackle adaptor	960kg (2120lb)	2000kg (4410lb)	54g (1.9oz)		View part →
RS208030	2:1 fairlead	1040kg (2290lb)	2300kg (5070lb)	44g (1.6oz)		View part →
RS208040	Luff line thimble			8g (0.3oz)	AL6061, anodised	View part →
RS208050	Shackle, 6mm (plus flush pin)		1950kg (4300lb)	26g (0.9oz)		Ask us to source it →
RS208080	Top swivel lashing pin, 7mm	950kg (2090lb)	1900kg (4190lb)	29g (1.0oz)		View part →

*Weight doesn't include shackle. All dimensions on the spec sheet are in mm; do not scale from the drawing.

Ronstan Series 80 top-down spec sheet: furler RS208100, top swivel, thimble, shackle, 2:1 fairlead, snap-shackle adaptor and lashing pin

Furling Line Installation & Removal

Optimised for 8mm (5/16") rope; loads and unloads without un-reeving it.

Rotate the drum to align the slot in the bottom plate of the drum with the guide opening.
Push the rope through the guide opening and deep into the slot until the rope is in the hole.
Rotate the drum all the way around until the slot lines up with the guide opening on the other side of the guide.
Pull the rope out through the guide opening.

Guide Arm Alignment

In-line or at 90 degrees to align the furler mount with the deck or bowsprit attachment.

Remove the screw located in the guide arm underneath the drum.
Rotate the guide arm and PTFE strip 90° until the hole in the guide arm lines up with the alternate hole in the shaft.
Re-connect the guide arm to the shaft using the same screw.

Accessories

RS208010 Top Swivel – the top half of the system, matched to the furler load rating; fork designed for the dedicated torsion line thimble; maintenance free factory sealed bearing, retained clevis pin and snag-free low profile shackle pin head.
RS208020 Snap-Shackle – replaces the shackle on the furler or top swivel for quick attachment to the bow fitting or halyard.
RS208030 2:1 Fairlead – replaces the shackle on the furler for a 2:1 purchase: tack line dead-ended at the deck or bowsprit end, up around the fairlead, down to a block and aft to a rope clutch. A popular way to adjust torsion rope tension, and hence luff tension.
RS208040 Thimble – terminates the torsion rope at both ends (stitched or spliced); the extra hole is for lashing the sail. Lashing the sail to the thimble, not the furler, lets torsion line and sail come off the furler and top swivel easily.
RS208050 Shackle – replacement shackle for both top swivel and furler.

RS208080 Top Swivel Lashing Pin – replaces the clevis pin on the top swivel for a more positive drive to the head and a tight furl at the head. The head is lashed to the cotton reels on the ends of the pin; the torsion rope and thimble go on the centre section.

Maintenance

Rinse regularly with fresh water to remove salt.
Apply Ronstan RF3000 Sailfast™ (or a similar silicon based lubricant) over the body and components to enhance performance and prolong service life. Do not use petro-chemical lubricants.
Periodically remove fasteners and re-apply Tef-Gel® (TG-10) to prevent corrosion.
Factory sealed bearings are maintenance free. Bearing and seal replacement can be arranged through your local Ronstan re-seller.
Furlers carry a three year warranty (terms and conditions from Ronstan).

Need a part that isn't listed? Ask us to source it and quote the part number from the PDF.