I am considering upgrading my '86 Cat 30 SR/fin keel to roller furling. I do mostly recreational and family cruising (day sailing and some overnights but not blue water or racing) on the Columbia up- and down-river from Portland, OR. I have seen Harken, Pro-Furl, and Schaeffer products and would like to hear the experience and advice of my fellow skippers out there on which product(s) they would recommend. I am looking for the best VALUE (i.e. best performance for the least money). Also, I assume I need to get a new, custom head sail - is that correct? Thanks Steve in Portland
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A
Allen
T
Thos Kober
CDI
Alot of cats, mine included have a CDI furling jib. They are easy to put on and much less expensive. If you have a $50,000 boat, then I might suggest higher end system other wise it might not be worth it. With a CDI you stand a much better chance of re-couping most of your investment. Yes - will need to have your jib re-cut to go with a furling system. http://www.sailcdi.com/
Alot of cats, mine included have a CDI furling jib. They are easy to put on and much less expensive. If you have a $50,000 boat, then I might suggest higher end system other wise it might not be worth it. With a CDI you stand a much better chance of re-couping most of your investment. Yes - will need to have your jib re-cut to go with a furling system. http://www.sailcdi.com/
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Echo Gulf
Harken!!!
We have "Harken" roller furling on Sea Raven, with a 150 genoa specifically designed for it by the people at UK Sails. We have survived some horrendous inland and coastal storms that could have proven fatal for lesser quality equipment. For safety and peace of mind, I recommend going for the better quality equipment by manufacturers with a proven track record.
We have "Harken" roller furling on Sea Raven, with a 150 genoa specifically designed for it by the people at UK Sails. We have survived some horrendous inland and coastal storms that could have proven fatal for lesser quality equipment. For safety and peace of mind, I recommend going for the better quality equipment by manufacturers with a proven track record.
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John Visser
Profurl
Well, I had heard that Profurl was the best, so I put a new one on my C-36 when I did a major refit this year. It seems to be extremely well made. It has sealed bearings, so they should last a long time. I installed it myself, and it took about 45 minuts, icluding making the headstay using sta-lock connectors. I works great, adn it is strong enough to furl the sail under load using a winch on the furling line. I paid about $1500 for mine, a model LCI-32. The sail doesn't need to be re-cut, but needs a number 6 luff tape sewn on in place of the hanks. This can be done by any loft quickly and cheaply. jv
Well, I had heard that Profurl was the best, so I put a new one on my C-36 when I did a major refit this year. It seems to be extremely well made. It has sealed bearings, so they should last a long time. I installed it myself, and it took about 45 minuts, icluding making the headstay using sta-lock connectors. I works great, adn it is strong enough to furl the sail under load using a winch on the furling line. I paid about $1500 for mine, a model LCI-32. The sail doesn't need to be re-cut, but needs a number 6 luff tape sewn on in place of the hanks. This can be done by any loft quickly and cheaply. jv
M
MJ
The sail will need to be...
...recut in order to shorten the luff because the furling drum takes up some room. I recommend getting a sail made for it. I found it was much more cost effective to sell the old genoa and have one made. It would have cost me around $800 for this. Instead I sold the sail for $500 and put the cash toward the new sail. Check with your local loft, you may be able to get a package deal for both the furling gear and the sail. Good luck!
...recut in order to shorten the luff because the furling drum takes up some room. I recommend getting a sail made for it. I found it was much more cost effective to sell the old genoa and have one made. It would have cost me around $800 for this. Instead I sold the sail for $500 and put the cash toward the new sail. Check with your local loft, you may be able to get a package deal for both the furling gear and the sail. Good luck!
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Carol Henrion
Famet ReFurl
We have a Famet ReFurl system on our C-30 (1975, hull #171). The best thing about this system is the positive reefing/furling feature. We can furl the sail down to handkerchief size, and the furling locking mechanism will prevent the sail from blowing back out to full size. Mechanically, this is a very simple system with virtually no parts to fail. Famet ReFurl was rated very highly by Practical Sailor. We inherited this with the purchase of our boat. As a matter of fact, during the rebuild of the boat, the ReFurl was about the only piece of hardware that wasn't changed. As an aside, their customer service is excellent.
We have a Famet ReFurl system on our C-30 (1975, hull #171). The best thing about this system is the positive reefing/furling feature. We can furl the sail down to handkerchief size, and the furling locking mechanism will prevent the sail from blowing back out to full size. Mechanically, this is a very simple system with virtually no parts to fail. Famet ReFurl was rated very highly by Practical Sailor. We inherited this with the purchase of our boat. As a matter of fact, during the rebuild of the boat, the ReFurl was about the only piece of hardware that wasn't changed. As an aside, their customer service is excellent.
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patrick
choices
i have had the harken and now have cdi. cdi is so much more furling for so less the money. the f-7 is what you willneed and everyting is guareeted for life. even the foil. last time i used it was in the catalina nationals with 37 knots ofwind and behaved beautiful. i can furl it in by hand while still beating. so many choices, good luck
i have had the harken and now have cdi. cdi is so much more furling for so less the money. the f-7 is what you willneed and everyting is guareeted for life. even the foil. last time i used it was in the catalina nationals with 37 knots ofwind and behaved beautiful. i can furl it in by hand while still beating. so many choices, good luck
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cole
hood sl810
I have a hood sl series that was on the boat when we bought it. I have never had to cuss soooo much when reefing. now there is a replacement part for the damn thing and its $600. I made several mods like a one peice centering bearing not the 6 parts that come with it. try to keep those things in the boat. Ha. And the other mod is two 4" tangs bent 90 degrees and attached to the boat. This is instead of the back to back snap shackles that allow the fairleads for the line to move and jam. the tangs keep the bottom extrusion from twisting. I wont even mention having to splice the line and twice the blocks. I'm thinking of selling the unit and replacing it with a cdi ff9. cole
I have a hood sl series that was on the boat when we bought it. I have never had to cuss soooo much when reefing. now there is a replacement part for the damn thing and its $600. I made several mods like a one peice centering bearing not the 6 parts that come with it. try to keep those things in the boat. Ha. And the other mod is two 4" tangs bent 90 degrees and attached to the boat. This is instead of the back to back snap shackles that allow the fairleads for the line to move and jam. the tangs keep the bottom extrusion from twisting. I wont even mention having to splice the line and twice the blocks. I'm thinking of selling the unit and replacing it with a cdi ff9. cole
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Dave
HOOD is junk
The old Hood that came on my C-36 finally put four full twists in the extrusion the last time I tried to roll it up. I actually had to cut the sail off. This furler has always been a huge hassle. It was with great pleasure that I folded the whole mess up and tossed it in the trash. It ruined the headstay and could have brought down the mast! I'll be trying a halyard-free style furler so there is no chance of this again. Good luck.
The old Hood that came on my C-36 finally put four full twists in the extrusion the last time I tried to roll it up. I actually had to cut the sail off. This furler has always been a huge hassle. It was with great pleasure that I folded the whole mess up and tossed it in the trash. It ruined the headstay and could have brought down the mast! I'll be trying a halyard-free style furler so there is no chance of this again. Good luck.
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Rob R
CDI
I just put a CDI FF6 on my C-27. My experience has been that everyone seems to like the type of furler they have, so I won't say the CDI is any better than a Harken, or a Profurl, or a Schaeffer. I will say that it is cheaper. I got my CDI PLUS a brand new 150 Genoa for 1500 dollars (package). I opted an extra 90 bucks for the foam luff (money well spent) and an extra 60 bucks for a torlon bearing (as opposed to the standard neoprene bearing). I like both options. As for performance - out of this world. Of course, I am dealing with a brand new system, and I am comparing it to hanking on my old sail, but I tend to work the system pretty hard. I like to reef early, but have tested it under 30 mph winds, and it worked great. Also, the sail shape was not too bad. I had heard rumors that reefing really screwed up the shape, but I saw good shape up to 135, and fair shape at 100/90 percent. Overall, very satisfied. Rob
I just put a CDI FF6 on my C-27. My experience has been that everyone seems to like the type of furler they have, so I won't say the CDI is any better than a Harken, or a Profurl, or a Schaeffer. I will say that it is cheaper. I got my CDI PLUS a brand new 150 Genoa for 1500 dollars (package). I opted an extra 90 bucks for the foam luff (money well spent) and an extra 60 bucks for a torlon bearing (as opposed to the standard neoprene bearing). I like both options. As for performance - out of this world. Of course, I am dealing with a brand new system, and I am comparing it to hanking on my old sail, but I tend to work the system pretty hard. I like to reef early, but have tested it under 30 mph winds, and it worked great. Also, the sail shape was not too bad. I had heard rumors that reefing really screwed up the shape, but I saw good shape up to 135, and fair shape at 100/90 percent. Overall, very satisfied. Rob
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