Hanking or Furling
- Thread starter RichBone
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furling contraptions
Rich,
My boat came with CDI 4/6 roller furling. Sort of works. I would prefer a good furler like Harkin, but I do not plan to spend the bucks until necessary.
And hank on forsails give you better sails. Furling sails do not really maintain sail shape when partially furled. And if you only use a hankie you can permantently damage sail shape due to streching of the small exposed part.
Ed K
26
Rich,
My boat came with CDI 4/6 roller furling. Sort of works. I would prefer a good furler like Harkin, but I do not plan to spend the bucks until necessary.
And hank on forsails give you better sails. Furling sails do not really maintain sail shape when partially furled. And if you only use a hankie you can permantently damage sail shape due to streching of the small exposed part.
Ed K
26
i still hank on my sails, mainly because i can't see spending the bucks on roller furling on a 35 yr old boat. it does get tuff on the old knees, however.
I still have the original hank on head sails. But I promised myself that when those die, I will replace with roller furling. I can't wait...
sPk
sPk
Hi Rich,
I use the original Neil Pryde hank on headsails, a working jib (100%?) and a 150% genoa. I have been wondering about the pros and cons of roller furling, since I often sail alone or with inexperienced crew. It is common where I sail for the breeze to build throughout the day. I will often start with the 150 in the morning, then have to change to the working jib by mid-day, then back to the genoa in late afternoon. Sometimes I stay with a certain sail combination longer than I should, because I am too lazy to make the sail change. This often happens as the breeze builds, so I am overpowered, heeling excessively, etc. On a recent cruise it occurred to me that I would save myself a lot of work and perhaps be able to match my headsail to the conditions better with roller furling. Those are the pros that I can think of. What are the cons?
KP
I use the original Neil Pryde hank on headsails, a working jib (100%?) and a 150% genoa. I have been wondering about the pros and cons of roller furling, since I often sail alone or with inexperienced crew. It is common where I sail for the breeze to build throughout the day. I will often start with the 150 in the morning, then have to change to the working jib by mid-day, then back to the genoa in late afternoon. Sometimes I stay with a certain sail combination longer than I should, because I am too lazy to make the sail change. This often happens as the breeze builds, so I am overpowered, heeling excessively, etc. On a recent cruise it occurred to me that I would save myself a lot of work and perhaps be able to match my headsail to the conditions better with roller furling. Those are the pros that I can think of. What are the cons?
KP
kepeters and foresails
KP,
I am a Sunday afternoon sailer...
I like things simple and easy.
However, after years of roller furling, I am just learning things.
Sail Shape - study the topic in detail before you make change. Sail shape determines a lot and roller furling does not mean that you have best use of sail from 0 to 130, 150 or what ever.
Also, although you have to talk to the experts, understand that furling does not mean you can reef your 150 furling genoa to a storm sail. What leaving a small section exposed apparently allows the sail to become partially blown thus rendering the whole sail inefficient. This is according to a retired North sailmaker who took time to expain fabric to me.
Now I have done that a whole lot, but I usually do not fret about sail shape. My sails are probably blown or otherwise misshapen. But they move my boat and that is all I ask.
So study the topic before you do anything. Consider the cost as to whether it is of value to you. Different furling devices do different things. CDI is usually the least expensive, and it works for it intended use.
Harken is worth the money if you want one of the best, but it can cost almost twice as much. With Harken you can fly two foresails wing on wing. It is ball bearing movement so under all conditions should turn more freely. Also it turns freely on top which in theory should put less stress on forestay.
And it allows easier change of foresails. Yes, people with roller furling do change foresails too.
And there is much more to learn about different equipment.
Ed K
26
Addendum: "Remember, not all crazy folks are locked up! Some own boats!"
KP,
I am a Sunday afternoon sailer...
I like things simple and easy.
However, after years of roller furling, I am just learning things.
Sail Shape - study the topic in detail before you make change. Sail shape determines a lot and roller furling does not mean that you have best use of sail from 0 to 130, 150 or what ever.
Also, although you have to talk to the experts, understand that furling does not mean you can reef your 150 furling genoa to a storm sail. What leaving a small section exposed apparently allows the sail to become partially blown thus rendering the whole sail inefficient. This is according to a retired North sailmaker who took time to expain fabric to me.
Now I have done that a whole lot, but I usually do not fret about sail shape. My sails are probably blown or otherwise misshapen. But they move my boat and that is all I ask.
So study the topic before you do anything. Consider the cost as to whether it is of value to you. Different furling devices do different things. CDI is usually the least expensive, and it works for it intended use.
Harken is worth the money if you want one of the best, but it can cost almost twice as much. With Harken you can fly two foresails wing on wing. It is ball bearing movement so under all conditions should turn more freely. Also it turns freely on top which in theory should put less stress on forestay.
And it allows easier change of foresails. Yes, people with roller furling do change foresails too.
And there is much more to learn about different equipment.
Ed K
26
Addendum: "Remember, not all crazy folks are locked up! Some own boats!"
Rich -
I use a CDI furler with a 135 jib. I like being able to roll up the jib and/or make minor adjustments if the wind gets too strong. I was out yesterday in winds blowing 12-15 and waves in the 2-3 ft range and with one reef in the main, and the jib rolled to somewhere in the 80-90 range, the boat sailed great. Sail shape may suffer but doing everything from the cockpit makes a lot of sense to me.
Dave
O'Day 222
I use a CDI furler with a 135 jib. I like being able to roll up the jib and/or make minor adjustments if the wind gets too strong. I was out yesterday in winds blowing 12-15 and waves in the 2-3 ft range and with one reef in the main, and the jib rolled to somewhere in the 80-90 range, the boat sailed great. Sail shape may suffer but doing everything from the cockpit makes a lot of sense to me.
Dave
O'Day 222
Because I don't have a genoa, I've been kicking this question back and forth since I got the boat last year. As of now I'm planning on hanked headsails. The conditions we have on the west shore of Lake Erie are such that a 155 genoa is the "working" sail of choice with very few sail changes throughout the day. Of course we have our blows but they're not the norm and will last most of the day.
If I had a roller setup I'd have to use a 155 and reefing it down would give me- from what I been told- a big performance drop. Most of my sailing will be day sailing with an occasional 30 mile cruise. I don't want to go out when when the wind is up a bit and have a take a big performance just to "sail". With experience I found hanked sails to fairly easy to manage and an occasional sail change shouldn't be a problem. Plus without the cost of a good roller I can buy another sail.
Let's see; I'll need a 155, a 100 (which came with the boat), a 60 or 70 blade that I hope gets little usage and a gennaker/asymetrical spinnaker/code 0 type sail.
Rich
If I had a roller setup I'd have to use a 155 and reefing it down would give me- from what I been told- a big performance drop. Most of my sailing will be day sailing with an occasional 30 mile cruise. I don't want to go out when when the wind is up a bit and have a take a big performance just to "sail". With experience I found hanked sails to fairly easy to manage and an occasional sail change shouldn't be a problem. Plus without the cost of a good roller I can buy another sail.
Let's see; I'll need a 155, a 100 (which came with the boat), a 60 or 70 blade that I hope gets little usage and a gennaker/asymetrical spinnaker/code 0 type sail.
Rich
I used a hank on Gennie with reef points for years. I think that the pointing ability is better with a hanked on Jib or Gennie, but with that said, they're a lot of work. They require you to go forward to work the sail. Reefing a Gennie is difficult and time consuming. In order to anchor under sail, I had to take the Gennie down and bag it on the stay just to get it out of my way. I'm a stickler for covering my sails when they're not in use. So now all I have to do is let the sail off and pull the control line and the sail is out of my way. I have my furler drum set about 5" higher on a tang so that it doesn't interfere with my anchor roller. I only need to head up and let the sail luff as she comes to a stop, and go forward and let the hook down easy. The advantages of having a furler far out weigh the disadvantages of not having one especially now that I'm a "Geezer" and want to do less and enjoy it more. It I was young and still trailering my boat, I wouldn't own a furler for the simple reason of keeping it simple for faster and easier mast set up. I wouldn't even need the Gin Pole.
Joe
Rich,
I have hanked on sails. Always have. I'm strictly a day sailor at this point. NEVER had to change a head sail. Main has reefing. When I think about things like this my first question is, When was the last time you heard someone say, My hank broke? I've got a 25 on a mooring. I couldn't tell you the last time I started my motor. I only go near the boat when there is wind. I don't get to sail near enough. When I can go the last thing I want is anything that can prevent me from sailing. Which ever you decide, just sail it!
Mike
I have hanked on sails. Always have. I'm strictly a day sailor at this point. NEVER had to change a head sail. Main has reefing. When I think about things like this my first question is, When was the last time you heard someone say, My hank broke? I've got a 25 on a mooring. I couldn't tell you the last time I started my motor. I only go near the boat when there is wind. I don't get to sail near enough. When I can go the last thing I want is anything that can prevent me from sailing. Which ever you decide, just sail it!
Mike
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