I am considering buying a 97 h340 that has an in mast furling main (z-spars). Does anyone have any experience with this type or any suggestions in comparison to the new Seldon system installed on the new models? Should I look for standard main insetead?
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Buy it
I have a H40.5 with the Z spar in mast furling, and it is excellent. I've always maintained that there are 2 types of crazy people in this world; Ones that are in institutions The others prefer to haul up huge sails, slab reef them in overpowering winds, rather than using a simple proven furling system.
I have a H40.5 with the Z spar in mast furling, and it is excellent. I've always maintained that there are 2 types of crazy people in this world; Ones that are in institutions The others prefer to haul up huge sails, slab reef them in overpowering winds, rather than using a simple proven furling system.
Yes!!!
Have the 98 Selden sytem. Best thing we added to the boat. Couldn't be easier and works great. Go for it. Helen
Have the 98 Selden sytem. Best thing we added to the boat. Couldn't be easier and works great. Go for it. Helen
Third type
Actually, there is a third type of crazy people -- I'm one of them. These are people who aren't rich but want to go sailing anyway. This type ends up hauling up heavy sails, etc., even if they'd rather not.
Actually, there is a third type of crazy people -- I'm one of them. These are people who aren't rich but want to go sailing anyway. This type ends up hauling up heavy sails, etc., even if they'd rather not.
In mast furling
My 340 has the conventional non furling mainsail but I have a friend that has a 340 with a furling mainsail and he loves it. Also I sailed a 410 Charter in BVI and it had Selden in mast furling main and it made life beautiful. It sailed fine too !
My 340 has the conventional non furling mainsail but I have a friend that has a 340 with a furling mainsail and he loves it. Also I sailed a 410 Charter in BVI and it had Selden in mast furling main and it made life beautiful. It sailed fine too !
Third type
Actually, there is a third type of crazy people -- I'm one of them. These are people who aren't rich but want to go sailing anyway. This type ends up hauling up heavy sails, etc., even if they'd rather not.
Actually, there is a third type of crazy people -- I'm one of them. These are people who aren't rich but want to go sailing anyway. This type ends up hauling up heavy sails, etc., even if they'd rather not.
Paul, We have a furling main on our 380 and absolutely love it. Makes handling the main sail incredibly easy. I will now use the main sail in situations I would not have considered before. From what I can gather, the Selden system is probably superior to the Z-Spar, but if the boat already has the Z-spar, don't turn it down. Paul Bednarzyk S/V Knot Again
absolutely
i have a seldon furling main on my 410. it allows the boat to be sailed short-handed in a full range of conditions. i've sailed through several gales now, and its amazing to be able to balance the boat in winds exceeding 35 knots true, without ever having to leave the cockpit. we've all but forgotten what weather helm feels like. there is a sacrifice in light air because the main can't carry battons and therefore has a negative roach, but in a windy area such as san francisco bay, where afternoon winds routinely exceed 25 knots, sacrificing a bit of light-air performance is a no-brainer. when sailing friends come aboard they are amazed at how easy it is to put the toys away when the time comes for sipping wine.......takes a lot more effort to put the fenders out than to make the sails vanish.
i have a seldon furling main on my 410. it allows the boat to be sailed short-handed in a full range of conditions. i've sailed through several gales now, and its amazing to be able to balance the boat in winds exceeding 35 knots true, without ever having to leave the cockpit. we've all but forgotten what weather helm feels like. there is a sacrifice in light air because the main can't carry battons and therefore has a negative roach, but in a windy area such as san francisco bay, where afternoon winds routinely exceed 25 knots, sacrificing a bit of light-air performance is a no-brainer. when sailing friends come aboard they are amazed at how easy it is to put the toys away when the time comes for sipping wine.......takes a lot more effort to put the fenders out than to make the sails vanish.
Depends on what you want.
I'll agree that the in mast furling is easy, but then powerboats are easy to "sail" too. Somewhere in the 1990's sailing has matured to "simple" & "easy" sport. Maybe that is what you want, maybe not. The in mast is not without it's drawbacks. As John mentioned light air performance suffers and you are adding a lot of weight aloft in the furling system. Also, I have to question the logic of the Hunter B&R rig with no backstay and roller furling main. The whole point of the backstayless rig is too allow additional roach area and sail area. Given that the rest of rig is designed for that additonal sail area. The jib is very small to accomodate the "regular" large main. Again I'm sure it is EASY to roll in and out. I'm just not sure that is the point or worth the sacrifice. I was watching a Beneteau beat with a roller main yesterday. With the battenless main you could literally see the ripples of wind flowing across the sail. It was awful. The sail was functioning no differently than a bed sheet flapping in the breeze and didn't look any better! A roller furling boom makes a whole lot more sense on a boat like the 340. If you want easy buy a powerboat. If you want to maximize the potential of your Hunter get a regular mainsail. But that's just my opinion and you asked.
I'll agree that the in mast furling is easy, but then powerboats are easy to "sail" too. Somewhere in the 1990's sailing has matured to "simple" & "easy" sport. Maybe that is what you want, maybe not. The in mast is not without it's drawbacks. As John mentioned light air performance suffers and you are adding a lot of weight aloft in the furling system. Also, I have to question the logic of the Hunter B&R rig with no backstay and roller furling main. The whole point of the backstayless rig is too allow additional roach area and sail area. Given that the rest of rig is designed for that additonal sail area. The jib is very small to accomodate the "regular" large main. Again I'm sure it is EASY to roll in and out. I'm just not sure that is the point or worth the sacrifice. I was watching a Beneteau beat with a roller main yesterday. With the battenless main you could literally see the ripples of wind flowing across the sail. It was awful. The sail was functioning no differently than a bed sheet flapping in the breeze and didn't look any better! A roller furling boom makes a whole lot more sense on a boat like the 340. If you want easy buy a powerboat. If you want to maximize the potential of your Hunter get a regular mainsail. But that's just my opinion and you asked.
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