Replaced Profurl furler bearings and seals

The Profurl has sealed bearings and supposedly cannot be serviced (throw it away and buy another is the policy among riggers). I found a site on the internet that explains how to do it, what parts you need, and what tools you need. I am very thankful to Andrew Bray for posting this information, and also Chris Zinger who wrote up super detailed instructions (available through Andrew Bray via his website). Without their pioneering efforts on this project, we would never have been able to do it. They are gentlemen and sailing scholars, and I salute them. The hardest part was pulling the seals out. We tried the methods described, but to no avail. In the end we used the dremel tool to very carefully grind away the steel ring that exists inside the nitrile rubber seals. Fortunately, we did not damage the sealing surface using this method (we had damaged the sealing surface already, before we knew any better, trying to pry back the edge of the seal with an awl to get grease in/out–damn–oh well).

Comments

31 responses to “Replaced Profurl furler bearings and seals”

  1. Niklas Edblad

    Nice job!
    Is it possible to have the detailed instruction?
    – I have tried contacting Andrew but his link is dead.

    Best regards,
    Niklas

  2. that’s a tall order–unfortunately I don’t have a detailed recollection of the process. If you have any specific questions I might be able to help, but I’m afraid I don’t have enough knowledge to walk you through it from memory.

  3. Stephen W

    Matt
    I have an old Profurl unit on my boat which seems to have split at lower drum level. Looks like the bearing has disintigrated. Is this the only means of joining the lower housing to the tube that inserts into it?

    Also, I’d be grateful if you could forward a copy of the detailed instructions that Chris Zinger supplied

    Many thanks
    Stephen

  4. Mark Brownhill

    Do you have a copy of the Chris Zinger procedure, the original contact is not working.

  5. Alain Boucher

    I have the same problems as everyone else with an old Profurl unit.

    Do you have a copy of the Chris Zinger procedure, the links are obsolete.

    Many thanks
    Alain

  6. Roberto

    Hello,
    like the other people, I would be grateful if you could send me the detailed instruction from Chris Zinger, the contact page is not working any more.

    Regards
    Roberto

  7. Larry

    Any info on rebuilding a N42 would really be appreciated.

    Thanks
    Larry

  8. Ken Newman

    Just having purchased an older boat (1988) I have the same problems as everyone else with an old Profurl unit – N31. That is, worn bearings.
    Do you have a copy of the Chris Zinger procedure? (It’s not clear if you have responded to previous requests for this information at https://maintenance.syzygysailing.com/?p=67.

    Many thanks.

    Ken

  9. responded privately

  10. responded privately

  11. Ross

    Loved your blog but to do this I feel I need a bit more instruction. Could you please forward Chris Zinger’s notes. Thanks in advance.
    Ross

  12. Hi I have a similar challenge to those stated above. 1984 boat with a N31 Profurl unit. Do you have a copy of the Chris Zinger procedure?

    Thank you

    John

  13. guillermo van Wielink

    like the other people, I would be grateful if you could send me the detailed instruction from Chris Zinger,

  14. Brad Fuller

    I am also after a copy of those detailed instructions. Can you help please?

  15. Greg Downey

    Hi Matt,
    Same question as everyone else. Do you have the Chris Zinger instructions?
    Many thanks
    Greg

  16. LaDonna Bubak

    Would love a copy of Chris’ instructions, if possible. Thanks!

  17. Raymond

    Hi

    I have removed all the screws but the furling unit will not slide up the foil. The silver aluminium insert inside the top of the male part slides out and up the foil quite easily but not sure if I’m missing something.

  18. DE CLARKE

    My N42 is doing something very strange — a clunk/scrape at one consistent position of rotation. It just started doing this after I bent on the sails today. I have no idea whether I may have overhoisted the genoa and bent something (is this even possible) or whether something got weird earlier in the winter when the backstay was off for a day or two during a bimini replacement. The unit is a real black box — I doubt I could even get it apart.

    I would really like to see Chris Zinger’s detailed sketches as it might help me to understand what the H is going on in there.

    Could you, please, send me a URL or zipfile or some version of that info? Andrew Bray’s websites (both of them) seem to be defunct, and his last-known email address doesn’t work.

    thanks

    de
    S/V Tazling, Contessa 32

  19. dennis

    I really like your blog. can I please get more detailed instructions on replacing the bearings on my profurler unit .

    Thanks in advance.

    Dennis

    S&S 30, Mona MAE

  20. Shorty Longnecker

    Would like to receive instructions too, please. Mahalo! LC32

  21. James

    Hi Matt,

    As mentioned by a few people, Andrew Bray seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Nothing bad I hope.

    If you could forward Chris Zinger’s notes to me I’d be most grateful. We have an NC42 which is seized…

    Thanks,
    James

  22. Michael

    Same here Matt,
    If you have a copy of Chris Zinger notes would you mind sharing please.
    Kind regards,
    Micheal O’Shea

  23. Do you have a copy of Chris Zinger profurl repair. I have a siezed NC42 which I need to fix.
    Best Regards
    Mario Borg

  24. As all above, can you send me a copy of Chris Zinger’s notes.
    Many thanks in anticipation, Monty

  25. Bob Ciupa

    Hi there. Family commitments kept me from using my boat over the past six years, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when I found that my
    50 year old Profurl decided to get cranky on me. I can’t really complain as it took six years of abuse when we sailed it to Europe, did the Med and the Black Sea and back but now, it appears, I need to replace the bearings. Any chance Icould get the Chris Zinger notes?

    Thanks

    Bob Ciupa

  26. Ed

    Hi. I am in the same boat as all of the other people were, but it’s now 2021. I have the furling drum removed, and the set screws for the first foil. I am looking for instructions on how to rebuild the furler drum, and get the first foil off to allow inspection of the fore stay inside. There seems to be an inserted locking piece, inside the first foil that has slid up to near the second foil intersection as I tried to remove the stay from the first. Hope this makes sense. Thanks in advance,
    Ed

  27. Shawn

    Hello! I hope this is still a live site, this is the only place I have been able too find any information regarding servicing our Profurl NC42 (CIRCA 1996 Vintage and is finally giving us issues). Please let me know if it would be possible to obtain any further documentation on the bearing repairs/replacements and thanks in advance!

    Cheers,
    Shawn
    S/V Firefly

  28. Lee Brubacher

    Hello Matt.

    I’d love a copy of Chris Zinger’s notes if possible. I’ve got a ProFurl on a Mirage 29 which needs to be rebuilt this winter.
    Thanks

    Lee

  29. Antonio Doria

    Hi Matt,

    I´m now engaged in a furler restoration, so it would be a valuable help to have the detailed instructions from Chris Zinger.
    I would be really grateful if you could share. Thank you so much in advance,

    Antonio

  30. Antonio Doria Olaso

    Hi Matt,

    Very interesting post, thank you for sharing information.

    I’m now in the proccess to rebuild my N42 furler, would you still be able to provide Chris Zinger instructions? I would be so grateful.
    Kind regards,

    Antonio

  31. Nicholas Iliff

    I would also appreciate the Chris Zinger notes if you still have them

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *