Jib Furler Pros and Cons
- Thread starter carboman
- Start date
Cons:
You will need a new headsail, or have your old one re-cut and a luff tape added.
The new sail will be slightly smaller in area.
Trailering/mast raising is more challenging.
Some furlers (CDI) are designed so adjusting luff tension or changing sails is very difficult.
You will need UV protection for the sail, either leech/foot wrap or a sock
You will probably have to modify/replace your headstay and/or fittings
Additional mechanical complexity = more to go wrong
You will need a new headsail, or have your old one re-cut and a luff tape added.
The new sail will be slightly smaller in area.
Trailering/mast raising is more challenging.
Some furlers (CDI) are designed so adjusting luff tension or changing sails is very difficult.
You will need UV protection for the sail, either leech/foot wrap or a sock
You will probably have to modify/replace your headstay and/or fittings
Additional mechanical complexity = more to go wrong
For short-handing, a roller furler is wonderful. As far as things going wrong, everyone has a story about the d*** furling line fowling, or overwrapping, or the drum freezing, leaving them with 1/2 a jib to manhandle on the foredeck. Like everything else on a sailboat, it happens, can be prevented with a little maintenance, and solved in an emergency with a length of line or bungees. UV protection with a sock is cheap ($180 from Ameriseam in Tampa) and not much work to put on at end of day. Setting up when stepping or trailering is a little more work than a straight forestay, but not worth considering. If you race, you lose some flexibility with foresail size, shape, etc. but will remain competitive in lighter air.
If you are an average cruising sailor leaving the boat in the water, a furler is a wonderful thing if properly set up.
I always liked the CDI and introduced that furler to many mfgs. over the years to include the traileralbe boats. Here are the reasons.
First, it is a single extrusion that is flexible not subject to being damaged if you had the traditional metal furlers. Others came out that are flexible but the halves have to be put together and when taking down the mast, the halves do move which is cumbersome needing to watch out for on one in particular.
The CDI has it own internal halyard which is good relieving the jib halyard for mast raise only on the Hunter traileralbes; otherwise the sail has to come off particularly if you are transporting a lot. As for the sail, if covered and rolled tightly around the furler, it can stay on the furler if secured correctly.
Generally, you can adjust the tension and for most part not worry being loosened by someone but that can be a different case with the standard jib halyard if someone mistakenly loosens that one.
There is no need with the CDI furler to change or to make modifications to the existing forestay.
If the forestay ever needs tuning, not hard to get to the turnbuckle to adjust. As for true racing on a regular basis, I would not suggest having a furling system but going back to the average sailor who wants to enjoy cruising, furling systems are highly recommended.
Crazy dave condon
I always liked the CDI and introduced that furler to many mfgs. over the years to include the traileralbe boats. Here are the reasons.
First, it is a single extrusion that is flexible not subject to being damaged if you had the traditional metal furlers. Others came out that are flexible but the halves have to be put together and when taking down the mast, the halves do move which is cumbersome needing to watch out for on one in particular.
The CDI has it own internal halyard which is good relieving the jib halyard for mast raise only on the Hunter traileralbes; otherwise the sail has to come off particularly if you are transporting a lot. As for the sail, if covered and rolled tightly around the furler, it can stay on the furler if secured correctly.
Generally, you can adjust the tension and for most part not worry being loosened by someone but that can be a different case with the standard jib halyard if someone mistakenly loosens that one.
There is no need with the CDI furler to change or to make modifications to the existing forestay.
If the forestay ever needs tuning, not hard to get to the turnbuckle to adjust. As for true racing on a regular basis, I would not suggest having a furling system but going back to the average sailor who wants to enjoy cruising, furling systems are highly recommended.
Crazy dave condon
