Furlers

[Nathan Love]

I've been recently toddler-proofing my O'Day 26. One of the safety projects that I've decided to tackle is installing a second reef point in the main and purchasing a storm sail. I probably won't need it, but summer storms can roll across Lake Erie in the blink of an eye and my wife and I have been caught more than once out in a blow. We usually drop sail and motor to the nearest shelter, but with the baby, I don't want to be in a position where I need to rely on the motor to get us out of trouble. I need to know that, if we need to, we can sail through almost anything. I took my main to a sailmaker to have the reef installed. He looked at my existing reef point and told me that that would be sufficient for 99% of what we get on Lake Erie. Having never actually used the reef, I am inclined to believe him (we usually drop the main and sail under the genny when overpowered.) So, long story short, I am looking at installing a roller furler on my O'Day 26 and am looking for some product advice. From Harken, Furlex, CDI, ProFurl, Scheafer, etc.. there are a lot of choices available at each price point. At 26' I've been told that I can get away with the larger small boat models, which would save quite a bit of money. Does anyone have a specific preference in furlers? Any words of warning? Specifically, I am looking at the Scheafer Snapfurl System. Anyone with any experience with this unit, or any others? Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Gary]

CDI

I owned a 23.5 hunter for nine years with a CDI roller furling system and I recently ordered a new 240 with the same system. During the nine years I used my system I never had any problems with its' operation...That has been my only experience....

 

[Tom Wootton]

Nathan, I'm doing the same upgrade...

...on my Hunter 26 soon. I've pretty much narrowed it down to CDI, mainly because it's the only one I know of that has its own internal halyard. On the H26, the jib halyard is used to raise and lower the mast, so using any furler that doesn't have its own halyard means the jib has to be removed from the furler foil in order to lower the mast. I don't know how the O'day mast system works, but if it uses the jib halyard, you might want to look hard at a CDI. I'm opting for the bearings, a ~$50 upgrade. If it wasn't for the halyard problem I'd go with Snapfurl, which was highly rated by Practical Sailor (as was CDI).

 

[John Visser]

Profurl

I got a Profurl furler on the basis of recommendations from blue water friends, on the basis of simplicity, strength, and rugedness. Made in France, developed/tested ocean racing. It is a roller reefer/furler: you can put the furling line on a winch adn crank it in under load. Has sealed bearings. Price for a 26' boat would be a bit over $1000.jv