Anyone have experience with home made furlers on a C22? I've seen a couple of posts on the web showing pvc furlers for smaller boats.
I'd like to give it a try with my existing sails (110 an 150% headsails). I envision being able to remove the hanking clips, lashing the existing grommets to a pvc sleeve with line or heavy zip ties closely trimmed and covered with rigging tape.
I can also see rigging the sales for flexible furling by reinforcing the lead edge of the sails with sewn on tape or spectra threaded inside the sleeve that holds the luff rope to fashion a leading edge that can take the extra strain. Then I could attach a swivel to the head and a drum and swivel to the tack corner grommet. That would necessitate adding an attachement point to the deck at the bow just aft of the stay attachment point. The furled sail would be hoisted by the halyard (lead through a halyard restrainer). I sort of prefer this approach if it will work, as it would allow me to drop the furled sail on the deck, coil the whole thing up and stow it in the sail bag eliminating the need for a sail cover. It would also greatly simplify trailering.
Thoughts? Experience? Fly's in my ointment? Thanks in advance.
I'd like to give it a try with my existing sails (110 an 150% headsails). I envision being able to remove the hanking clips, lashing the existing grommets to a pvc sleeve with line or heavy zip ties closely trimmed and covered with rigging tape.
I can also see rigging the sales for flexible furling by reinforcing the lead edge of the sails with sewn on tape or spectra threaded inside the sleeve that holds the luff rope to fashion a leading edge that can take the extra strain. Then I could attach a swivel to the head and a drum and swivel to the tack corner grommet. That would necessitate adding an attachement point to the deck at the bow just aft of the stay attachment point. The furled sail would be hoisted by the halyard (lead through a halyard restrainer). I sort of prefer this approach if it will work, as it would allow me to drop the furled sail on the deck, coil the whole thing up and stow it in the sail bag eliminating the need for a sail cover. It would also greatly simplify trailering.
Thoughts? Experience? Fly's in my ointment? Thanks in advance.