Single handing the boat without roller furling

Justin_NSA · Dec 10, 2018

Not me personally, but several members use a hank-on genoa. If performance is your thing, listen to him. You can set up a down haul to dowse it. Plus you have the option of using different sails.

JRT · Dec 10, 2018

I managed to single hand my O'day 25 for the first time with hank on sails. I can see the advantage, but I like the simple and easier setup I have. I need to add the downhaul before the next time but that should be pretty easy.

markwbird · Dec 10, 2018

Yes. I agree. The boat definitely sails better with the hank on jib and it is not difficult to drop the sail. I sailed my Hunter 25.5 with a hank on jib by myself all the time. Point the boat into the wind and pull the main in tight and drop the jib on the deck. You will need to go forward to pull it all the way down so you can roll it up in a quick bundle and throw a bungie across it if it is windy. Keeping the main locked in the center keeps the boat from wandering off course too much. It will zig zag, tacking one way then another. No big deal. It also helps to run webbing around the bow pulpit so the sail can be bundled up front without falling off the front of the boat when it is down on the deck. AND, you can by a groovy sail bag that fits around the head sail while its rolled up on deck that will fit over it without having to take it off the headstay.

sroberts · Dec 10, 2018

I sail single handed often, my boat has hank on 110, 135, 155 sails. I love the simple elegance of the hank-on sails, and how the sails are weighted and cut properly for their size. But they are anything but convenient. For that you can't beat roller furling. Folding my headsails takes much longer than I think it should, and I have only a short walk to a lawn for the folding. Nice to hear others have done it effectively on the boat, that does not work for me. My 155 is kind of worn so I use that as an excuse to give it a coarse roll and stuff it in the cabin.

Where I sail wind conditions vary - often I will have changed sails at least once. Changing the sail underway is not difficult, a downhaul is easy to rig and helps in heavy wind.

When racing a hank-on can be an advantage, especially upwind. But if wind conditions change much during a race, the furler allows the headsail area to be adjusted, so it can be an advantage. Normally when racing you will not be single-handed so convenience is less a factor.

I plan to add a furler to my boat at some point, probably in a couple of years when I'll be ready for a new headsail. I'm really looking forward to have the headsail stowed without leaving the cockpit.

Steve

jssailem · Dec 10, 2018

letlmt said:
I called the sail maker directly and he strongly recommended that I stay with a furler if I will be single handing most of the time.

It is confusing isn't it. That is because you are asking a question that is opinion. Everyone has one and seldom will they be the same. On a small boat (like the Capri 22) I like hank on sails. The racing plan will mean optimum sail trim. Growing up in small boats and hank on sails I was accustomed to the sail changes and solo sailing. If you are seeking less then optium sail trim and are seeking more convenience you might like the furler better. Bear in mind with the furler you will still want to protect your sails (especially ones that you might use for racing) by removing the sail from the furler when the boat will be sitting for a week or two. So no savings in regard to not having to fold the sail in port.

Then of course there is the time when you are just feeling lazy and you wind the sail up on the furler and head home for dinner. The furler comes in handy. The sail will be wrapped up neat, not laying on the deck or stuffed in the boat at the bottom companionway damp.

FDL S2 · Dec 10, 2018

I singlehand a lot and have a hank on jib. I have never owned a boat with a furling jib but have sailed on many boats with it.

I like that I can switch between a working jib a 125% a 150% or a storm jib and keep optimum sail shape with each sail. All my control lines lead to the cockpit and I have a downhaul which allows me to not have to go forward to dowse the jib, the downhaul also will hold the sail on the deck with sheets pulled tight so it doesn't flap around too much when it's really windy.

I can swap jibs in less than 6 minutes (I've timed it) here's my process: First off when I roll up a jib and bag it I make sure the hanks and tack are at the top of the bag.I also have the jibs I'm not currently using in the v berth under the forward hatch and I put the boat close to wind. I set my tiller and drop the jib pulling on the windward sheet to center the jib. When it's down I tighten the jib sheets, then I go through the cabin and grab the bag for the current jib and the new jib as I go up through the hatch. When I get on deck I untie the bowlines from the jib and roll it forward, I unhook the halyard and downhaul, take the hanks off the forestay, put the jib in its bag and grab the new jib from its bag. Attach the tack, hanks, halyard, and downhaul then I roll out the sail and tie the sheets on. I go back through the cabin bringing the bag and old jib with me. Back in the cockpit I hoist the jib and trim it.

With a furler, you don't have to do any of that-just roll it in or out- but you don't get the optimum sail shape you get with hank on jibs. I'm not going to convert my current boat to a furler, but when I'm searching for my next (bigger) boat it will definitely be a plus if not a must have.

jon hansen · Dec 10, 2018

59 years and never needed a roller furling system. it is slower while sailing. it is quicker when dousing the sail. whats more important. sailing or dousing? me, i'm a sailor. if it is going to be blowing hard, add a downhaul to the head of the sail. easy peezey. it's how i was trained, it' what i know. sheet in the main hard. leave the helm neutral. dump the jib, the boat weather vanes endlessly into the wind while you secure the jib. it's easy and quick.
the roller reefer is quicker, BUT the system adds windage that = drag, that equates to slightly less performance under sail. it's all choices. me, i always choose performance on my vessels.

davits, lazy jacks, bimini, dodger, windless, roller reefer, radar......... all add a little drag. each just a little. together, well it all adds up. just saying, i'm old school , i'm old, set in my ways. life is choices. do what makes you happy, not what makes me happy. that said, it's easy to do what i do.

FDL S2 · Dec 10, 2018

jon hansen said:
that said, it's easy to do what i do.

Jon, in nine words you summed up exactly what I was trying to get across in my overly long post! Thank you.

Will Gilmore · Dec 11, 2018

I've sailed with both and don't understand why the roller furling jib is considered less efficient for shape? It seems to me, most coastal cruising is done with the chosen jib fully unfurled and a roller furled jib can be cut to the same optimum shape as a hank on. If you have to roll it part way in, then yes, of course the shape is no longer optimal. For a cruiser, that's not what's important under the conditions one might sail with a reefed jib. Changing out headsails is another disadvantage for roller furling. For serious long range cruising and ocean crossing, it's good to keep a range of sails and maybe a second forestay is as good an option as any. The roller furler is very convenient. I'm a fan, but I understand the player's choice.
For racing, that's a whole different heads'l space.

However, since you're specifically asking about opinions and experience for a Cat22, if you're interested in single hand cruising and still be competitive racing, own both rigs and swap the roller furler out for the hank on forestay when you want to race. It shouldn't be any inconvenience to change forestays on a Cat22.

-Will (Dragonfly)

odj22sailor · Dec 11, 2018

Less efficient comes from the headstay being to stiff. Roller furlers tend to stay straight and not sag in light air. Thus the sail is very flat. Sailmakers design the sails to have a certain amount of sag in the headstay, generally, sag would be around 4-6''.

Will Gilmore · Dec 11, 2018

Interesting. I'll read up on that. Thanks for the response.

-Will (Dragonfly)

mm2347 · Dec 16, 2018

The size of the sail that has to be handled is a factor. For me anything over about 200 sq ft becomes a handful to handle. A 22 ft boat usually has sails under this size and I would not compromise performance, possible mech. problems, or cost of going w/ a roller furler.

thinwater · Dec 16, 2018

I've been happy with which ever the boat comes with. Both have advantages. I doubt I would ever spend the money to switch on a new-to-me boat. Roller furling is nice, but won't make much difference on a 22.

jssailem · Dec 16, 2018

Most sails come with a bag. You can lash the bag to the foredeck or bow pulpit with line. Leave the bag top untied. You can stuff the sail into the bag with 3 sail ends at the top. The sail luff hanked on to the forestay. The sail head attached to the halyard. The tack attached to the deck and the clew attached to the sheets. When ready to fly the sail you haul it out of the bag and away you go. When you take the sail down you stuff the sail bulk into the bag.

Sail bag sits ready for action.