Selden Furlex 104S — Owner's Manual

Safety

• Open the wire coil carefully – it can spring open.
• Never secure standing rigging with a snap shackle, even temporarily: use a screw-pin shackle or tie the halyard off.
• Halyard to forestay angle never less than 15° (15–20°) to avoid halyard wrap and shackle wear on the extrusion.
• Check for obstructions before using a winch on the furling line.
• Secure all split pins (20° separation).

Sail Data

Max sail space = FL – (F+E). Existing sails need luff length, Furlex-compatible luff tape and webbing loops at head and tack; a short sail gets an HMPE or wire pendant fixed to the head.

Luff Assembly (top down, on the wire)

1. Stretch out the wire on a clean surface (protect any stud thread).
2. Feed on the top extrusion and top distance tube (hinge sideways); push the tube in about half a joining sleeve with a short sleeve.
3. Sta-lok systems: fit halyard swivel and top guard now (stud systems: after the sail feeder).
4. Add each 2400 mm extrusion, distance tube and short sleeve; short connecting plate in the next extrusion, lock with the sleeve, connect, push the next tube on.
5. Long joining sleeve, short distance tube and the 1000 mm extrusion (small-hole end first) with the long connector; push the short tube in approx. 40 mm.
6. Snap on the sail-feeder connector and feeder; slide the swivel down onto it; push in the top guard and tighten its two screws to the bottom, not over-tight.
7. Fit the bearing plug halves, forward hole aligned with the 1000 mm extrusion.

Terminals & Drum Unit

• Sta-lok eye: mark WL from the top eye centre, tape and cut; socket on, wedge over the 7-strand core with ~2 mm protruding, strands spaced evenly, bend in slightly, former in the terminal part, long bead of locking adhesive, tighten; check strands, then 2 or 3 more drops and tighten firmly.
• Stud/eye: remove the toggle, screw the eye onto the stud until the holes align, drive in the spirol pin.
• Drum unit: remove the two adaptor-half screws and the tube-shaft clevis pin, slide the unit over the eye terminal (flat faces on the ribs; rigging screw half unscrewed with all flats aligned), refit clevis and split pin, fit the adaptor halves (one way only) and tighten firmly, refit the toggle.

On the Boat

• Two people minimum, three recommended. Toggles at top and bottom for full articulation; the drum-unit toggle always goes directly to the chain plate.
• Halyard angle 15–20°: fit the two halyard leads (Extended Pack) or a sheave box if needed; replace leads at 50% wear. Keep the spinnaker halyard aft of the spreaders.
• First turning block at least 300 mm (11 13/16") from the drum. Raising the drum with an extension link needs a toggle between link and stemhead fitting. Below-deck/anchor-well installs: keep clear of the well, no deck conduit, big ball-bearing block, good drainage.
• Mast stepped: hoist the stay on a spare halyard with two taped clove hitches; go aloft in a proper bosun's chair. Mast down: lay the Furlex on the leading edge and watch it while craning.

Furling Line & Forestay Length

• Remove line guide and cover (loosen the underside screw and the two small screws, pull out the lock block). Pierce the rope 10-15 mm from the end, fit screw and washer with locking adhesive, refit.
• Wind approx. 30 turns by hand before hoisting. UV strip starboard = line exits port, and vice versa. Final cockpit block: self-aligning swivel, working load not less than 3000 N (300 kg/ 660lb).
• Rigging screw: sail down, halyard slack; remove the adaptor halves and drum clevis pin, slide the drum up and hold it, turn only the rigging-screw body, realign the flats, refit. Never remove the clevis pins that hold the forestay to the boat; do not force past the stop.
• Without rigging screw: lengthen with extra toggles; shorten by cutting wire and extrusion.

Hoisting & Furling

1. Tension the forestay fully first; approx. 30 turns of line on the drum.
2. Turn the tack ring counter-clockwise if the line exits port, clockwise if starboard (free-turn); tack to the shackle.
3. Hoist in the starboard groove if the line exits port (and vice versa); tension to a vertical crease, then ease until it disappears; remove the pre-feeder.
4. Furl tightly with tension on the leeward sheet; leave at least 3–5 turns on the drum.
5. Check the swivel is at least 50 mm (1 31/32") below the top guard and the 15–20° angle; mark the halyard and backstay adjuster.

Reefing (close to beam reach): ease the sheet until the luff flaps, furl in while gradually easing, belay. Racing: remove line guide, cover and brims, lower the swivel to the drum for a twin-groove headfoil.

Checklist & Maintenance

• Halyard angle 15-20°; swivel at least 50 mm below the top guard; luff turns one turn before the tack ring; line guide clear of the flanges; free articulation top and bottom; split pins secured.
• Yearly: check the extrusion for damage, all rotating parts free; grease the four drum-unit bearings (remove the brims) and both halyard-swivel bearings with water-resistant Furlex grease.
• Wash with mild detergent and rinse; silicone-free polish on the extrusions; protect black plastic when polishing stainless.
• Store with the mast, no aluminium against steel, never wrapped damp in plastic; raise centre extrusions where it freezes.
• Never dismantle the halyard swivel or drum unit (loose balls) – dealer service. Warranty 2 years.