We have sailed an Oday 20 (love it) for 1 season. Previously, all sailing was on daysailers with mate or solo. Oday has a 100% genoa with a masthead rig, and we keep the boat on a trailer when not in use. Since I often sail solo I am considering a roller furling rig for the jib. I have no experience with this type of setup, and have lots of dumbass questions. Does this make it more difficult to step and unstep the mast? I often do this solo, and on the water. Will I need a new genoa to work with the furler? Can I go for one of the cheaper rigs, or would it be wiser to uncork the cookie jar. Thanks for any input
Roller Furling
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small boat furlers
Schaefer makes several small boat furlers if you are interested only in furling and not reefing the sail. I had one on an 18 footer and it worked very nicely, and was not much trouble, since it was not part of the forestay, but attached just aft of the forestay on the stem fitting. The foresail must have a wire sewed into its luff in order to work properly - the sail then just furls around that wire. Mine had no protective cover, and I just furled it, coiled it in a figure 8, and stowed it below. I'm sure this system would work on your boat, but there would have to be enough room behind the fitting at the bottom of your forestay for the drum. Their "System 550" would be easily enough for your boat. There is a picture of it on the bottom of p. 1064 of the current West Marine catalogue, but shop around, as their prices are way up there - in some cases, double what they are somewhere else. You might give Defender a call - I don't see it listed in their catalogue, but their other Schaefer furler prices are reasonable.
Schaefer makes several small boat furlers if you are interested only in furling and not reefing the sail. I had one on an 18 footer and it worked very nicely, and was not much trouble, since it was not part of the forestay, but attached just aft of the forestay on the stem fitting. The foresail must have a wire sewed into its luff in order to work properly - the sail then just furls around that wire. Mine had no protective cover, and I just furled it, coiled it in a figure 8, and stowed it below. I'm sure this system would work on your boat, but there would have to be enough room behind the fitting at the bottom of your forestay for the drum. Their "System 550" would be easily enough for your boat. There is a picture of it on the bottom of p. 1064 of the current West Marine catalogue, but shop around, as their prices are way up there - in some cases, double what they are somewhere else. You might give Defender a call - I don't see it listed in their catalogue, but their other Schaefer furler prices are reasonable.
CDI
CDI Flexible Furler is an inexpensive, but very easy to use and reliable furler. The only draw back is that it can not be curled up or folded and stowed below. It must be tied along side the mast. Probably their number one would fit. but call them or check them out online. Good folks to do business with. They reallly do stand behind their product 110%.
CDI Flexible Furler is an inexpensive, but very easy to use and reliable furler. The only draw back is that it can not be curled up or folded and stowed below. It must be tied along side the mast. Probably their number one would fit. but call them or check them out online. Good folks to do business with. They reallly do stand behind their product 110%.
Furler
The CDI furler has been consistantly rated by a lot of sailing magizine as the best of the lot for smaller boats.We installed one on our Catalina 22.Live was good after that.It was just a little bit harder to step the mast.We have a CDI on our new boat and are looking forward to using it.
The CDI furler has been consistantly rated by a lot of sailing magizine as the best of the lot for smaller boats.We installed one on our Catalina 22.Live was good after that.It was just a little bit harder to step the mast.We have a CDI on our new boat and are looking forward to using it.
Reefing
I have been checking out some of the websites and am seeing quite a spread in price for different brands. $300 - $1000+. So far the CDI has my attention for the price and the ability to reef. It appears to mount around the forestay?? How does a sail attach to these units? Could my current sail be easily modified or would a new sail be in order? Thanks
I have been checking out some of the websites and am seeing quite a spread in price for different brands. $300 - $1000+. So far the CDI has my attention for the price and the ability to reef. It appears to mount around the forestay?? How does a sail attach to these units? Could my current sail be easily modified or would a new sail be in order? Thanks
sailmaker
A sailmaker could give you a price on making your present sail fit. I want to pass on that if your boat has stationary blocks for the jib sheets you might need to change some of your boat hardware too. You might not be able to use a 150 genoa if your blocks are stationary and set up for a 100 percent jib. good luck, jack
A sailmaker could give you a price on making your present sail fit. I want to pass on that if your boat has stationary blocks for the jib sheets you might need to change some of your boat hardware too. You might not be able to use a 150 genoa if your blocks are stationary and set up for a 100 percent jib. good luck, jack
Just want to add...
Both the CDI and Schaefer furling systems are avaiable from the chandlery of this site.
Both the CDI and Schaefer furling systems are avaiable from the chandlery of this site.
One more
Harken also makes a small boat furling kit, very similar to the Schaefer. These are both quite different in that they do not involve a foil that must go around the forestay. Thus they are easier to stow and set up. But again, they are not intended for reefing. BoatUS had them for $220 in the '04 catalogue. I sold an extra Schaefer kit I had on eBay for about $125 a few years ago.
Harken also makes a small boat furling kit, very similar to the Schaefer. These are both quite different in that they do not involve a foil that must go around the forestay. Thus they are easier to stow and set up. But again, they are not intended for reefing. BoatUS had them for $220 in the '04 catalogue. I sold an extra Schaefer kit I had on eBay for about $125 a few years ago.
CDI furler
The CDI furler has a plastic extrusion that goes over the forestay.The bottom of the forestay connects to your deck the exact same way as if you didn't have the furler.Where the CDI is a little bit differant is the extrusion has a slot for the genoa sail that had had a correctly sized tape put in and the hanks taken off.The top of the extrusion,has an arragement for an internal halyard.This keeps everything self contained in the unit itself.You can even install all of this without dropping the mast.
The CDI furler has a plastic extrusion that goes over the forestay.The bottom of the forestay connects to your deck the exact same way as if you didn't have the furler.Where the CDI is a little bit differant is the extrusion has a slot for the genoa sail that had had a correctly sized tape put in and the hanks taken off.The top of the extrusion,has an arragement for an internal halyard.This keeps everything self contained in the unit itself.You can even install all of this without dropping the mast.
I'm smarter now
at least about furling setups. I am pretty sold on the CDI rig. Reefable, inexpensive, simple and not difficult to step the mast (hopefully) Think I will spring for a fresh sail and do it right. Should be ready by the time the Great White North turns green. Thanks for the help
at least about furling setups. I am pretty sold on the CDI rig. Reefable, inexpensive, simple and not difficult to step the mast (hopefully) Think I will spring for a fresh sail and do it right. Should be ready by the time the Great White North turns green. Thanks for the help
Bob - why isn't the Schaefer intended for reefing?
Why do you say this? I was pretty sure Schaefer says it is intended for reefing when I bought mine a few years ago. ...RickM...
Why do you say this? I was pretty sure Schaefer says it is intended for reefing when I bought mine a few years ago. ...RickM...
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