Selden Furling Mast RB/RC, Mast Sections F217/F234/F252 — Owner's Manual

The System

Manual for the Selden RB Mk II and RC Mk II furling mast in mast sections F217, F234 and F252. The asymmetric luff extrusion bends more easily, reducing initial resistance to reefing. Cables run in soft cable conduits. The whole reefing mechanism can be removed for service; all screws go into stainless thread inserts.

• Masthead / inside the mast: top swivel, halyard swivel, sail feeder, extra sheave box for a furling jib halyard, topping lift (1:2).
• Gear: furling gear with line driver, kicker bracket, turning blocks, clew outhaul car and outhaul fairlead.
• Openings: access to sail feeder and halyard swivel, to tack hook and tensioning screw, access for greasing, opening for in-mast stowage of the halyard tail, cable exit.

Checking & Adjusting Luff Extrusion Tension

Tensioned at the factory. Before stepping, lay the mast horizontally: the extrusion should be just clear of the mast wall at its mid point. Once stepped, it should not contact the mast wall when you grasp it through the upper access hole and shake it.

1. Remove the access covers (depress one button and push, lift the opposite end).
2. Undo the lock retaining screw and free the locking tube.
3. Push the locking tube up above the sail feeder and hold it there with a screwdriver through the hole at the lower end of the sail feeder; the screwdriver also stops the luff section turning.
4. Lubricate the tensioning screw with rigging screw oil and turn the furling gear with the winch handle until the luff is correctly tensioned.
5. Adjust so the locking tube fits over the lower part of the luff section, lower it to the locking position and refit the lock retaining screw.

Always release backstay tension before tensioning the luff. Do not over-tension: it increases furling effort.

Line Routing

• Furl with a reefing line plus an outhaul, from the cockpit or at the mast. Operating at the mast is recommended for type RC, because of friction in the control line system from mast to cockpit on a large yacht.
• From the cockpit: endless loop of ø10 mm polyester rope on a self-tailing winch, with extra length to take it off the winch; belay the tail on a stopper. Take caution if an electric winch is used.
• If the line must pass through blocks and stoppers, splice it endless afterwards per Selden instruction 595-673; with removable blocks/stoppers a pre-spliced endless line can be used.
• Outhaul: self-tailing winch and stopper recommended.
• Topping lift and kicker are best led to the cockpit on rope stoppers. End the topping lift with a figure-of-eight knot where it exits the boom, positioned to stop the boom dropping below its lowest necessary level (not needed with a rod kicker).
• One winch only is possible but more cumbersome. Because the endless line passes the same turning block both ways, chafe against the kicking strap mast attachment can add friction.

Fitting the Sail, Cables & Before Sailing

1. Remove the covers.
2. Attach the head of the sail to the halyard swivel.
3. Attach the clew to the outhaul car.
4. Hoist while making sure the sail feeds correctly into the luff extrusion.
5. Join the tack to the tack hook.
6. Tighten the halyard.
7. Furl until only 200–300 mm of the clew is exposed, line driver turning clockwise.

• Sail made to Selden instruction 595-542 "Sailmakers guide".
• The sail must roll on the starboard side of the luff extrusion: pull the starboard part of the endless line so the line driver turns clockwise.
• Furl and unfurl a couple of times to check the system and sail size; keep the area aft of the mast free of halyards.
• Adding cables: pull a new cable through an existing soft conduit with a messenger line (pull a new messenger through with it), or put new cables and a new messenger in a new soft conduit hoisted in the front mast compartment.