OK, I have looked in the forum archives, and read all kinds of advice on what furling system to buy etc. Everyone says to buy a new headsail, which I will do but I would like to put off a bit, can I take the hanks off my jib, and stick it on the furling unit, or do I have to spend $ to modify it, in which case just makes more the sense to buy a new jib? Also, what is the luff pad option on the jib that everyone recommends? And, I want to put this thing on at the dock, with the mast up. I envision loosening my stays, and keeping the mast up by the jib halyard to the deck so I can disconnect the forestay and shove this furling stuff up the forestay. Is this the way it is done, any veterans on this I would love to hear from.
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Furling jibs
As you know, jibs for furlers have a luff tape along their luffs in place of a bolt rope and hanks. In my opinion, the most common luff tape size is no. 6 which is approximately 3/16 inch diameter. I seriously doubt the bolt rope on your jib is 3/16 inch diameter, most likely much larger, and therefore too large to go into the groove of the furler. However, you just might have a wire for the bolt rope, but that too I think will be too large for the furler. Further, even if such wire were say 1/8 inch diameter, you may need to eliminate the eye in the wire at the head of the sail and sew on a tape at the top to use as a head cringle. I personally think this is not a wise procedure as the wire in the luff will then be loose in the luff and the jib will not set properly in the groove. Hence, the answer for your first question is most likely no you cannot use your existing jib on a furler without at least installing a luff tape. Now for the foam luff. As one furls a jib to a smaller size, the foot (primarily) and the leech tighten up at a faster rate than the middle body of the sail. This means that the middle body of the sail fills too much and it is difficult to reduce power. Hence, by adding a foam strip to the luff, the middle body of the jib tightens at a rate more similar to that of the foot and the leech and a flatter sail is achieved which is better for reducing power. There are differing opinions about the importance and effectiveness of having a foam luff, much of which is dependent upon the size of the furling headsail (150%, 135%, 110%, etc.), the particular needs and sailing style of the sailor, and the size of the vessel. So as such would apply to you, this would be best answered by those with a vessel similar to your own, a headsail of your size, and sailing style and requirements similar to your own. As for installing a furler while the mast is up, such action is more than likely going on right now as you read this by some other sailor in a fashion identical to the one you described.
As you know, jibs for furlers have a luff tape along their luffs in place of a bolt rope and hanks. In my opinion, the most common luff tape size is no. 6 which is approximately 3/16 inch diameter. I seriously doubt the bolt rope on your jib is 3/16 inch diameter, most likely much larger, and therefore too large to go into the groove of the furler. However, you just might have a wire for the bolt rope, but that too I think will be too large for the furler. Further, even if such wire were say 1/8 inch diameter, you may need to eliminate the eye in the wire at the head of the sail and sew on a tape at the top to use as a head cringle. I personally think this is not a wise procedure as the wire in the luff will then be loose in the luff and the jib will not set properly in the groove. Hence, the answer for your first question is most likely no you cannot use your existing jib on a furler without at least installing a luff tape. Now for the foam luff. As one furls a jib to a smaller size, the foot (primarily) and the leech tighten up at a faster rate than the middle body of the sail. This means that the middle body of the sail fills too much and it is difficult to reduce power. Hence, by adding a foam strip to the luff, the middle body of the jib tightens at a rate more similar to that of the foot and the leech and a flatter sail is achieved which is better for reducing power. There are differing opinions about the importance and effectiveness of having a foam luff, much of which is dependent upon the size of the furling headsail (150%, 135%, 110%, etc.), the particular needs and sailing style of the sailor, and the size of the vessel. So as such would apply to you, this would be best answered by those with a vessel similar to your own, a headsail of your size, and sailing style and requirements similar to your own. As for installing a furler while the mast is up, such action is more than likely going on right now as you read this by some other sailor in a fashion identical to the one you described.
Yes
Take it to your sailmaker tell him what roller furling unit you have and he will recut it to fit. Cliff Red Dog
Take it to your sailmaker tell him what roller furling unit you have and he will recut it to fit. Cliff Red Dog
Yes you can use it
Yes you will need to modify it. You will need luff tape where the hanks are and UV protection on the edge of the leech and foot. It will cost you $4.00 to $5.00 / foot of leach, luff and foot to have your sail modified. (if you measure around your sail say 60 feet it would cost about $300 to modify. If your sail is not in good shape, throw the money at a new sail) The foam would be installed in a new sail. It helps keep a good sail shape when using the jib furled. I installed my CDI FF4 furler at the dock last year with the mast up. I used a halyard to the bow cleats while the forestay was released. You may want to plan on using a messenger inside the new furler foil which would then be connected to the forestay. This way you can hold the messenger and push the furler foil up the forestay. Plan on atleast two people. I am a do it yourself type of person and I needed those two extra skilled hands to pull this off. r.w.landau
Yes you will need to modify it. You will need luff tape where the hanks are and UV protection on the edge of the leech and foot. It will cost you $4.00 to $5.00 / foot of leach, luff and foot to have your sail modified. (if you measure around your sail say 60 feet it would cost about $300 to modify. If your sail is not in good shape, throw the money at a new sail) The foam would be installed in a new sail. It helps keep a good sail shape when using the jib furled. I installed my CDI FF4 furler at the dock last year with the mast up. I used a halyard to the bow cleats while the forestay was released. You may want to plan on using a messenger inside the new furler foil which would then be connected to the forestay. This way you can hold the messenger and push the furler foil up the forestay. Plan on atleast two people. I am a do it yourself type of person and I needed those two extra skilled hands to pull this off. r.w.landau
There is a cheap way.
Note this not the 'recommended' way because a hanked on jib is not designed to sail reefed on a furler. It is cheap enough that you can convert all of your head sails so that you don't need to reef them. Go to www.anzam.com and check out the ReefRite furler pages. There you will find information on Kiwi Slides. These replace your hanks, and can be sewn on with any heavy-duty sewing machine that can sew 4 thicknesses of denim. Be sure to use UV resistant dacron thread.
Note this not the 'recommended' way because a hanked on jib is not designed to sail reefed on a furler. It is cheap enough that you can convert all of your head sails so that you don't need to reef them. Go to www.anzam.com and check out the ReefRite furler pages. There you will find information on Kiwi Slides. These replace your hanks, and can be sewn on with any heavy-duty sewing machine that can sew 4 thicknesses of denim. Be sure to use UV resistant dacron thread.
I'd drop the mast
Tom, the other posts have addressed your jib question so I'll stick to the mast up or down question. I guess the answer depends to some extent on what boat you have and which furler you are installing and if the boat is in the water. I installed a Hood Seafurl last year. The manual had tips for doing it with the mast up so I guess Hood thinks it can be done. But there are so many parts I wouldn't want to risk it with the boat in the water. I did mine with the mast down which makes it a one person job. Depending on the furler make you may need to cut the stay, then there's the need to measure the stay, and have you looked into the need for a haylard restrainer; if one is required you are going to have to go up the mast to install it. Kevin Kevin
Tom, the other posts have addressed your jib question so I'll stick to the mast up or down question. I guess the answer depends to some extent on what boat you have and which furler you are installing and if the boat is in the water. I installed a Hood Seafurl last year. The manual had tips for doing it with the mast up so I guess Hood thinks it can be done. But there are so many parts I wouldn't want to risk it with the boat in the water. I did mine with the mast down which makes it a one person job. Depending on the furler make you may need to cut the stay, then there's the need to measure the stay, and have you looked into the need for a haylard restrainer; if one is required you are going to have to go up the mast to install it. Kevin Kevin
Foam luff Q
This is new to me. As I understand the explanation, a foam luff assists in proper sail shape when sailing with a partially furled sail. If you don't sail with a partially furled sail because your furler drum is a piece of plastic crap and you are afraid of it exploding when under stress, then you wouldn't upgrade to a foam luff until you had swapped out your piece of crap furler? Correct? Scott
This is new to me. As I understand the explanation, a foam luff assists in proper sail shape when sailing with a partially furled sail. If you don't sail with a partially furled sail because your furler drum is a piece of plastic crap and you are afraid of it exploding when under stress, then you wouldn't upgrade to a foam luff until you had swapped out your piece of crap furler? Correct? Scott
I don't know if
that is correct or not Scott, but it sure does sound like you have built up a little resentment towards your "piece of crap furler" over the winter ;D Hang in there, sailing weather is just around the corner!!! Regards, -Jim-
that is correct or not Scott, but it sure does sound like you have built up a little resentment towards your "piece of crap furler" over the winter ;D Hang in there, sailing weather is just around the corner!!! Regards, -Jim-
Yeh, and I park bow in so the little
piece o'crap is there for everyone to see. I should get a cover made so everyone thinks I have some exotic furler. Scott
piece o'crap is there for everyone to see. I should get a cover made so everyone thinks I have some exotic furler. Scott
Scott, is your furler a cdi?
Asking because I was considering that, but I saw a couple yesterday without sails that looked not twisted and warped, and now am strongly considering the famet.
Asking because I was considering that, but I saw a couple yesterday without sails that looked not twisted and warped, and now am strongly considering the famet.
Tom its an Offshore 6000
just kidding. I'll let you know tomorrow. Maybe I'll post a pic and then everyone can vote on the "crap" factor. Scott
just kidding. I'll let you know tomorrow. Maybe I'll post a pic and then everyone can vote on the "crap" factor. Scott
Does foam break down ?
having my 10 yo genny repaired this year but for future reference how long does the foam last?
having my 10 yo genny repaired this year but for future reference how long does the foam last?
Tom ,yep Crusing Designs furler
It works fine but with all plastic head I don't want to sail w/partially furled sail. Photo attached (maybe?). Scott
It works fine but with all plastic head I don't want to sail w/partially furled sail. Photo attached (maybe?). Scott
The seamanlike approach
The seamanlike approach to this conversion is always to have a furling sail made for your equipment and keep the hank-on as an emergency spare. Sure, it costs some money, but having a spare is a good idea and having it be one that can go in place of a broken furling drum is an even better idea.
The seamanlike approach to this conversion is always to have a furling sail made for your equipment and keep the hank-on as an emergency spare. Sure, it costs some money, but having a spare is a good idea and having it be one that can go in place of a broken furling drum is an even better idea.
Seaman Like Approach
All of my jibs are hanked on. I have a net on the starboard foward life lines. I have a haul down rigged. I have the jib halyard running back to the cockpit. Bim botta bim.
All of my jibs are hanked on. I have a net on the starboard foward life lines. I have a haul down rigged. I have the jib halyard running back to the cockpit. Bim botta bim.
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