Apparently I was not articulate enough or I was mis understood on my last post Im 70 years old and Im trying to grab a piece of whats left. Thats why I ordered the roller furl. I`m not going up on deck in a stiff breeze to change a jib hank on or roller furling jib. If I get caught out in a blow with a genoa Ill reef the main or take it down. My question was: If I arrive at my boat and things look breezy, whats involved and how much of a job is it with the CDI to change the jib on the mooring for a smaller one Thanks for your patience Bob
CDI furler and the discussion continues
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Gale Sail
Changing a sail on any furler is a pain. I suggest you leave it on and have a look at this web site: http://www.atninc.com/gale.html All you need is a halyard. You can have your existing jib modified so you don't even have to buy a new one. The money you save by going to a CDI furler over some other brand will probably cover the cost. I have a CDI and I strongly recommend it for your size of boat. You're right in wanting to stay off that foredeck. I think a furler will give you lots of years of enjoyable, safe sailing. Let us know what you decide on.
Changing a sail on any furler is a pain. I suggest you leave it on and have a look at this web site: http://www.atninc.com/gale.html All you need is a halyard. You can have your existing jib modified so you don't even have to buy a new one. The money you save by going to a CDI furler over some other brand will probably cover the cost. I have a CDI and I strongly recommend it for your size of boat. You're right in wanting to stay off that foredeck. I think a furler will give you lots of years of enjoyable, safe sailing. Let us know what you decide on.
cdi sail change
You: undo the halyard and tack lacing at the base of the cdi. Tie a messenger line (about length of forestay) to halyard. re-tie it, snug, temporarily Unfurl the sail all the way give it a little sheet tension (fairleads as far aft as possible??) head forward Undo the halyard. Slide sail down the track. Watch out! the bottom of the sail isn't attached to the forestay like a hanked on jib. Tie halyard and messenger line to something (railing?) stow sail, swap sheets tie cockpit end of sheets off to something so clew doesn't go flying on you attach new sail to halyard, slide up the track. Using the luff tape, PUSH the sail into the feeder and up the track and use the halyard as a helper / take up slack. Tie the tack lacing, snug for your luff tension. hold tension on sheet, furl sail Note: I hae never tried to do this with the sheets slack if there's any wind, but there might be an advantage to it?
You: undo the halyard and tack lacing at the base of the cdi. Tie a messenger line (about length of forestay) to halyard. re-tie it, snug, temporarily Unfurl the sail all the way give it a little sheet tension (fairleads as far aft as possible??) head forward Undo the halyard. Slide sail down the track. Watch out! the bottom of the sail isn't attached to the forestay like a hanked on jib. Tie halyard and messenger line to something (railing?) stow sail, swap sheets tie cockpit end of sheets off to something so clew doesn't go flying on you attach new sail to halyard, slide up the track. Using the luff tape, PUSH the sail into the feeder and up the track and use the halyard as a helper / take up slack. Tie the tack lacing, snug for your luff tension. hold tension on sheet, furl sail Note: I hae never tried to do this with the sheets slack if there's any wind, but there might be an advantage to it?
Reef
Just reef the headsail and don't worry about changing the sail. The joys of a furling/reef system. You may have to have your existing sail altered / strengthened to handle reefing, but it is well worth it.......Unless you are racing I guess. Good Luck
Just reef the headsail and don't worry about changing the sail. The joys of a furling/reef system. You may have to have your existing sail altered / strengthened to handle reefing, but it is well worth it.......Unless you are racing I guess. Good Luck
My prediction
Once you start using your furler you will not change head sails. The 125 will work just fine in all conditions you are probably going to go sailing in. At 70, how often do you head out in 35 kt winds? Try things with just the 125 and see how it goes. If you find you want to convert the other sails then do it later. I bet you will stay with the 125. I had an Irwin 32 and used a 150 along with a reefable working jib. After installing the furler I never had any desire to use the worker. I might have reefed a little sooner, but I was still able to get the boat to sail well even in 30+ winds.
Once you start using your furler you will not change head sails. The 125 will work just fine in all conditions you are probably going to go sailing in. At 70, how often do you head out in 35 kt winds? Try things with just the 125 and see how it goes. If you find you want to convert the other sails then do it later. I bet you will stay with the 125. I had an Irwin 32 and used a 150 along with a reefable working jib. After installing the furler I never had any desire to use the worker. I might have reefed a little sooner, but I was still able to get the boat to sail well even in 30+ winds.
Evaluate what Higgs just told you ...
... and then read it again. Very sound advice. This dude has been there and done that. And you can tell. So the only thing I can add to what Higgs said is, judging from what the weather shells out at you, all you need to do is peel off the desired amount of sail and the luxury of doing that from the cockpit is priceless! Tom
... and then read it again. Very sound advice. This dude has been there and done that. And you can tell. So the only thing I can add to what Higgs said is, judging from what the weather shells out at you, all you need to do is peel off the desired amount of sail and the luxury of doing that from the cockpit is priceless! Tom
Not much more than changing a hanked on
sail. But what the guys are saying is the truth, once you have a sail in the furler you will not bother to change it as you can deploy or reef as much of it as you can. The larger the genoa the worst will be the sail shape when reefed so I would not recommend a 150% unless your sailing grounds suffer from light winds. The furler is a definite improvement to extend your sailing days.
sail. But what the guys are saying is the truth, once you have a sail in the furler you will not bother to change it as you can deploy or reef as much of it as you can. The larger the genoa the worst will be the sail shape when reefed so I would not recommend a 150% unless your sailing grounds suffer from light winds. The furler is a definite improvement to extend your sailing days.
My CDI
Bob - I would recommend reefing over a sail change. On my Catalina 30 - I went from a 150 Hank-on to a 135 w/ CDI furler. I barely need to ever reef down and if its blowing that bad I question being out there. With a 125, you should be fine and its even easier to handle. I have no regrets going with the 135. This past weekend we had 15-18 knot blow and I was at the point just before reefing and the boat would occasionly heel at 20 degrees at 6.5 knots hull speed. IF you did want to do a sail change, it’s not too difficult but probably overkill if you’re just looking to do some moderate day-sails or light cruising (which is how I sail). Rob
Bob - I would recommend reefing over a sail change. On my Catalina 30 - I went from a 150 Hank-on to a 135 w/ CDI furler. I barely need to ever reef down and if its blowing that bad I question being out there. With a 125, you should be fine and its even easier to handle. I have no regrets going with the 135. This past weekend we had 15-18 knot blow and I was at the point just before reefing and the boat would occasionly heel at 20 degrees at 6.5 knots hull speed. IF you did want to do a sail change, it’s not too difficult but probably overkill if you’re just looking to do some moderate day-sails or light cruising (which is how I sail). Rob
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