If you have to choose one or the other..
If you had to choose one or the other, go for the roller furling jib. You wont have to go forward to "reef". As you stated earlier, all of our experiences differ widely and so i disagree with Capt Ron, who BTW has probably more experience than all of us added up. Anyway. i feel that you have a greater chance of being pitched off you bow than you do of having a jam when caught in a blow. I had a Catalina 30 with a 150 which is quite a large sail for one (old) person to handle. I have had it furled down to about a 100 and it still performed great, contrary to everything that i have read about furling a jib. Anything that will make sailing easier will also get you on the water more often. Good luck in whatever you decide.
If you had to choose one or the other, go for the roller furling jib. You wont have to go forward to "reef". As you stated earlier, all of our experiences differ widely and so i disagree with Capt Ron, who BTW has probably more experience than all of us added up. Anyway. i feel that you have a greater chance of being pitched off you bow than you do of having a jam when caught in a blow. I had a Catalina 30 with a 150 which is quite a large sail for one (old) person to handle. I have had it furled down to about a 100 and it still performed great, contrary to everything that i have read about furling a jib. Anything that will make sailing easier will also get you on the water more often. Good luck in whatever you decide.
