Convert furling main to standard.

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Apr 29, 2012
10
Beneteau 361 San Diego
I am considering converting my furling main to a standard. Not sure if it will be worth the effort for racing just a few "beer cans". Question for those that have and what issues/costs they had. Thanks.
 
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DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
I'm not sure it would be feasible, You would probably have to change masts, because the conventional main would need an extruded track where the slot for the furling main is now.

You would not gain any sail area, but added battens might help the shape. Depending on the age of your sail, a new main might be a better compromise.
 
Feb 26, 2007
102
Beneteau 361 Quebec
Hi Skywalker, I have a 361 also and have replaced my main sail with a new Neil Pryde Main Sail with Vertical Batten and it made a difference. I can know point higher and the sail has a much better shape. By the way, on my Charleston Spar Mast there is an extra slot to raise another sail when the main sail is rolled in. I assume it is to raise a storm sail but I don't know how to do it because there is no extra halyard.
Georges
 
May 24, 2007
185
Beneteau 352 Milwaukee, WI
Can be done on a temp basis

There is a fellow over on SailNet (sailortjk1) that has a B361 with in-mast furling. He raced the Chicago-Mac last year and replaced the in-mast main with a conventional main just for the race. After the race he went back to the in-mast sail.

You might search him out on SailNet and ask him just what he did. http://www.sailnet.com/forums/members/sailortjk1.html
 
Nov 23, 2009
437
Beneteau Oceanis 361 Clipper --
Hi Skywalker, I have a 361 also and have replaced my main sail with a new Neil Pryde Main Sail with Vertical Batten and it made a difference. I can know point higher and the sail has a much better shape. By the way, on my Charleston Spar Mast there is an extra slot to raise another sail when the main sail is rolled in. I assume it is to raise a storm sail but I don't know how to do it because there is no extra halyard.
Georges
Do you have any problems when furling the sail because of the battens? Do they need to be perfectly parallel to the mast?
 
Feb 26, 2007
102
Beneteau 361 Quebec
Do you have any problems when furling the sail because of the battens? Do they need to be perfectly parallel to the mast?
Hi Philip, No I have no problem furling the sail with the battens. When I first got the sails the batten were too large and I had problem with the velcro on the batten pockets. The batten were replaced by Neil Pryde and since no problem at all. We I bought the O361 I inserted a track on top of the boom and a Lewmar Ball bearing outhaul car, at the suggestion of David Levy from CharlestonSpar, and it works like a charm.

I loosen the main sheet, boomvang and keep some tension on the sheet and the sail goes in nicely. The boom is perpendicular to the mast or a bit higher.

I think I have too much mast rake. The genoa Profurl is installed at the lowest of the three holes in the bottom bracket, could you tell me please were is yours. I thought that maybe it should be installed using the middle hole, which would shorten the staysail lenght. Thanks.
Regards, Georges
 
Nov 23, 2009
437
Beneteau Oceanis 361 Clipper --
I think I have too much mast rake. The genoa Profurl is installed at the lowest of the three holes in the bottom bracket, could you tell me please were is yours. I thought that maybe it should be installed using the middle hole, which would shorten the staysail lenght. Thanks.
Regards, Georges
I don't have Profurl but Facnor.
When I replaced my forestay a couple of year ago, I installed a turnbuckle on the new one so I can adjust the length of the forestay as well as the angle of the mast.
 
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