Hunter 240 I was sailing with a more experienced friend (on my Hunter 240)the other day,and when it became gusty I reduced sail on the main, and was about to do the same on the jib....when my friend asked me if my jib was made to be reefed... He said not all sails are constructed to be reefed. I guess that I had no clue...does anyone else know ????
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Interesting question
I was told that not all roller furlers are made to be used for reefing, that they are built to be all the way in or all the way out. I chose the Shaeffer SnapFurl as one touted to be a reefing system. I had the jib modified of course but hadn't ever heard or considered that the sail itself may not be up to the job. You sound like it's clear that he meant the sail itself, not the furling system. If this is true, I wonder if it is an issue of strength, or sail shape, or what?
I was told that not all roller furlers are made to be used for reefing, that they are built to be all the way in or all the way out. I chose the Shaeffer SnapFurl as one touted to be a reefing system. I had the jib modified of course but hadn't ever heard or considered that the sail itself may not be up to the job. You sound like it's clear that he meant the sail itself, not the furling system. If this is true, I wonder if it is an issue of strength, or sail shape, or what?
Reefing Jibs and Genoas
Normally when a sailmaker makes a jib or genny to be reefed, they add a foam luff to the center of the luff. This tightens the center of the sail as it is rolled up. Most sailmakers can modify a standard sail to add the foam luff. See the attached link for a discussion by Neil Pryde sails on foam luffs. Bill
Normally when a sailmaker makes a jib or genny to be reefed, they add a foam luff to the center of the luff. This tightens the center of the sail as it is rolled up. Most sailmakers can modify a standard sail to add the foam luff. See the attached link for a discussion by Neil Pryde sails on foam luffs. Bill
Take Into Account Fabric
Another consideration with regard to a reefing jib is the fabric and the load it will withstand. A foam or rope luff can be added to inprove the sail shape when reefed but the sail cloth must have the ability to withstand the increased loads. A sailmaker has charts where they can determine if their sail cloth can withstand the load and they can probably come up with a guestimate for the OEM sail cloth. If the sail is used with a load that is too great the fabric the fabric will stretch and the sail will become baggy prematurely. I would say that sailing in conditions where the OEM jib is reefed with a foam luff is better than without but one needs to know the ramnifications of doing this. Talk to your sailmaker and see what he says.
Another consideration with regard to a reefing jib is the fabric and the load it will withstand. A foam or rope luff can be added to inprove the sail shape when reefed but the sail cloth must have the ability to withstand the increased loads. A sailmaker has charts where they can determine if their sail cloth can withstand the load and they can probably come up with a guestimate for the OEM sail cloth. If the sail is used with a load that is too great the fabric the fabric will stretch and the sail will become baggy prematurely. I would say that sailing in conditions where the OEM jib is reefed with a foam luff is better than without but one needs to know the ramnifications of doing this. Talk to your sailmaker and see what he says.
Most are good for a 20 percent reef
According to my sailmaker (Greg Koski of Doyle in Cleveland) and other references I have heard, a foresail can be furled up to 20 percent and still maintain "reasonable" shape. A foam luff can improve the shape and perhaps extend the amount of furling before the sail becomes baggy. The problem is that sails are carefull designed to hold a precise airfoil shape. This assumes that the luff is straight, and the sail curves away from the luff in a designed way to maximize the drive, and minimize the drag of the wind on the sail. When we roll the sail on a straight forestay/furler, the curve is increase beyond the designed shape. This "baggy" shape decreases drive (for the amount of sail deployed), increases side forces (meaning more heel), and increases drag. This is doubly important, since typically a flatter sail shape is better in higher winds. By the way, when we reef the genny, we need to move the sheet fairlead forward to maintain the right sail shape through the top of the sail (or twist). David Lady Lillie
According to my sailmaker (Greg Koski of Doyle in Cleveland) and other references I have heard, a foresail can be furled up to 20 percent and still maintain "reasonable" shape. A foam luff can improve the shape and perhaps extend the amount of furling before the sail becomes baggy. The problem is that sails are carefull designed to hold a precise airfoil shape. This assumes that the luff is straight, and the sail curves away from the luff in a designed way to maximize the drive, and minimize the drag of the wind on the sail. When we roll the sail on a straight forestay/furler, the curve is increase beyond the designed shape. This "baggy" shape decreases drive (for the amount of sail deployed), increases side forces (meaning more heel), and increases drag. This is doubly important, since typically a flatter sail shape is better in higher winds. By the way, when we reef the genny, we need to move the sheet fairlead forward to maintain the right sail shape through the top of the sail (or twist). David Lady Lillie
Rick MacDonald Snap furl system
Rick, We have been looking into a roller furling for our h23.5 and I just read an article in SAILING magazine about the pros and cons of each and they had some on the snap furl system and you said you had that on your boat would you mind posting and letting me know what you think of it? Much appreciated Rob Morton
Rick, We have been looking into a roller furling for our h23.5 and I just read an article in SAILING magazine about the pros and cons of each and they had some on the snap furl system and you said you had that on your boat would you mind posting and letting me know what you think of it? Much appreciated Rob Morton
Schaefer CF-500 furler
CDI is the most common around here, but rightly or wrongly I had heard that they didn't stand up to being reefed. I looked and searched and called over over Canada and the US. I got stories that the Hood SeaFlex was better and stronger than CDI, but others said that CDI was better and stronger than Hood. So I phoned them all back and talked some more and I hadn't noticed the first time around but they all seemed to agree that Schaefer was better than both CDI and Hood. Of course, who knows if they were referring specifically to the flexible models or the ones for big boats. I had assumed for some reason that the Schafer would be more expensive but it turned out to be only $100 or so more. The local sailboat shop here (a Hunter dealer but really only up to the H260 in size) installed it for me. The guy was most familiar with the CDI but was very impressed and liked the Schafer system. It goes right over the existing forestay - no need to modify or shorten. Haven't said all that, I have no personal knowledge or experience with any of the others. I can't compare them for performance or anything else. It certainly furls and unfurls, but I didn't get enough good sailing in this summer to even say how it performs. I had asked that the sail loft add a UV strip and foam in the luff and got neither. Now I'm waiting for someone to make me a jib sock to pull up over it. My need for a furler was because the boat is usually filled with wives and kids and I wanted to be able to reduce sail quickly and easily for safety. If the partially furled sail has poor shape and under performs, well, I don't think I'll care since by definition if it's partially furled it's because the winds are strong and I'm going to get enough speed anyway.
CDI is the most common around here, but rightly or wrongly I had heard that they didn't stand up to being reefed. I looked and searched and called over over Canada and the US. I got stories that the Hood SeaFlex was better and stronger than CDI, but others said that CDI was better and stronger than Hood. So I phoned them all back and talked some more and I hadn't noticed the first time around but they all seemed to agree that Schaefer was better than both CDI and Hood. Of course, who knows if they were referring specifically to the flexible models or the ones for big boats. I had assumed for some reason that the Schafer would be more expensive but it turned out to be only $100 or so more. The local sailboat shop here (a Hunter dealer but really only up to the H260 in size) installed it for me. The guy was most familiar with the CDI but was very impressed and liked the Schafer system. It goes right over the existing forestay - no need to modify or shorten. Haven't said all that, I have no personal knowledge or experience with any of the others. I can't compare them for performance or anything else. It certainly furls and unfurls, but I didn't get enough good sailing in this summer to even say how it performs. I had asked that the sail loft add a UV strip and foam in the luff and got neither. Now I'm waiting for someone to make me a jib sock to pull up over it. My need for a furler was because the boat is usually filled with wives and kids and I wanted to be able to reduce sail quickly and easily for safety. If the partially furled sail has poor shape and under performs, well, I don't think I'll care since by definition if it's partially furled it's because the winds are strong and I'm going to get enough speed anyway.
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