CDI Roller Furler Questions

[Jason Alexander]

Hello,I have a Hunter 260 and I am looking at purchasing a CDI furler for my boat. I've spent a lot of time reading the archives but I'm unclear on a couple things.1. It looks like the FF2 is the listed model for the 26 in the chandlery. I've seen about a 50/50 split on the necessity of the ball bearings. I was thinking of getting the but is this over kill2. It appears that there are two schools of thought when it comes to the shortening the forestay. It seem like according to the archives that you only need to shorten the forestay if you add the tangs to lift the drum off farther off the deck. But It sounds like this isn't necessary for the 26.3. Is it really necessary to undue the coil within a couple days of getting the furler. I like the sale prices on the site now but don't plan on getting the boat out for about another 3 or 4 weeks.4. I plan to order a new jib as mine is original with my boat which is about 10 years. What size would be a good size for the boat. Should I go with something like a 100% or should I go bigger. 5. I'm also wondering if my forestay is compatable. It doesn't have a pin on the end but has a T-Ball type fitting. Is this an issue for the upper shackle.ThanksJason

 

[john]

Jason, I put the f6 on my hunter 27 last season

It was the best thing I have ever added to the boat. I do not have the ball bearing upgrade. It works fine without them. I did install a pulley for the first and last points for the furler line to pass through. This makes it easier to pull the sail in. I had to buy a slighly longer tang to attach the headstay to the bow. I needed about another 1/2" on tang length to extend past the drum fitting.When first setting up the foil out of the box, I took out the foil and drove wooden stakes into the ground in my backyard. I simply unrolled the foil and slid it through the stakes. I then let it sit like that for about 5 days. It was a piece cake to work with from then on. The most critical part of the installation was the precise measurement of the foil length prior to cutting it.Read the instructions many times before doing anything. You will also need a long length of light line so as to not lose the end of the internal ss halyard up the foil.Have fun!

 

[Jason Alexander]

F5

John,Why did you select an F6 for you boat. Looking the HOW store they have a FF2 listed for the 26. I want to make sure I get what I need but I don't want to over buy something I don't.Jason

 

[Jason Alexander]

John, NM

I see the F6 is recomended for your H27Jason

 

[alan]

Jason, you mentioned 260 and 26 in the...

...same post. They have different bow pulpits and attachments for the forestay. The ff2 fits on both but apparently some have had the drum rub slightly on the 26 without the tangs. Someone put a 4/6 roller on my 26 (overkill) with the tangs and they never shortened the forestay. Someday I'll do that. Because of the outboard shrouds (wide stance of sidestays) anything larger than a 100% would have to be lead outside of the stays which would limit windward sailing. Of course you could partly furl the sail and reroute the sheets or have a second set of sheets attached if you wanted to use a larger sail. Closed hauled sailing would still be less than optimal. alan

 

[Jason Alexander]

Opps

Alan,I do infact have a 26. Must be boat envy already.It sounds like from what I've read that I'll be able to make it work without changing the forstay. Jason

 

[Jason Alexander]

Someone with a 26

Ok can someone with a 26 that installed a FF2 tell me what you did. Did you have to modify the forestay. Did you need the chain plates. I'm seeing so many conflicing answers in the archives I'm confused.Sorry for the number of posts.Jason

 

[Dick1505]

Shorten the stay

You'll need to shorten the stay by about 5 inches and use tangs to get the clearance for the drum. Don't shorten the stay or the furler foil too much or you'll have trouble getting the head sail on

 

[Jason Alexander]

Saylorville

Dick,Do you have a CDI on your boat. IF so could you send me a couple of pictures of your install if you have them. I suspect you like me that you boat is still in storage from this winter.Where did you get your forestay modified in landlocked Iowa. Is 5 inchs a guess. How did you figure out how much to shorten it. Jason

 

[crazy dave condon]

cdi

The 26 used the ff4 drum and had tangs with it to raise the drum above the deck for it to work. The 260 uses the ff2 system as the attachement is above the deck.All you need to do is call CDI and specify you have the Hunter 26 water ballast, not the 260. They can supply you with everything you will need.As for the sail, send it off to a sailmaker. You will need to advise, take off hanks, sew in a #6 luff tape. Do not shorten the sail in any shape, matter or form. When asked which way to furl, generally it is to the port as the loft will know which way to put the sunbrella cover on the sail.

 

[Jason Alexander]

HO Chandlery

Crazy Dave,Not to question you but I'm confused. I was going to try to order off this site but when I go to the chandlery they have this listedHunter 26 FF2 with Ball Bearings HD=3/16-in, HL=30-ft 7-in, TB=5/16-in 98838 $433.95Is there really much difference between the FF2 and the FF4.I think I've also decided to buy a new sail as the jib I have now is 10 years old. Jason

 

[alan]

Dave, my '94 26 has the 4/6 drum BUT...

...there are some that have fitted an ff2 with little or no mods (tangs)on it. I know the stem-head fittings are different and the ff2 apparently does rub a bit on some boats (26) but it is servicable. Someone here posted a photo a while ago where they placed an offset steel washer in the u-bolt to hold the forstay a fraction of an inch forward keeping the drum off the jib tack fitting just aft. Maybe not a reccomended mod. Jason, the 4/6 drum is larger, good for larger head sails and thicker furling line. The luff can also be longer. alanalan

 

[Jason Alexander]

Pictures

I've been looking for the pictures in the archives but haven't been able to find them yet. I'm also concerned about the fact that I have a T-fitting on all the forestay. As for a larger head sail I don't that from what I have read that I can use more the a 100% jib effectively due to not have jib tracks to adjust the angle of the sheet.Jason

 

[alan]

Inability to effectively have a larger jib...

...is primarily a function of the wide stance of the side stays (shrouds). I was looking for the pictures too. My 26 with the 4/6 drum has a T fitting at the base which fits into the drum. Lacking tracks makes a reefed jib less than optimal too. When you have the jib fitted for the roller furler, consider a foam luff, it holds sail shape better when reefed. How old is your headsail? May pay to get a new one. alan

 

[Jason Alexander]

Head Sail

My head sail is the original that came with the boat. IT's in ok shape in my opinion as it's seen moderate duty and has been well taken care of. Given that I still think that I will still buy a new 100% jib when I can figure out what I really have to change on the boat.After reading some more last night I found some articles in the archives that talk about not being able to use the CDI furler with the T-ball fitting that is on the forestay. So I need to figure out now if I need to have the forestay shortten or if I need to get it modified. Reading in the archive there is about a 50/50 split on shortening the forestay. Jason