Opinions On In-Mast Furling Main

AlastairLC · Jul 24, 2017

Experienced sailors around here call it "in-mast fouling".

MccNeo · Jul 24, 2017

We have a boat in our club with in-mast furling. I observed significant difficulty unfurling the main requiring several hours of frustration until finally a trip climbing the mast was necessary to clear the foul. Guess what, the same day they had trouble furling it back into the mast also. Care to try this in a bad weather, heavy chop, waves, or high winds???
Run Forest, run.

AlastairLC · Jul 24, 2017

In addition, you can't have proper battens.
How about a smaller boat?

shemandr · Jul 24, 2017

Ugh. If you look back in the annals there are many threads about this. Shorter story is that some of us love them and others, me included, hate them. For my part, I've never thought that I was closer to a heart attack then when trying to furl that in mast system in a breeze. In any book you could not call it easy, stress free, or even safe in any distortion of the words. In my opinion the safety, ease of use etc. are marketing BS. I think that the systems are going away in favor of lazy jacks and stack packs - as they should.

LeoLambert310 · Jul 24, 2017

I have in mast system and yes I have some problems but found that the boom angel is important furling into the mast the sail has to be tight or it will bind but not having to go on deck in 25+ kt wind and 7-8 foot sea I'll take the in mast system any day.

Tally Ho · Jul 24, 2017

Several guys at my marina have Hunter 33's with in-mast furling. Of the 3, none seem to have too many problems. But every once in a while, someone can't furl the sail. Usually just need to pull it back out and refurl. As others have said, angle of the boom has something to do with it.

I like the idea of being able to furl infinitely, and I would think easier than having to drop the sail some, pull the reefing line (if you have single line reefing) or going to the mast to hook the tack on a reef hook (as I do). No reef lines to deal with.

I really don't know what I would look for if I was in the market for a different boat....maybe a Hunter with B&R rig (no backstay), and a traditional sail with a full roach, flat top and full battens! Add a strong track and batten cars and an electric halyard winch!

That would be a nice setup I bet.

Greg

mcrow33 · Jul 24, 2017

The in-mast fuller you described sound the same as mine with is made by US Spar. First of all don't listen to the people who never owned one. If you follow the proper procedures they don't jam. The only issue is that you won't get the same performance as a conventional sail with battens. So if you looking for a racing performance boat, don't look at an in-mast fuller. If you want a cruiser that has infinite reef point, is easy to use, then in-mast is the way to go. I own a sailing charter and on the water daily, I've never had a problem. But I follow the direction. You have to be sure that the boat is pointed into the wind, with it slightly coming across the starboard side. Loosen the sheet and boom Vang to allow the boom to raise up, tension on the fuller line as you pull out the sail with the out-haul. When fullering, you tension the out-haul. The sail goes into the mast tight. If wind are up, pull out as much sail as you want. I've fullered my sail in +25 knts with gust over 35 with out a problem.

seadaddler · Jul 24, 2017

Same old story lovers and haters of inmast and I will tell you most love Inmast as I can tell you
I am one of many who love it no problems but first timers just don't know how so they will have problems and it's like learning how to sail first timer.
What year and model and what make can help us help you.
Try finding some one who has been sailing Inmast and off some beer to show you.
Nick

BrianRobin · Jul 24, 2017

I have an original, well worn sail in mine, it works beautiful! It's usually not the furler,but the person on the line that will be the problem. Just sailed back from Nova Scotia this afternoon in fairly high winds, reefing is easier for sure!

BigEasy · Jul 24, 2017

Once you understand the operation of in mast furling, potential problems, and how to prevent hang-ups, it is a pleasure to use. There are an infinite number of reef points, no going on deck to reef or stow the sail, no sail covers to remove and replace. With a stack pack, you've got to unzip the thing, many times the battens hang up on the lazy jacks, and mostly only two reef points. All the canvas & reefing lines require replacement that is expensive.
My early frustrations with in mast furling on Beneteau charter boats were primarily because of inexperienced charterers that didn't know how to furl the sail properly, causing jams when trying to unfurl. When I first got my boat from the previous owner, the furler jammed repeatedly. Sent the mainsail to a sail loft knowledgeable with my sail & furler and converted to thin vertical battens with batten pockets that eliminated Velcro pocket closures, I refurbished the furling drum, changed the furling line, and tuned the rigging. Works great now and haven't had any problems with it in 3 years; I like it.

SG · Jul 24, 2017

In the interests of full disclosure, we have a very large main, a Dutchman system and it works fine. Our main isn't quite 800 SF, or so. We've had the boat for 19 years and I'm fine with the main. Before, we had a Sabre 42 with lazy jacks, a full battened main, and batt slides too -- that for 11 years.

Having said that, I've sailed on boats with in the mast furling, they do work (until they don't). You'll need to be careful that the main is not bagged, it's in decent shape, and you take care to not try to furl it without setting the boom angle right, not trying to force it off the wind, and minding the tension of the outhaul as well as the furling line. Having one HIHO (halfway-in-halfway-out) would be a mess.

If you have others that don't know what they're doing, you can produce a result which you could regret; however, there are a lot of people that do use these systems.

I think you give-up a bunch of efficiency, need to be careful using the in the mast system, etc.
I'd use a Dutchman system, if it were me. However, IF you are buying a used boat, I'd try it out if you feel compelled and see how it works. I doubt you'd retrofit one onto a boat; and, I don't think you're too likely to change-out the mast, boom, the mainsail, and a bunch of rigging, etc. to switch from or to it.

JamesG161 · Jul 25, 2017

BigEasy said:
Once you understand the operation of in mast furling, potential problems, and how to prevent hang-ups, it is a pleasure to use.

It is just a ...

Simple Mechanism.

I keep mine maintained and I know I could "one man sail" our boat from the cockpit.

Have I ever jammed it?
YES

Will I ever jam it again?
NEVER

Thus the differing Opinions.

I wonder why all major Spar manufactures keep making them?

So it is NOT the makers, but the untrained users.

If you pick a boat with in-mast main, have it unfurled and furled on the Sea Trials.

Happy Furling!
Jim...

PS: Their are many Posts in SBO forums on how to use them properly.

Cmp1110 · Jul 25, 2017

We have a charleston spar inmast and it is great. Sure sometimes I have to go on deck and give the foot a tug but compared to hoisting a main it is simple. Performance does suffer some but it is worth it when you have a full boat and you can reef or extend the main and no one even realizes it. I do race on a boat and struggled with the decision when we bought this boat I even searched for the same model with a traditional main but there were few. If you are stuck on traditional main that will limit your choices. For my family although it hurt at first it is the way to go

Barnacle Bill · Jul 25, 2017

I have a fair amount of experience with the Selden' Mast that has a furling mainsail. They work great. Can't tell you how many boats I have sailed with them and never had a problem and super easy to use. These are cruising boats, so not racing, but with a new sail built for in mast furling, you can get very decent windward performance, can flatten in out when you need to and I have nothing but good to say about that product. I have used other products/brands that were problematic. To name a few boats I have sailed that use the Selden in mast furling system are: Mason 43, various sizes of Bavaria Yachts boats and Endeavor. All good.

DougM · Jul 25, 2017

Spent 2 -1/2 hours one day with two others helping my neighbor unjam his furling main caught completely inside the mast. You couldn't pay me to accept a boat with a furling main. That has to be the most ill-conceived pieces of junk ever put together for a sailboat in my opinion.

Dave Groshong · Jul 25, 2017

Most people overlook the critical fact that most in-mast furlers require good halyard tension to furl correctly. Old line, or line that is too stretchy will definitely cause problems. Most require low stretch Dyneema, such as Samson MLX or WarpSpeed. If your halyard has sagged 2 inches since you last tightened it, it creates a pouch of sail that will jam.

Opinions On In-Mast Furling Main

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