Furler Suggestion - CDI?

[Clark]

Furler Suggestion and installation - CDI

Thought I'd 'update' this question. A friend has a Cal 25-2 and is interested in a furler. Are the CDI's a good value and how well did the installation go? I'm acquainted with their general design and operation.

 

[Mike8088]

CDIs are good for the money

CDI furlers are fine for light cruising. We installed an FF4 on our O'day 26 last year. So far, we are happy with it. If you are performance-minded, you will probably want something more hi-tech. We shelled out the extra money for the ball bearings. The furling operation on ours is not that smooth. You have to give it a good yank to get it started. It seems to furl best on a broad reach. The installation was fairly simple. You want to wait for a warm day so the foil will straighten in direct sunlight. As you probably know, you will not be able to adjust halyard tension under sail, so your trimming options are more limited. But, if you're looking for the convenience without the cost, CDIs are a good deal.