I introduced many mfgs. with CDI over the years one of course was cost but the ease putting together with the advantages.
First, it is a single extrusion which cannot move; thus, two part put together extrusions will move causing more issues than described in the last response.
Secondly, it has it own furling jib halyard and therefore, no halyard wrap to consider.
Third, you can easily lay it on the boat and in some intances can flex while any traditional metal furlers cannot which means taking them off.
Now for the issue with the furling drum line from the bottom furler, if you will furl your sail in all the way and of course tie if off leaving it on the furler, then I taught my customers to take the remaining furling line out and wrap it around the bottom of the furler tying it off. Never had the problem mentioned above.
Although I introduced the CDI to many, I did not nor would take anything for doing that other than a hand shake and a cup of coffee as this was done primarily for my customers.
crazy dave condon
ps One other thing, there is a life time warranty with the extrusion with the first owner uless it has changed.
Dave, I respect your advice and I know you have many more years experience with these products than I have. I think your advice is a very good way to deal with the furler when it is on the deck.
I did not go into any details of my bad experience with the CDI furler and so that may have caused some confusion.
The problem does not occur when the mast is down and the sail is furled but it can occur while sailing.
In my experience the plastic foil on the CDI furler is often cut a few inches shorter than the forestay. Usually the foil is cut a few inches longer than the luff of the sail, with a bit of forestay unused at the top. The inner furling drum that holds the line is attached to the foil, the stainless steel outer drum cover is pined to the bottom of the forestay.
The inner drum sits on two washers between the inner drum and s/s cover that act as a bearing. Gravity keeps the furling drum and s/s cover together.
If you are in the unusual situation that the leach of the sail is not under tension the force of the wind can lift the foil up the forestay. The furling line passes through the outer stainless steel drum and is now between the inner drum and the s/s cover and this can result in a jam.
It does not happen often but from personal experience I can warn anyone to keep their finger clear when this happens, when it goes back down it can be with a lot of force and it is like a little guillotine.
Many boats may be fitted with a CDI so it can not move up the forestay so they will not have this issue. The few I have looked at could have this happen. It is easy to see, just try lifting the furled sail up the forestay to see if it will move enough for the inner drum to go above the outer s/s cover.
As I said in my original post many people have CDI furler and really like them, I had one and did not like it. The replacement did cost more but I felt is was a much better furler and well worth the additional cost.
I am just posting my personal experience with two furlers made by different companies. I am not making a criticism of anyone's boat. Just some factors to be considered when deciding which one to buy.
Bob
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