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OWNER'S MANUAL

Hydraulic data, hose and switch-panel installation, operation, manual override, maintenance, luff tension and the sail dimensions for the Selden hydraulic in-mast furling mast types RB and RC.

DocumentSelden Hydraulic Furling Mast RB & RC Owner's Manual
FormatPDF · 20 pages · 1.1 MB
LanguageEnglish
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OverviewHydraulicsSwitch PanelHoisting the SailOperationMaintenanceLuff TensionSail SpecsProducts
Selden Hydraulic Furling Mast RB & RC — Owner's Manual

The System

  • Hydraulically driven in-mast furling, controlled from the cockpit. A drive unit rotates the luff extrusion between the drive and the masthead top swivel; a self-tailing winch keeps the clew outhaul taut while rolling in or out.
  • The drive unit is a hydraulic motor driving a self-locking worm gear that holds the sail when reefed.
  • Two hydraulic hoses run from the motor to a through-deck fitting with a built-in by-pass valve: on deck for deck-stepped masts, on the mast for keel-stepped masts. Quick couplings simplify masting and de-masting.
  • Selden recommends a biodegradable hydraulic oil. A standard winch handle can be used for manual operation.
  • The mast extrusion has an extra luff groove for a storm trysail or spare main, or an anti-vibration strip (vibration can start with wind about abeam at 4–12 knots; the mast oscillates at 3–6 cycles per second).

Hydraulic Specifications

Item Value
Hydraulic motor Danfoss-OML 12.5 cm3 / revolution
Max. recommended pressure, sections 232/126 & 260/136 (RB) 120 bar
Max. recommended pressure, sections 290/150, 324/169 & 370/192 (RC/RD) 140 bar
Oil flow / nominal speed Q = 11 litres/min gives n = 40 rpm
Normal working load (reefing or unfurling) p = 40 bar at Q = 10 litres/min
Pump unit 24 V, P = 1,5 kW usually sufficient
Hose connecting threads G3/8"
Hoses (below deck, not supplied) At least SAE 100R7-IS03949; min. size 3/8"; min. working pressure 140 bar; min. bending radius 150 mm
  • Through-deck fitting: Ø 100 mm / Ø 60 mm, G 3/8", 40 mm (fig. 6.1 in the PDF).
  • Quick couplings: push the knurled sleeves to disconnect. The locking rings are pushed against the sleeves and given a half turn; twist them to release. Always check the couplings are locked.
  • Mark the hoses where they meet the quick coupling: swapped hoses reverse the motor.
  • Blow all new hoses through with compressed air before fitting, keep the system free of dirt, and fit the protective covers whenever the couplings are disconnected.
  • Hoses from the deck gland to the motor are made to measure by Selden from the boat's data form (deck-stepped: gland position; keel-stepped: exit side and hose length, 200 mm standard).

Switch Panel & Function Check

The waterproof switch panel can go anywhere in the cockpit. Terminals: a = battery (+12/24 V), b = battery (–), 3 and 4 = to control box; plug-in terminals 2,8 x 0,5 mm.

  1. Press the reefing switch: the luff extrusion must turn anti-clockwise (the furling/reefing direction).
  2. Press the unfurling switch: it must turn clockwise. If not, swap the yellow and green leads, or cross the hydraulic hoses.

Fitting & Hoisting the Sail

  1. Check tack and head are made to the sail specifications below.
  2. Remove the covers (depress one button, push, lift the opposite end).
  3. Join the head to the halyard swivel and the tack to the tack hook.
  4. Attach the clew to the outhaul car.
  5. Lash the sail feeder close to the aft face of the mast and thread it onto the sail from the top of the luff.
  6. Feed the luff into the sail feed and hoist, checking it feeds correctly.
  7. Tension the halyard until horizontal folds disappear and lock it in the stopper.
  8. Remove the sail feeder.
  9. Furl until only the clew is exposed. The sail always rolls on the starboard side of the extrusion.
  10. Test furl a few times in harbour; keep the aft face of the mast clear of halyards and lines.

Rolling Out, Furling & Reefing

  • Rolling out: take in on the outhaul while pressing the unfurling switch. Never run the motor without taking in on the outhaul. Stop when the red mark on the sail shows it is fully out: keep pressing and the sail starts rolling in the wrong direction.
  • Furling: leech and foot fairly taut (topping lift, kicker, outhaul). One turn of outhaul on the winch and pay out as the sail rolls in. Stop before the clew enters the mast.
  • Reefing: as furling, to any amount. The worm gear holds the sail when the motor stops. Then stretch the foot with the outhaul.
  • Outhaul on a self-tailing winch with a stopper that allows controlled paying out. Topping lift and kicker from the cockpit on stoppers; stopper knot on the topping lift at the boom exit (not essential with a rodkicker).

Manual Operation

  1. Put the by-pass valve (on the through-deck fitting) in the "Winch handle" position.
  2. Only then insert the winch handle.
  3. Turn clockwise to roll the sail in.

With the valve on "Winch handle" the motor cannot start. Never leave the winch handle in the drive unit: it spins very fast if the motor starts.

Season Service & Storage

  • Check the system thoroughly at the end of each season.
  • Cleaning (most important): mast on trestles, sail off, hose down with fresh water. Detergents only if fully rinsed off. Finish with silicone-free polish or wax.
  • Greasing: swivel bearings with the grease supplied (312-501), sparingly. Top swivel through the hole marked "Grease" via the sail slot; halyard swivel by injecting grease through the bearing gaps.
  • Drive unit: lithium grease (SKF LGEP 2/04). Service at intervals of no more than 5 years in normal use (dismantle, clean, new glands and O-rings, re-grease); more often for charter or circumnavigation.
  • Storage: clean, dry, well-ventilated; no wire halyards or rigging lying against the mast. Never store a damp or dirty mast wrapped in plastic.

Dismantling

  1. Lay the mast horizontally on trestles.
  2. Slacken the tensioning screw.
  3. Remove the coupling screw through the hole in the drive unit flange (10 mm Allen key) to separate extrusion and drive unit.
  4. Shorten the tensioning screw fully to free the drive shaft.
  5. Undo the four holding screws and lift out the drive unit (possible with the mast rigged).
  6. Undo the masthead box nuts, lift the box off and remove the swivel.
  7. Pull out the luff extrusion and halyard swivel.

Hydraulic motor: remove only if it cannot be turned with the winch handle or must be exchanged (most likely cause: dirt in the oil). Remove the hoses and plug them, undo the four screws of the port-side cover (5 mm Allen key), draw the cover out evenly with the three dismantling screws (2,5 mm Allen key) and lift the motor out by hand. Cover the open hole. Motor and cover are one exchange unit: do not separate them. Further drive unit dismantling: Selden or an authorised service agent.

Tensioning the Luff Extrusion

Tensioned at the factory; normally only needed after many years, if the extrusion feels slack. Do it with the mainsail removed. Do not over-tension: it overloads the system.

  1. Remove the covers.
  2. Loosen the lock screw enough to free the locking sleeve.
  3. Push the locking sleeve level with the upper opening and grasp it firmly.
  4. Turn the tensioning screw with a winch handle in the drive unit. When the sleeve slips round in your hand, tension is correct.
  5. Adjust the turn so the sleeve can be pushed down over the lower part of the extrusion, draw it to the locked position and refit the lock screw.

Sail Dimensions & Specifications

Mast extrusion A mm B mm C mm T mm (80 mm boom toggle) T mm (120 mm boom toggle)
232/126 650 400 100 80 125
260/136 650 400 100 80 125
290/150 700 500 200 90 135
324/169 700 500 200 90 135
370/192 700 500 300 - 135
Boom extrusion OS mm
143/76 150
171/94 150
200/117 200
250/140 200
Mast extrusion Sail chamber mm Max. luff length "E" mm Spare luff groove mm Max. slot width for tape mm Luff extrusion Dia. Luff groove ± 0,25 mm Max. space for tape mm
232/126 Ø114 5500 3,25 Ø10 RB Ø30 2,75 Ø8 (1994 and earlier Ø10)
260/136 Ø114 5500 3,25 Ø10 RB Ø30 2,75 Ø8 (1994 and earlier Ø10)
290/150 Ø124 6000 3,25 Ø10 RC Ø38 3,25 Ø10,6
324/169 Ø154 7000 3,25 Ø13 RC Ø38 3,25 Ø10,6
370/192 Ø174 7500 3,25 Ø13 RD Ø58 3,25 Ø10,6

Slides for the spare luff groove: Aquabatten AO32 or Rutgersson 101, and Aquabatten AO33 or Rutgersson 102 (see the table in the PDF for the section each applies to).

  • Asymmetric luff extrusion: do not use too thick cloth at the luff.
  • Head and tack tapes soft and easy to fold, 20mm wide recommended; no metal grommets.
  • Battens, if used, on the port side of the sail.
  • Clew grommet for the outhaul block no thicker than 14mm.
  • Luff curve: cut back 30 mm at the head, reducing to 0 mm at 500–800mm down the luff.
  • Red marks top and bottom of the luff (both sides) show when the sail is fully out.
  • "E" is measured to the aft edge of the sail with a clewboard, or to the aft face of the block with an integrated clew block.

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

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