Furling Main Mast or Boom

[DJW]

If you were going to order a boat with a Furling Main would you go with a furling main into the Mast or the Boom? What are the pro's and con's of each? Which is likely to give you the least amount of trouble? I would think in a worst case situation with an in boom furling system you could lower the halyard and at least get the sail down if you incountered a jam. Where as with a in mast system you might have to climb up the mast to deal with a jam in order to retract the sail were it to jam up top. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DJW]

If you were going to order a boat with a Furling Main would you go with a furling main into the Mast or the Boom? What are the pro's and con's of each? Which is likely to give you the least amount of trouble? I would think in a worst case situation with an in boom furling system you could lower the halyard and at least get the sail down if you incountered a jam. Where as with a in mast system you might have to climb up the mast to deal with a jam in order to retract the sail were it to jam up top. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DJW]

In Mast or in Boom Mainsail furling system

No one has any thoughts on in Boom or in Mast Furling Mainsals?

 

[DJW]

In Mast or in Boom Mainsail furling system

No one has any thoughts on in Boom or in Mast Furling Mainsals?

 

[Rick D]

Actually, Yes

I'd be inclined to take the furling boom so that you can get the full roach batten. If you were to go for the furling mast, I would opt for the vertical batten main. Now that you can get back some of the sail area on an in-mast system, the difference may not be great. In either case, you would be wise to get a credit on the sails and get a good set made for you. The boom is touchy about the precise angle for furling; the in-mast system can be difficult to furl if not at the correct lead angle. These comments are from other people's comments and not from personal experience. RD

 

[Rick D]

Actually, Yes

I'd be inclined to take the furling boom so that you can get the full roach batten. If you were to go for the furling mast, I would opt for the vertical batten main. Now that you can get back some of the sail area on an in-mast system, the difference may not be great. In either case, you would be wise to get a credit on the sails and get a good set made for you. The boom is touchy about the precise angle for furling; the in-mast system can be difficult to furl if not at the correct lead angle. These comments are from other people's comments and not from personal experience. RD

 

[Jim Rushing]

Mast-NO

Furling masts are the biggest pain on Charter boats. The last one was so bad that we sailed on the genny only. You couldn't give me a in the mast furling system. As for the in boom furling, any future boat will have it.

 

[Jim Rushing]

Mast-NO

Furling masts are the biggest pain on Charter boats. The last one was so bad that we sailed on the genny only. You couldn't give me a in the mast furling system. As for the in boom furling, any future boat will have it.

 

[Pete Peterson]

No problems

I can't speak for in-boom furling systems, but I would buy another in-mast furling system without hesitation (at least from Charlston Spar). It has proved trouble-free through four seasons of use. It is also not sensitive to settings, as I make no adjustments during the season. Hope this helps in your decision.

 

[Pete Peterson]

No problems

I can't speak for in-boom furling systems, but I would buy another in-mast furling system without hesitation (at least from Charlston Spar). It has proved trouble-free through four seasons of use. It is also not sensitive to settings, as I make no adjustments during the season. Hope this helps in your decision.

 

[Paul]

In Mast

I agree with Pete. I went through the same questions about 2 years ago and finally went with in-mast and would do it again. They have definitely com a long way. I’ve had 2 trouble free seasons. It’s great to be able to reef or stow at the touch of a button. As for the loss of roach area, you’d have to talk to someone form one of the big sail makers on how it’s going to effect your hull speed, but what you give up in speed you’ll definitely make up in convenience. No more having to leave the cockpit area to tend your sails means sailing solo is much easier. I have a friend with a 5 year old in-boom system who looks enviously at my in-mast. As for problems with in-mast systems on charter boats the key word here is “charter”. I guess it comes down to; if you’re not racing, take a good look at in-mast.

 

[Paul]

In Mast

I agree with Pete. I went through the same questions about 2 years ago and finally went with in-mast and would do it again. They have definitely com a long way. I’ve had 2 trouble free seasons. It’s great to be able to reef or stow at the touch of a button. As for the loss of roach area, you’d have to talk to someone form one of the big sail makers on how it’s going to effect your hull speed, but what you give up in speed you’ll definitely make up in convenience. No more having to leave the cockpit area to tend your sails means sailing solo is much easier. I have a friend with a 5 year old in-boom system who looks enviously at my in-mast. As for problems with in-mast systems on charter boats the key word here is “charter”. I guess it comes down to; if you’re not racing, take a good look at in-mast.

 

[andy]

furling main

I have had a roller reefing main in the past and would not ever consider having it again. I cannot imagine that in-boom furling would be any different than roller reefing (on the boom). The problem is that when reefing (or furling) the leech and luff are taken in while the body of the sail bags. The same is true with roller furling jib. To correct the problem with the jibs, sailmakers have been adding foam luffs to correct the bagging of the jib. When time comes to shorten your sail area, you want to flatten the sail and not make it more full. Using the in-boom method will bag the main. I have not had the opportunity to sail with the in-mast variety of reefing, but I would thing that it could affect the heeling moment. Just thoughts

 

[andy]

furling main

I have had a roller reefing main in the past and would not ever consider having it again. I cannot imagine that in-boom furling would be any different than roller reefing (on the boom). The problem is that when reefing (or furling) the leech and luff are taken in while the body of the sail bags. The same is true with roller furling jib. To correct the problem with the jibs, sailmakers have been adding foam luffs to correct the bagging of the jib. When time comes to shorten your sail area, you want to flatten the sail and not make it more full. Using the in-boom method will bag the main. I have not had the opportunity to sail with the in-mast variety of reefing, but I would thing that it could affect the heeling moment. Just thoughts

 

[Bill]

Depends on the product

Good systems work. Bad ones don't.I have personal experience with behind the mast and in mast furling systems for mainsails. I really like the Selden Mast product (builders of Furlex roller furling units). They are flawless.For a in boom system you have to have a right angle between boom and mast. Any rise in your boom to accommodate a dodger or center cockpit cover will negate the useage of the in boom system. Furlex also has a winch built into the system so you can either pull the line to get it in or out or in extreme situations (and I mean extreme) you can stick a winch handle in the winch to get the job done.But, if you have a simple fair lead for the furling line, the system works very well.Do your homework.

 

[Bill]

Depends on the product

Good systems work. Bad ones don't.I have personal experience with behind the mast and in mast furling systems for mainsails. I really like the Selden Mast product (builders of Furlex roller furling units). They are flawless.For a in boom system you have to have a right angle between boom and mast. Any rise in your boom to accommodate a dodger or center cockpit cover will negate the useage of the in boom system. Furlex also has a winch built into the system so you can either pull the line to get it in or out or in extreme situations (and I mean extreme) you can stick a winch handle in the winch to get the job done.But, if you have a simple fair lead for the furling line, the system works very well.Do your homework.

 

[PaulK]

Boomer

Have had brief experience with both in-mast and in-boom mains. On one Newport-Bermuda race, we tried, with a full racing crew, to get the most out of our in-mast r/f main on a semi-custom Bristol 48. Out of about three 24-hour days, IMHO we got the sail set well and performing for about a half hour. With no roach, no battens, it was miserable. Add to that the worry about something going wrong at the top of the mast and then not being able to get to it because it was INSIDE the mast... no thank you. The summer of 2003 we were invited for a cruise with some friends who have an in-boom system. It was like night and day. Furling the sail lowers its center of effort considerably -- exactly what you want when you want to reduce sail in heavy wind. If something messes up, it's in the boom, where you can get at it. As you point out, you can also lower the sail entirely and simply tie it to the boom with sail-ties if you need to. For light air, you have as much roach as you need to boost sail area and performance, plus battens help the sail last longer by reducing flutter in the leech. That said, we have jiffy reefing on our boat.

 

[PaulK]

Boomer

Have had brief experience with both in-mast and in-boom mains. On one Newport-Bermuda race, we tried, with a full racing crew, to get the most out of our in-mast r/f main on a semi-custom Bristol 48. Out of about three 24-hour days, IMHO we got the sail set well and performing for about a half hour. With no roach, no battens, it was miserable. Add to that the worry about something going wrong at the top of the mast and then not being able to get to it because it was INSIDE the mast... no thank you. The summer of 2003 we were invited for a cruise with some friends who have an in-boom system. It was like night and day. Furling the sail lowers its center of effort considerably -- exactly what you want when you want to reduce sail in heavy wind. If something messes up, it's in the boom, where you can get at it. As you point out, you can also lower the sail entirely and simply tie it to the boom with sail-ties if you need to. For light air, you have as much roach as you need to boost sail area and performance, plus battens help the sail last longer by reducing flutter in the leech. That said, we have jiffy reefing on our boat.

 

[Bob]

Limited Experience

My buddy has in-the-boom furling on his 26 footer, and for his kind of sailing it works very nicely. I can't believe how quickly he is able to furl and stow the mainsail. He singlehands a lot, and sometimes sails with grandchildren who aren't much help on the boat, so for him the convenience is very important. Drawbacks are: expense (it cost 3/4 of what he originally paid for the boat); and performance - the boat is definitely slower in most conditions and somewhat more difficult to trim properly.

 

[Bob]

Limited Experience

My buddy has in-the-boom furling on his 26 footer, and for his kind of sailing it works very nicely. I can't believe how quickly he is able to furl and stow the mainsail. He singlehands a lot, and sometimes sails with grandchildren who aren't much help on the boat, so for him the convenience is very important. Drawbacks are: expense (it cost 3/4 of what he originally paid for the boat); and performance - the boat is definitely slower in most conditions and somewhat more difficult to trim properly.