Furling systems

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jim McCue

Can any one comment on their experience using a furling system. I single hand often and with a full jib, am sometimes committed in a blow 20-30 amounting to a "nantucket sleigh ride" until I can manage to go forward and douse the jib. I've read up on CDI's Furler reefer. FF6 model. Am wondering if I should get a continuous furler (no drum winding-just cycles back to a cockpit turnbuckle) or the conventional drum wound. Also, What size? , stick with a 110 or go 125 135. 150 seems a bit much. My conditions are usually 10-25kts. Welcome any advise or experience with Furlers on 28.5. Thanks in advance
 
J

Jeff

Do It!

I also have a 28.5 and would strongly recommend that you install one. It makes life muchmore enjoyable. Make sure that it says it is specifically for reefing which means something other than furling. Reefing equipment can take the abuse of a reefed sail in high winds. From what I have read, continous line is not as popular as a single line system. I would not recommend any particular brand. I have a Famet system which has worked flawlessly for me but is not often mentioned since it is a smaller company. It was reviewed a few years ago by Practical Sailor and was top rated and very copetitvly priced. You may want to get some of their literature and compare to other systems.
 
M

Marc Honey

Ditto on do it!!!

Harken unit was already on mine when I bought it and it is fabulous. I did replace the std. 110% jib with a 130%...wish I'd gone the other 5% to a 135%...but yes the 150%is almost self defeating in that a 135% will reef down into a fairly decently shaped 110%, but the 150% will only reef down to a decent 130% or so and thats still lots of jib. I single-hand 70% of the time and absolutely wouldn't use my boat near as much if I didn't have the furling.I go out "lazy" lots of days with 18-25 knts. of wind with headsail only and never mess with the main and have plenty of speed and less work putting the boat up.
 
S

Scott Johnston

Best thing since sliced bread

I was glad that our 34 came with a roller furling unit. It was on our list of 'must have / upgrade' items when we were looking for a boat. Ours is a Furlex single line with an open drum. Not had a single problem. Just remember to keep light tension on the furling line when un-furling the headsail. This prevents overwrap on the drum. We have a 150, 110, and 80 (storm jib). Use the 110 most of the time, but put the 150 on if we expect lighter conditions. Changing headsails with the furling unit is something best done at dock though. Scott. 83-H34 Island Hops
 
S

Scott B

FF7 Furler

I recently researched furlers for my 31, and ended up buying an FF7 from the Sail Warehouse (831-646-5346 Jim). I did the installation myself. There were two problems. The headstay did not fit through the original luff extrusion they sent, and the luff extrusion comes curled and is very hard to straighten unless you have about five people and it is real hot outside. Other than that the installation was very easy. This is the second flexible furler from CDI I have owned (FF2 on a Catalina 22) and they both have worked great at about half the price of many of the others. I do not race or change sails often, and I do not go offshore and have not used the furler in greater than 25 knot winds. When I had the problems described above both CDI and the Sail Warehouse went OUT OF THEIR WAY to make it right and fix the problems immediately. A furler is the way to go for cruising. Go for it!!
 
S

Sam Lust

Furling experience

The reason the CDI costs half what the others do is that it's half the furler the others are. I had an earlier CDI on my 33 and it was a pain from the the first day. With their wire halyard running back down the foil the wind must be dead on the nose to change sails. The engineering was abysmal, materials inappropriate. Your boat is big enough that it deserves the real thing. Go to one of the boat shows that occur during the fall and winter and talk to all the manufacturers and all the retailers. You should be able to get a major name furler for around 27% off the STREET price. (Not LIST price, that's a joke.) Even with my wife along I handle the 33 myself. A good working furler is essential for that. By replacing the CDI with a Harken I made it much easier. As far as sail size, I have a (approximately)115 and a 150, both set for furling. I'm also in an area where there's lots of wind Barnegat Bay. It's rare that I have conditions where I can use the 150. It's hard to handle and shapes badly when reefed. I'm sticking to the smaller sail. When it's time to replace sails I'll stay below 125.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.