CDI Flex Furl on H30

[Henry Weber]

My boat is a 1977 Hunter 30 ("J" = 40 ft.) I am considering converting the jib hank-on system to roller furling. Would appreciate any advice as to how well a CDI Flexible Furler would work on my boat? What are the pros and cons compared to a more expensive system like Schaefer or ProFurl? I would start out by converting my existing 110 and 150 sails.Thanks,Henry

 

[Bob Brooks]

CDI or Sheafer Furling?

I have the Crusing Designs International (CDI) Furling on our Hunter 33. It seems to be okay, but I don't have any experience with other systems on the same size boat. We did have the Sheafer system on a 19'Drascombe Lugger yawl. The major difference is the effort it takes to douse the jib. It is a bear of a job on the H33. The "take up drum" on the CDI seems to be a little smaller than the others for same sized boats and might create more resistance. Two or three pulls on the Sheafer system and you were ready to go home! Does Zat help?

 

[LEE]

Pls let me know as the CDI system is going to be my choice of a furler.. If there are any problems pls let me know...Lee

 

[Tim]

I have one on my 81 H30

Its fine. I've had one for 4 years. My boat is the tall rig flavor so my headsail is larger than yours (I=42'). Its probably not as smooth as some, but its unbreakable, zero maintenance, and a good buy.

 

[Sam Lust]

Beg to differ

The CDI Furler was the first thing to be replaced on our "83 33. Poorly designed garbage. Sail change only with the (very light)wind on the nose. Rotating members on incorrectly specified plastic plain bearings designed to wipe out their own lubrication and increase friction.Do yourself and your boat a favor. Go to the next boat show and work out your best deal on a real furler. The extra pennies are worth it. I'm pleased with my Harken, but any of the big names will be OK as long as they allow you to flush the bearings with water. Note: once a "sealed" bearing starts to go it only seals in corrosive salt water.

 

[Dick Litchfield]

Go For It

Lots of folks who had earlier model CDI furlers will shot and scream about how lousy the CDI is and how happy they are since they switched to a overpriced not much greater performance brand name unit. I installed a CDI FF6 with the optional torlon bearing unit on MY H27 and have never had a problem with it. The optional bearing is a must in my opinion. Biger units like the FF7 come standard with the bearing. Based on my experience a number of sailing friends have since purchased and installed CDI units. One was a Morgan 33 which used the FF7 model. I will admit to one short coming on the CDI unit...you can't change sails as easily and as fast as most other furlers. If you are a racer, thats a problem. If your are a cruiser it's probably not. As to converting your sails, I found that conversion cost was over 50% of what I could purchase a new cruising quality jib, so considering the age of my sail, I bought new and sold the old.Hope this helps.

 

[Tim]

I agree old CDI was junk; new FlexFurl I like.

My continuous line CDI furler that came on the boat was total cr*p. I like the Flex Furl I replaced it with.