Continuous Line Furlers

[TFrere]

I purchased a Harken Cruising furler last year and now I am wondering if I made the right decision. I like the concept of the continuous line furler because you will always have enough line to totally furl your sail regardless of the conditions you are furling in and it seems to be a simpler design with less failure potential.
Can any of you provide any information on continuous line furling and the advantages and/or disadvantages?
Also, can a Harken Cruising fulrer be converted to Harken Code Zero furler simply by replacing the drum?
Tommy

 

[NYSail]

I just replaced my Hood Continuous line furler. It worked great as a furler, however there is limited ability to reef with the model I had... not sure if the new ones are made to reef. I was able to reef, however in a heavy blow the drum would spin regardless of the line being tied.... so for me this was no good. Bought a Schaffer 2100.... love it.

Good Luck

 

[31seahorse]

Hello, We have had two continious line furlers on previous boats. We replaced both after some time. It mst be noted that neither of them were anywhere near new condition when we bought the boats they were on. They did work OK for us in most cases.
Perhaps the furling line is to blame for the previous post that mentions inability to reef. New line, however, creates its own complications. One problem is finding a rigger who can splice the double braid in a way that it doesn't look like the Anaconda that swallowed the Alligator! That is what ours looked like and therefore, would not run freely. When we changed the furling drum to the wrap and unwind type all worked well.
Best Wishes.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I, too, had a Hood Continuous Line Furler when I bought my boat in 2003. It was a simple, bullet-proof furler, but not a good or reliable reefer, as other posters have noted. Also, replacing the continuous furling line was quite a task, unless you have the skills and tools to do a "Constant Diameter Splice" (see Jim Seamans for advice). I'm not sure why you would worry about having enough furling line to furl up your sail. When I replaced the Hood with a Furlex it came with enough furling line for any size sail in any type of blow.

 

[John Nantz]

Follow installation and maintenance directions

My experience is with a Hood Line Drive LD 810 that I had for about 20 years. Over that time there were lots of posts demonizing the line drive furlers but mine always worked really well.

Splice: Like previous posters have mentioned, it should be the same size.

Wave guide spacing: The wave guide system that these furlers tend to use functions pretty much the same as a self tailing winch. The spacing is very important as the line needs to sit in there to get a good grip. Too much or too little space, outside the specifications, and the system won't do it job right. Just visualize a self-tailing winch, it's the same thing. And it requires some tension, same as the self-tailing winch.

Follow the directions for installation and maintenance and it should be okay.

Eventually the furler bearings can degrade or wear out but that's another issue.