We have a h29.5 with a bowsprit, a Doyle asymmetrical with an ATN sock. We don't use the asymmetrical as much as we would like because it's a PITA to make several trips to the bow and make sail changes for an afternoon of sailing due to changing conditions on our lake. I was thinking of trying a Profurl EC 1500 furling system. It might be a good solution for us because the sail can left on the furler while the jib is out. There doesn't seem to be away to adjust the tack, though. Anybody used one of these or have any thoughts? Thanks.
Asymmetrical - Sock or Furler?
- Thread starter Monty Miller
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I have an asym screecher on my boat, on a bowsprit, and use a Schaefer wireluff furling drum with it. I like it a lot. The only complaint I have about it is that it can be finicky when trying to furl it if the halyard or backstay tension isn't set properly.
Hi Sailingdog,
I have my headsail on a furler and I was curious about your system. My spinnaker is due for delivery in 2 weeks and your systems sounds good. Do you have 2 drums on the bow?
What tension is "proper" so that it can be furled easily?
PJ
I have my headsail on a furler and I was curious about your system. My spinnaker is due for delivery in 2 weeks and your systems sounds good. Do you have 2 drums on the bow?
What tension is "proper" so that it can be furled easily?
PJ
Yes, when I have the screacher mounted, there are two drums, one on the sprit and one on the foredeck for the genny.
As for proper tension...hard to say...it's something I'm still trying to figure out...
I have a pretty good feel for it, but couldn't say what defines what it is....
As for proper tension...hard to say...it's something I'm still trying to figure out...
I have a pretty good feel for it, but couldn't say what defines what it is....Hey Monty I too have a h29.5 with an A-sail & an Atn sock. The jib on a furler & the a-sail tack on the bow sprit. I find it a breeze to launch & douse the a-sail with or without the jib furled. It does require a trip to the foredeck but that's sailing, I'm comfortable with that. Just my wife & I handle the a-sail easily. Sounds like you've got the hardware, just use it more. Gerry
RolGen Asym Furler
There were some posts on the Catalina 310 forum about the RolGen system for ASym spinnakers.
The poster was very happy with the installation and included some pictures showing the spinnaker furled with a 135 genoa in use.
I am considering a similar setup.
Regards
Chris
There were some posts on the Catalina 310 forum about the RolGen system for ASym spinnakers.
The poster was very happy with the installation and included some pictures showing the spinnaker furled with a 135 genoa in use.
I am considering a similar setup.
Regards
Chris
:troll:I have an existing 780 sq ft Asym and a Atn sock and Tacker and in the photos shows before and after sailing conditions.
Practical Sailor March 2008 issue had an article on roller furlers and using
this information I narrowed the choice down to Fancnor and Rollgen.
I chose Rollgen after down loading their installation instructions...the kit
included everything knife,wrenches,lighter to burn the ends of line and etc.....amazing, and every thing in stock ready to go and a senior discount .:dance:
Use slide option for best pictures.
http://picasaweb.google.com/1dbpaul/AsymBallmarOct2620082008?authkey=FUNmmhOeKwM#
With out going into a lot of detail.....The furling line goes from the front of boat and wraps around to aft end of boat. This is where I use the line to furl in the Asym......Turn the switch on the ratchet to on and with out looking pull a line, if it clicks then keep pulling.
paulj
Practical Sailor March 2008 issue had an article on roller furlers and using
this information I narrowed the choice down to Fancnor and Rollgen.
I chose Rollgen after down loading their installation instructions...the kit
included everything knife,wrenches,lighter to burn the ends of line and etc.....amazing
, and every thing in stock ready to go and a senior discount .:dance:Use slide option for best pictures.
http://picasaweb.google.com/1dbpaul/AsymBallmarOct2620082008?authkey=FUNmmhOeKwM#
With out going into a lot of detail.....The furling line goes from the front of boat and wraps around to aft end of boat. This is where I use the line to furl in the Asym......Turn the switch on the ratchet to on and with out looking pull a line, if it clicks then keep pulling.
paulj
Thanks for the responses. I didn't get the answer I was looking for yet so I think I need to ask it in a different way. Until I read the article in the latest Sail magazine (Nov) "Ask Sail" (page 59) I was not aware of an alternative solution to using a sock or snuffer to deploy an asymmetrical sail. So how does a furler system compare to a sock? Pros and cons? Thanks.
"So how does a furler system compare to a sock? Pros and cons?"
I thought a picture was worth a 1000 words.
To pull in a Asym in 10 to 15 knot wind single handed is priceless......Then when going around next the island and wind is back down to 5 to 10 konts just roller it out.
PRO.......works fantastic and you can leave the Asym up and ready to go.
CONS....$$$$$
With a ATN sock after you have pulled the sock down you either have to wrap up the exposed portion of the Asym or take it down to the deck turtle bag.
In 10-15 knot winds a lot of things are flying around.
Good nite....I just love those icons
paulj
I thought a picture was worth a 1000 words.
To pull in a Asym in 10 to 15 knot wind single handed is priceless......Then when going around next the island and wind is back down to 5 to 10 konts just roller it out.
PRO.......works fantastic and you can leave the Asym up and ready to go.
CONS....$$$$$
With a ATN sock after you have pulled the sock down you either have to wrap up the exposed portion of the Asym or take it down to the deck turtle bag.In 10-15 knot winds a lot of things are flying around.
Good nite....I just love those icons
paulj
You can't beat a furler on an asymmetrical. I built one for an Ericson 23 and used it all the time. It was modeled somewhat after the RollGen. With the furler I rarely went out without using the spinnaker. Single handing in up to 20 knot winds was doable. You wouldn't want to use one without a sprit but you already have one. I found it to be one of the most useful modifications I did to that boat. CDI has one also, I think it's around $1000.
Asymetrical or genoa???
Not trying to be a jerk here but
I thought an asymetrical was "flown" not hanked on or furled. this giving it the properties of a spinaker more or less. A furled sail of the same size would be a genoa or drifter. But a genoa is designed for higher winds and beating and a drifter is a VERY light weight sail that will stay "blown" in even the lightest winds. An asymetrical is flown as a spinaker is from three lines and not attached along any of it's edges.
Or did I miss something?
Not trying to be a jerk here but
I thought an asymetrical was "flown" not hanked on or furled. this giving it the properties of a spinaker more or less. A furled sail of the same size would be a genoa or drifter. But a genoa is designed for higher winds and beating and a drifter is a VERY light weight sail that will stay "blown" in even the lightest winds. An asymetrical is flown as a spinaker is from three lines and not attached along any of it's edges.
Or did I miss something?
Bill-
Most cruising asymetrical are generally "flown" with the tack fastened either the forestay, ala the ATN Tacker, or with its own tack attachment point to the sprit and a furler or sock. This is to make the asym convenient and easy to handle. Flying one with three lines kind of defeats the purpose of having an asym whatsoever. If you're going to do that...get a full symmetric spinnaker.
Most cruising asymetrical are generally "flown" with the tack fastened either the forestay, ala the ATN Tacker, or with its own tack attachment point to the sprit and a furler or sock. This is to make the asym convenient and easy to handle. Flying one with three lines kind of defeats the purpose of having an asym whatsoever. If you're going to do that...get a full symmetric spinnaker.
Bill, the asymmetrical is attached to the furler only at the tack and the head. The luff is free as in a traditional setup. The sail is rolled up starting from the bottom to the top with a continuous line back to the cockpit. See the liink for the CDI system which is the same as the one sold in this chanderly. I hope this is helpful.
http://www.sailcdi.com/Spinnakerfurler.htm
http://www.sailcdi.com/Spinnakerfurler.htm
Ah ha!
I knew there was more to the story.
Saildog; by three lines I mean tack halyard and sheet. I believe this is the same setup as a true symetrical except that one "clew" is designated as a tack and permanently fixed to the bow by some means.
Monty, thanks for the link, the picture is not good enoug to backward engineer one for myself. Is there a stay/foil with this system? if not how do you get the dang thing to roll up?
I knew there was more to the story.
Saildog; by three lines I mean tack halyard and sheet. I believe this is the same setup as a true symetrical except that one "clew" is designated as a tack and permanently fixed to the bow by some means.
Monty, thanks for the link, the picture is not good enoug to backward engineer one for myself. Is there a stay/foil with this system? if not how do you get the dang thing to roll up?
Here's an alternative idea. A way to build a bowsprit and lay the lines for quick access. I constructed it for my H29.5 and replicated it for H320...
Here’s an easy-to-make bowsprit, seats in the anchor locker.
This will throw the spin ahead of the main, less blanketing.
Tack line and 2 sheets permanently deployed for quick setup.
(Note that the link here has 2 pages of pix and directions.)
Typo correction: Eyelet should be 3/8 inch.
http://www.sailboatowners.com/bowsprit.doc
Here’s an easy-to-make bowsprit, seats in the anchor locker.
This will throw the spin ahead of the main, less blanketing.
Tack line and 2 sheets permanently deployed for quick setup.
(Note that the link here has 2 pages of pix and directions.)
Typo correction: Eyelet should be 3/8 inch.
http://www.sailboatowners.com/bowsprit.doc
Bill, you are asking good questions and I do not know much more than you at this point. Between the tack which is attached to a continuous line furler there is a flexible line connecting to the head swivel. It might be a wire like Saildog mentioned. There are several manufactures besides, CDI. Profurl, Harken, Rollgen etc. The head swivel has a dead leg attached to it that hits the mast so that only the head swivel rotates and not the halyard. You just start pulling on the continuous line and the thing furlers the sail starting with the bottom and works its way up. How long it takes? I would like to see one in action before I jump. Also, its seems you can't adjust the tack on the fly for different wind conditions. Stay tuned, someone out there will have the answers.
The furled asymmetrical flies just like a regular asymmetrical, with a free flying luff. The furling system has a large diameter stiff rope between the furler drum and head swivel. The rope also has a rubbery covering to add friction. I think most of the manufactured systems furl from the top down with the tack freewheeling. The one I made had the tack and head fixed on the spinning parts and furled from both the top and bottom. Worked fine. I think with the freewheeling tack set up you could have an adjustable tack.
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