Device for protecting furling extrusion

Abstract

A silencing device for an in-mast furling system is used to prevent contact between the furling extrusion and the interior wall of the hollow mast when a mainsail has been removed (such as for winter storage). The silencing device is hoisted onto the hollow mast and furled (or placed) onto the extrusion after the mainsail has been removed. In one configuration, the silencing device comprises a padding of several feet in length that is wrapped in sailcloth. The padding thus covers the extrusion and functions to limit the movement of the extrusion within the mast, eliminating contact between a “bare” extrusion and the interior of the mast, and significantly reducing the potential of fatigue failure for the extrusion itself.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for protecting an empty furling extrusion within a sailboat mast during times when a mainsail has been removed, the device comprising
 a padded element hoisted along the mast so as to surround at least a portion of the empty furling extrusion, the padded element having a diameter sufficient to reduce a gap between an interior surface of the mast and the empty furling extrusion, preventing physical contact between the furling extrusion and the mast when the mainsail is removed.   
     
     
         2 . The device as defined in  claim 1  wherein the padded element comprises
 a triangular-shaped piece of cushioning material including opposing head and tack locations along one end termination and a clew termination at an opposing apex of the triangular-shaped piece of cushioning material, wherein the triangular-shaped piece of cushioning material is furled around the empty furling extrusion within the mast to prevent physical contact between the furling extrusion and the mast when the mainsail is removed. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device as defined in  claim 2  wherein the triangular-shaped piece of cushioning material includes a piece of sailcloth material. 
     
     
         4 . The device as defined in  claim 3  wherein the piece of sailcloth material comprises a piece of quilted sailcloth material. 
     
     
         5 . The device as defined in  claim 3  wherein the triangular-shaped piece of cushioning material further comprises a section of foam padding attached to the piece of sailcloth material. 
     
     
         6 . The device as defined in  claim 2  wherein the triangular-shaped piece of cushioning material further comprises a clew end section of UV-resistant material. 
     
     
         7 . The device as defined in  claim 1  wherein the padded element comprises
 a plurality of annular disks of resilient, shock-absorbent material disposed in a spaced-apart arrangement along the empty furling extrusion. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device as defined in  claim 7  wherein the plurality of annular disks comprises a plurality of foam disks. 
     
     
         9 . The device as defined in  claim 7  wherein the padded element further comprises a support line passing through each disk, the support line attached to opposing end terminations of the mast.