Happy Days!

[frank balcer]

Finally after 15 years of sailing and on my fourth boat I now have roller furling. Just got my brand new Harken MK-IV installed last Sunday. My rigger said to save the old Tuff Luff as it can re resold on E Bay. My old knees on the other hand are saying burn the darn thing! I definately wont trash it. Oh, not to have to be on the bow taking down a 155 as a blow is building! Darn, im as giddy as 10 year old on Christmas morning!

 

[sailaway78]

Does Make a Difference

Frank,
I think a roller furler can extend our sailing lifes by a number of years. I know that a lot of purists turn up their noses at them. But when the years start to add up, the balance isn't what it used to be, and the knees no longer work like they once did, sure is nice to not have to scramble up on the foredeck when the weather turns snotty. Hope to see you at the raft up over at Peti Bois.
Phil Prater
aka Nice N Easy

 

[frank balcer]

Thanks Phil. Yes, on more than one ocasion while solo sailing I have been on the foredeck trying to wrestle a big sail down and then the jib halyard decides to get a knot on the back side of the clutch. Dive to the back clear knot and then back to the bow to get sail down and secured. Depending on my work schedule at the refinery I will either try to spend Friday night out at Petit Bois or at least sail out early on Saturday and spend the day. Looking forward to putting some faces to the names I see on here!

 

[Stu Jackson]

For thsoe of you who don't have roller furling (yet)

Instead of fighting with the headsail, try this:

Sail on port tack.

Heave to which will backwind the jib so the clew is on the starboard side of the boat, and the jib will be pretty much across the foredeck.

Drop the jib.

Because of how the hanks are installed and the direction of the wind on the jib, the jib will come down on the foredeck almost completely pre-folded!

A jib down haul line is almost a necessity, and is easily installed and used.

You can do all this from the cockpit.

I learned this from Patrick Royce's "Sailing Illustrated" book in 1982 and used it successfully on our C22 and C25 for over 15 years.

 

[nightowle]

thanks Stu -- I'm gonna try the heave to method. How do I rig a downhaul on the jib? Not sure I've seen that in a hanked on foresail setup.

 

[nightowle]

oh.....I found jib down haul setup instructions from Practical Sailor