I have just received a new boat with inboom furling. After several hours on the water breaking her in, the benefits vs. down side of the new rig became apparent. The benefits include lower center of gravity vs. in mast systems. Safer, if the sail jams, you can still get it down. Full battened main with roach. The boom is a schaeffer product and comes with a solid boom vang and no outhaul! This eliminates your ability to flatten the sail to depower it to overcome weather helm. It also eliminates the benefits that the traveller and main sheet adjustments make in sail trim. To eliminate weather helm, you have to reef the main. I talked to schaefer about it and they said that it is important that the boom angle be exactly right for the furling system to work without the sail jamming. They felt, that in a blow at night, when you are trying to reef in a hurry, that having the solid boom vang elimated any danger of having the boom at an incorrect angle. Anyone else have boom furling systems on their boat or know anyone that does that has changed the boom vang or added an outhaul? Earlier models of the schaefer boom had an adjustable boom vang. When I was researching the boom, their website had a picture of it but when the boat was delivered, they had switched to the solid vang. The link below is to Schaefer's website.
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Tim
Your needs
What you have is geared towards convenience not performance. I don't think I have ever seen a J boat with in boom or mast furling. If someone has solved the issue of having your cake and eating it too than they are keeping it to themselves. Tim R
What you have is geared towards convenience not performance. I don't think I have ever seen a J boat with in boom or mast furling. If someone has solved the issue of having your cake and eating it too than they are keeping it to themselves. Tim R
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Dale I
Stoboom....an older cousin by Hood
After viewing the link it appears that I've got a not too distant relative of your unit. Boom Vang: Mine is ridgid but is 'sprung' and I can squeeze a little out when I need to. It is very important for me to cut it all loose when reefing/dousing in order to keep the sail centered on the take-up spool. Outhaul: don't have one and can't see a lot of function for it with a full batton sail... I do have a leach line and can somewhat shape the aft portion. Traveler: Have found that this main performs better with the boom at, or a squeeze above, centerline. Sheeting is no different than other setups. I made a discovery on my first 20-mile coastal cruise with this Stoboom rig from Cumberland Island to Fernandina. I found that attempting to reef the main with a steady 15-20 knots and gusts to 30 loading it up will not happen unless its de-powered. That became a challenge when I got to surfing in 6'-seas a couple of times. Unable to head off sufficiently in the building seas we simply weathervaned it with a preventer in place and got a second reduction/reef. It appears that the Schaffer unit has a better luff track than my old Stoboom and may not load up the luff line/battons as badly....good luck. (Check the archives for Stoboom, etc. for other feedback..)
After viewing the link it appears that I've got a not too distant relative of your unit. Boom Vang: Mine is ridgid but is 'sprung' and I can squeeze a little out when I need to. It is very important for me to cut it all loose when reefing/dousing in order to keep the sail centered on the take-up spool. Outhaul: don't have one and can't see a lot of function for it with a full batton sail... I do have a leach line and can somewhat shape the aft portion. Traveler: Have found that this main performs better with the boom at, or a squeeze above, centerline. Sheeting is no different than other setups. I made a discovery on my first 20-mile coastal cruise with this Stoboom rig from Cumberland Island to Fernandina. I found that attempting to reef the main with a steady 15-20 knots and gusts to 30 loading it up will not happen unless its de-powered. That became a challenge when I got to surfing in 6'-seas a couple of times. Unable to head off sufficiently in the building seas we simply weathervaned it with a preventer in place and got a second reduction/reef. It appears that the Schaffer unit has a better luff track than my old Stoboom and may not load up the luff line/battons as badly....good luck. (Check the archives for Stoboom, etc. for other feedback..)
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frank arndorfer
Experience with in-boom
I've got a Hunter 426 and installed a Leisure Furl in-boom furling system. These have been my experiences after one full season: Not sure about your Schaefer's system but the LF uses a boltrope to attach the foot of the sail to the boom. There is no outhaul.This bolt is about 1/3 the length of the entire foot. Then the foot is also attached at the tack and clew with spectra line. When fully unfurled, the foot is loose as it would be with a conventional outhaul slack. Taking approximately one tightening turn on the boom wraps the entire foot and has the same effect as tightening an outhaul. This is how foot shape is maintained. I find that mainsheet and traveller control are conventional and the boat responds similarily. I have a solid boom vang supplied by LF and it's a big unit. Looks like you could lift a truck with it. Keep in mind my boom is almost 22' long. The boom vang line and topping lift line are both led back to the cockpit through spinlock clutches. I have them both marked so I know the proper angle/tension for proper furling. When it comes time to reef or furl, I head up slightly to depower, loosen the mainsheet, match the marks on the topping lift and vang, and the sail furls easily. As Schaefer said and I'm sure similar to any of these units, the proper angle is important for them to work properly. I'll also add that I do have a powered winch for this. My owner's manual states that I can furl on any point of sail, including downwind. I haven't had any personal experiences doing downwind furling as of yet. Given the positive advantages of a full battened and full roach main, I think in-boom furling is the way to go. The entire system has been very problem-free and I feel comfortable singlehanding the boat. Have had it out in 30+kts and no anxiety.
I've got a Hunter 426 and installed a Leisure Furl in-boom furling system. These have been my experiences after one full season: Not sure about your Schaefer's system but the LF uses a boltrope to attach the foot of the sail to the boom. There is no outhaul.This bolt is about 1/3 the length of the entire foot. Then the foot is also attached at the tack and clew with spectra line. When fully unfurled, the foot is loose as it would be with a conventional outhaul slack. Taking approximately one tightening turn on the boom wraps the entire foot and has the same effect as tightening an outhaul. This is how foot shape is maintained. I find that mainsheet and traveller control are conventional and the boat responds similarily. I have a solid boom vang supplied by LF and it's a big unit. Looks like you could lift a truck with it. Keep in mind my boom is almost 22' long. The boom vang line and topping lift line are both led back to the cockpit through spinlock clutches. I have them both marked so I know the proper angle/tension for proper furling. When it comes time to reef or furl, I head up slightly to depower, loosen the mainsheet, match the marks on the topping lift and vang, and the sail furls easily. As Schaefer said and I'm sure similar to any of these units, the proper angle is important for them to work properly. I'll also add that I do have a powered winch for this. My owner's manual states that I can furl on any point of sail, including downwind. I haven't had any personal experiences doing downwind furling as of yet. Given the positive advantages of a full battened and full roach main, I think in-boom furling is the way to go. The entire system has been very problem-free and I feel comfortable singlehanding the boat. Have had it out in 30+kts and no anxiety.
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Michele Stevens
Profurl In-Boom Furling system
We installed a Profurl In-Boom furling system on our CS 36 last summer. Unfortunately our boat was not launched due to engine rebuilding, but we received an excellant understanding of the system when installing it. The Profurl systems do have an outhaul and an adjustable vang. The other beauty of the system is the reefing capability at any degree of angle of the wind. The luff of the sail and boom move in unison. Let me know if you are interested in knowing how the sailing goes this summer! Michele
We installed a Profurl In-Boom furling system on our CS 36 last summer. Unfortunately our boat was not launched due to engine rebuilding, but we received an excellant understanding of the system when installing it. The Profurl systems do have an outhaul and an adjustable vang. The other beauty of the system is the reefing capability at any degree of angle of the wind. The luff of the sail and boom move in unison. Let me know if you are interested in knowing how the sailing goes this summer! Michele
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Bill Mosher
Forespar Leisure Furl does give perfromance
I was sent to this site by a customer who has an Forespar Leisure Furl. The Leisure Furl does use a Forespar adjustable vang which we feel is necessary for sail shaping and good sailing. Cruising is no excuse for poor sailing and in boom furling allows good sail shape, a full batten main and reefing, all from the safety of the cockpit. In response to the gentleman from Maine, we have done a dozen J boats with more inquiries each day. Obviously I am biased as I work for Forespar but we are committed to making sailing more fun and safer and our boom does that. There are now over 3500 of these booms sailing all over the world! For owner's testimonials, please see our website.
I was sent to this site by a customer who has an Forespar Leisure Furl. The Leisure Furl does use a Forespar adjustable vang which we feel is necessary for sail shaping and good sailing. Cruising is no excuse for poor sailing and in boom furling allows good sail shape, a full batten main and reefing, all from the safety of the cockpit. In response to the gentleman from Maine, we have done a dozen J boats with more inquiries each day. Obviously I am biased as I work for Forespar but we are committed to making sailing more fun and safer and our boom does that. There are now over 3500 of these booms sailing all over the world! For owner's testimonials, please see our website.
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