Hey all, I just purchased a roller furling unit off ebay and in order to use it I need to convert one of my headsails. I've got a 168 genoa that is in pretty good shape I'm thinking of using (I've also got a 150 but it doesn't have enough life left to be worth converting). The 168 has hanks on the luff over what seems to be a covered rope luff. If the rope will fit in the slot on the furling, can I just remove the hanks and use the rope luff? I may still need to cut the sail down a bit and figure that out. Has anyone used the sailrite luff tape conversion kits and/or added sunbrella or dacron for UV protection? How tough is it to do? I haven't done much sewing but recently got a 1950's singer (301a) and have sewn a couple heavy fabrics with it so I think it would work. The link is a picture of the unit that shows the luff grooves. Any and all advice much appreciated, Brent
Converting hanks to luff tape for furling
- Thread starter blewispunk
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Brent, check the photo project forum
there is a post there of hank removal and sewing on the luff tape to do the convertion you want. Scott
there is a post there of hank removal and sewing on the luff tape to do the convertion you want. Scott
How do I get to the photo project forum?
Hey Scott, Thanks so much for the response but apparently I am somehow not able to find the photo project forum... What is it under? I've tried to use the search function to find it but it isn't working for me either (says I need to login and when I do it gives me an error, when I try to re-register it says I'm already registered...). Thanks, Brent
Hey Scott, Thanks so much for the response but apparently I am somehow not able to find the photo project forum... What is it under? I've tried to use the search function to find it but it isn't working for me either (says I need to login and when I do it gives me an error, when I try to re-register it says I'm already registered...). Thanks, Brent
Much easier alternative.
Go to www.amzam.com and look up Kiwi Slides. These are a piece of cake to sew on and will alow you to drop your genny like a hanked on sail if you fashion a gate at the bottom of your foil.
Go to www.amzam.com and look up Kiwi Slides. These are a piece of cake to sew on and will alow you to drop your genny like a hanked on sail if you fashion a gate at the bottom of your foil.
Kiwi Slides 
Hey Chris, I really like the idea of those kiwi slides and they seem like a good price. In the brochure it says they can be tied through the eyelets of the sail which would make things extremely simple... Can something this simple and cheap be true? Any critics?
Hey Chris, I really like the idea of those kiwi slides and they seem like a good price. In the brochure it says they can be tied through the eyelets of the sail which would make things extremely simple... Can something this simple and cheap be true? Any critics?
Kiwi Slides
Make sure you know what size luff tape the furler is set up for (#6 is fairly standard for smaller boats). The slides work well, but it really helps to spray some dry lube on them from time to time. You can get them with long or short tails, but sewing the tails is much better than tying them.
Make sure you know what size luff tape the furler is set up for (#6 is fairly standard for smaller boats). The slides work well, but it really helps to spray some dry lube on them from time to time. You can get them with long or short tails, but sewing the tails is much better than tying them.
Very true!!!
I converted a 150 for my Cal 27-T/2. No problems whatsoever. All of the advantages of hanks and of foils without the disadvantages of either. I would not tie them, but then I tend to be a bit conservative about Murphy's law...remember...He WAS an engineer and I suspect an optimist. I laced them through the grommets where the hanks had been by crossing them over and stretching them out straight and perpendicular to the luff. I then sewed them together with the sail sandwiched in between. Any sewing machine that can handle a double hem in denim can do the job. A little double faced tape keeps the tails aligned while sewing. By crossing them over, the the grommet takes most of the strain. I found that the only choice I had in a presser foot would not let me sew them in front of the luff and keep them close enough to the sail. If I would have had access to a narrow foot, I would have looped them back and sewed the four thicknesses together. This way the grommet and luff rope would take all the strain.
I converted a 150 for my Cal 27-T/2. No problems whatsoever. All of the advantages of hanks and of foils without the disadvantages of either. I would not tie them, but then I tend to be a bit conservative about Murphy's law...remember...He WAS an engineer and I suspect an optimist. I laced them through the grommets where the hanks had been by crossing them over and stretching them out straight and perpendicular to the luff. I then sewed them together with the sail sandwiched in between. Any sewing machine that can handle a double hem in denim can do the job. A little double faced tape keeps the tails aligned while sewing. By crossing them over, the the grommet takes most of the strain. I found that the only choice I had in a presser foot would not let me sew them in front of the luff and keep them close enough to the sail. If I would have had access to a narrow foot, I would have looped them back and sewed the four thicknesses together. This way the grommet and luff rope would take all the strain.
How do you shorten the sail, top or bottom?
I too am putting a roller furler on, and the kiwi slides. My jib needs to be shortened, what is the method to do this? At the top? The bottom? Do you take in some of the leech or foot when you do this or just square it off?
I too am putting a roller furler on, and the kiwi slides. My jib needs to be shortened, what is the method to do this? At the top? The bottom? Do you take in some of the leech or foot when you do this or just square it off?
Cutting down sail
Hey Tom, Check out the link to the sailrite instructions for cutting down a sail (also has instructions for adding luff tape and sunbrella or UV cover). I plan on cutting my sail as they describe, starting at the tack and cutting a wedge off the luff. If using luff tape you would then cover the whole luff with the tape but I'm not sure what to do with the raw edge of the luff when using kiwi slides since they don't cover the whole luff... any ideas?
Hey Tom, Check out the link to the sailrite instructions for cutting down a sail (also has instructions for adding luff tape and sunbrella or UV cover). I plan on cutting my sail as they describe, starting at the tack and cutting a wedge off the luff. If using luff tape you would then cover the whole luff with the tape but I'm not sure what to do with the raw edge of the luff when using kiwi slides since they don't cover the whole luff... any ideas?
Signet Marine Luff tape
I was doing some searching on the net and came across signet marine and there luff tape. It is very reasonably priced (see related link), would even be cheaper than the kiwi slides after putting reinforcement on the luff cause I think with the tape you wouldn't need to reinforce the luff...?
I was doing some searching on the net and came across signet marine and there luff tape. It is very reasonably priced (see related link), would even be cheaper than the kiwi slides after putting reinforcement on the luff cause I think with the tape you wouldn't need to reinforce the luff...?
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