Headsail furler choices
- Thread starter jcb2
- Start date
I had great results with Furlex (it is Swedish) on my previous boat. There was no need for the halyard restrainer, though this might be boat-dependent.
I have a Harken A00 now and it works fine, but the attachment to the bow chainplate is a major pita. If you need to haul out for winter (and step and unstep the mast), research that before you buy.
I have a Harken A00 now and it works fine, but the attachment to the bow chainplate is a major pita. If you need to haul out for winter (and step and unstep the mast), research that before you buy.
I installed an Alado on my boat in July, best bang for the buck in my opinion for a cruiser. How are you using the boat? If racing Harken or Schaefer might be a good choice. PERSONALLY I stay away from Harken because everything is proprietary and only available from Harken.
I am a single handed cruiser on a budget so I maximize every dollar invested. The Alado was simple to install, works flawlessly on my 250 sqft genoa and makes short evening sails a pleasure instead of a sail folding chore. The downside is the extrusion is a bit heavy and getting a straight luff in 15+ knots is impossible with my current backstay set up. The Alado furlers have no bearings, only high density plastic bushings...nothing to seize but a bit more friction than some may want..Overall I give it an 8+ so far.
I am a single handed cruiser on a budget so I maximize every dollar invested. The Alado was simple to install, works flawlessly on my 250 sqft genoa and makes short evening sails a pleasure instead of a sail folding chore. The downside is the extrusion is a bit heavy and getting a straight luff in 15+ knots is impossible with my current backstay set up. The Alado furlers have no bearings, only high density plastic bushings...nothing to seize but a bit more friction than some may want..Overall I give it an 8+ so far.
I originally had a ProFurl on my boat and was satisfied with it. The only down side was that was somewhat difficult to feed the jib into the track in the spring. It performed well for 12 years before the boat was dismasted by a storm while in winter storage that totalled the furler.
I replaced it with a Harken furler and am pleased with it. It was easy to assemble and install,
the furler drum rotates much more freely. The sail fed into the track more easily, and when I took down the sail for winter storage yesterday, it slid down smoothly with a simple tug after the halyard was released.
I replaced it with a Harken furler and am pleased with it. It was easy to assemble and install,
the furler drum rotates much more freely. The sail fed into the track more easily, and when I took down the sail for winter storage yesterday, it slid down smoothly with a simple tug after the halyard was released.
When you say "new" does that mean you have one now? What brand and what do you like/dislike about it?
I had a Hood Seafurl 800 on my 31' sloop that kept hanging up. I tried to take it apart one day to see what the problem was and I made things worse by losing some parts over the side-splash! I found that the centering ring was missing and the ball bearings were shot. When trying to reassemble it, it hung up somehow at the top and I gave it a quick tug to free it. It freed alright when the top bearings broke out of their rivets and bounced off my deck into the water. I thought of getting parts and fixing it but it it's 20 years old and worn out anyway. I'm ready to buy a new one and install it myself.
My sailmaker suggested Harken because he said they are made better than most others without costing a fortune. But the Alado caught my eye because it was used in the Olympics and got great reviews by Practical Sailor. At first I thought it was made poorly since it had no bearings but then after thinking about it more, that may be a good thing. Sure, bearings reduce friction but that is where furlers always fail. The Alado and a couple other brands use bushings that offer a little more friction but are lifetime guaranteed using bushings and larger diameter drums to compensate.
I read in Practical Sailor that for the furlers that use bearings, Selden's Furlex is their top choice but I don't think I've seen any one with that on their boat. Maybe it's too expensive?
I thank everyone for the replies so far and hope to hear more before I go for it.
My sailmaker suggested Harken because he said they are made better than most others without costing a fortune. But the Alado caught my eye because it was used in the Olympics and got great reviews by Practical Sailor. At first I thought it was made poorly since it had no bearings but then after thinking about it more, that may be a good thing. Sure, bearings reduce friction but that is where furlers always fail. The Alado and a couple other brands use bushings that offer a little more friction but are lifetime guaranteed using bushings and larger diameter drums to compensate.
I read in Practical Sailor that for the furlers that use bearings, Selden's Furlex is their top choice but I don't think I've seen any one with that on their boat. Maybe it's too expensive?
I thank everyone for the replies so far and hope to hear more before I go for it.
I'm a coastal cruiser who doesn't venture more than 30 miles off the Atlantic shore. I'm not a racer but I do appreciate good performance. Since I'm 64 years old and have had a back injury, I'm interested in just how much more pull it is compared to a bearing type furler. I was fine with my old one until the bearings went bad.
@jcb2 , check out this link to a thread I started in the spring, asking about furlers. https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/new-furler-question.184531/
It might help with your selection.
The rigger mentioned that my yard uses is Dave Thompson at 732-721-4667 of John Eggars Inc.
And he works in your area.
I'm very happy with my new Furlex 104S.
It might help with your selection.
The rigger mentioned that my yard uses is Dave Thompson at 732-721-4667 of John Eggars Inc.
And he works in your area.
I'm very happy with my new Furlex 104S.
Everybody has their own preference for a furler and after reading multitudes of threads regarding this very topic (which furler to buy), I've never been able to determine any that are a clear favorite among the multitude of sources that are all credible. Therefore, you will probably just have to select the one that your gut tells you. It's sort of like that compass that Captain Sparrow uses to determine his course - it always points in the direction that he most desires. I can tell you that between Furlex and Harken, you probably can't go wrong if you are sourcing from SBO, which is an excellent source BTW. Since Ward and I are across the dock from each other, I'll note that his Furlex has a closed spool, while my Harken MK IV has an open spool. Otherwise, I doubt that I could distinguish any significant difference one over the other.
I have found that I sometimes have a problem getting my entire sail un-furled until I go up front and manually pull it out. That may be because I have put too much halyard tension on it. I did use the winch to snug it up. Hopefully, I haven't caused any damage and thinking about it just now, I think I will release some tension next time I'm out to see if there is a difference. I also use my backstay adjustment frequently to increase shroud tension when the wind gets strong and I wonder how that affects operation.
I have found that I sometimes have a problem getting my entire sail un-furled until I go up front and manually pull it out. That may be because I have put too much halyard tension on it. I did use the winch to snug it up. Hopefully, I haven't caused any damage and thinking about it just now, I think I will release some tension next time I'm out to see if there is a difference. I also use my backstay adjustment frequently to increase shroud tension when the wind gets strong and I wonder how that affects operation.
Never heard of the brand you mentioned. Harken is a good product for sure, but I think the best furler out there is Selden Mast's Furlex. Best technology, works very well and the completeness of the kit is something you have to consider too when pricing. Many companies offer options such as halyard retainers, line and blocks to bring furling line aft, etc. at an extra cost. Furlex includes this stuff in their original package and they also include a new forestay so you are not putting on a new furler on to an old forestay which assures quality control over all components of the system and you'll find the whole package very compatible or better price wise when you compare apples with apples. The other thing is, the product is quite good and works extremely well. I have dealt with a lot of different furlers and have installed many brands and Furlex is my choice. That's my 2 cents.
Nothing wrong with that.
I always try to do my own work but when it came to sizing, making up the forestay, then the furler, I decided it was something best left to the yard and rigger.
I do most of my own work but when making up the forestay fittings do I really want to trust my rig to a guy who has never done a forestay and fittings before? Will I then be comfortable taking the boat out in 20+ winds?
"a man has to know his limitations". (credit to Clint)
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I wound up buying a Pompanette Hood Seafurl 5. My reasons were 1) lifetime warranty, 2) I won't need to make any changes or buy anything extra since my old one was a Hood and 3) Defender's relatively inexpensive sale price on it was about to expire.
Thank you all for your comments and insight. Happy sailing. I hope to see some of you out on Barnegat Bay.
Thank you all for your comments and insight. Happy sailing. I hope to see some of you out on Barnegat Bay.
