a furler is used to roll a sail for storage. a reefing furler is used to roll the sail evenly so it maintains the cut shape of the sail as best that it can, so when the sail is still pulling while is half rolled up, it is as efficient as it can be.
I cannot explain to you, how you can tell the difference. i can tell by looking at it, but i cant explain it... maybe someone else can.
you should be able to google the model number, or ask the question in your browser if that model can be used to reef, and see what you get...
some people use their basic furler as a reefing furler, and this only causes extreme stress on the sail and a total loss of efficient wind flow... but they get by with it
slab reefing is much quicker, easier, and gives a much better sail shape than roller reefing... no matter how many deck hands you have. it just has to be set up for it. some use a double line setup, one at the clew and one at the tack.... on smaller boat a single line running thru both the clew and the tack work well to pull it down.
how fast can you roller reef? less than 30 seconds?..... if not your slower than slab reefing.
how fast can you shake out the roller reef and feed the slugs back into the track and rehoist the main?... 15 seconds, if not your slow
.
with slab reefing, set up for it, all you have to do is lift the reefing line(s) from the cam cleats, and hoist the main.
the ties for the excess sail is something that you get to when you have the time after you take the reef.... or when you get ready to shake out, remove the ties at your leisure....
i dont count gathering the excess sail as
the important part of the reefing process, it has so little to do with getting back under control and is really more for aesthetics and good houskeeping than anything else. and it is only held passively, not
reefed tight like the clew and tack
roller reefing does take care of all of that during the rolling process, but that, in and of itself is what causes the bad sail shape afterward.... the sail needs to be held at the three corners and not in the middle of the sail to allow the design of it to work properly.
roller reefing does work, but just not as well....
reef points in the jib is not as common on our small bay boats, but more common on coastal cruisers.
but they can be very helpful when there is no other sails to hank on... as for reef points in a jib on a furler, im not sure how that would work.
sewing in reef points.... ball park figure?... i couldnt give you one because the prices vary so much from one sailmaker to another.... by a wide margin.
so get quotes from 2 or 3 before you get the work done....