Installing roller furling

[Mike]

I want to install roller furling for this upcoming season and would like to know what I need to know about having my existing genoa modified. Do I need to tell the sailmaker the brand/model of roller I will be installing? Does he need the actual foil? Can you recommend any sailmakers in the New Haven, Conn. area? I have a recommedation from Rudy at D

 

[Barry]

Easy Job, Any Sailmaker, Bring Money

If you tell any good sailmaker the brand or type of furling system they will know what luff tape size to sew on. Common size is refered to as #6. They frequently install a UV cover during the conversion to protect the rolled up sail from the sun. It may not be a good idea to invest in a conversion if your sail is old. Many sailmaker will be eagar to sell you a package that includes furler and sail. The other option is to buy the furler from a big discount supply outfit (Sailnet or Defender). Easy project, just bring MONEY.Barry

 

[Bill Colombo]

R/F Conversion

Mike, Any sailmaker should be able to convert your genoa for roller furling. If you can't find one you like you could call Mark Ploch's Doyle loft in City Island NY. Basically you need to supply the following information: 1. Furler Brand and model This will ensure the correct size luff tape etc.2. Maximum Luff Length of new furler You will have to measure this(CDI might give it to you).3. Sun Cover Style Sunbrella color or UV Dacron(white)4. Sun Cover Side, port or starboard? Does your drum furl clockwise or counter-clockwise?With this information any good loft should serve well.Bill Colombo, Doyle SF

 

[Pete]

Roller furling

Mike-- I installed a Schaefer Snap Furl on my OD25 last summer, and bought it from Defender at a great price. It requires no modification of the headstay at all. It turned out to be a tailor solution, literally "made" for the boat. I then made the rounds of the sailmakers, all of whom wanted big $$ for a new RF genny that in their estimation would win the America's Cup. Some never bothered to return my call. Those that did wanted almost as much to convert my own genny, which meant they were really trying to sell me a new one. So they were really not interested in a small "sale of a sail" to "small potatoes" like me. So I contacted Sails East on the web (who I'd seen at Annapolis the year before) and they made me a beautiful 150 genny for less than two thirds of the price the big boys wanted. The workmanship and service was superb. Chances are your old sail is tired anyway. In the alternative, you might have a cooperative small sailmaker in the New Haven to New London area who would be reasonable about your request to modify your sail. Good luck!

 

[Brad Williams]

I prefer a jib sock for UV protection

The UV protection is a must...but if you have several head sails, you might think about not having the UV sewn on each sail....get a cover that raises and lowers with the Jib halyard (It's not doing anything anyway if you go with the CDI furler).Brad