Has anyone retro-fitted the Harken battcar system? I am thinking of converting my 2004 H33 with the AA CB system. It seem the cheapest, fastest and most efficient way for raising, lowering and reefing the main at all points of sail, without the problems and great expense of furlers.
Taming the Main
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How Much?
Just out of curiousity how much do you suppose the system will cost including having a fully battened sail made?
Just out of curiousity how much do you suppose the system will cost including having a fully battened sail made?
Not Cheap
My H33 came with a fully battened main so am only concerned with the hardware cost of around $1800. Am also now loking at the Ronstan system which may be cheaper. The cost is certainly cheaper than a boom furler at around $9k.
My H33 came with a fully battened main so am only concerned with the hardware cost of around $1800. Am also now loking at the Ronstan system which may be cheaper. The cost is certainly cheaper than a boom furler at around $9k.
Please explain,
...just how difficult is it to raise and lower your main? and how will the Harken system help? Raising the main on my boat (P = 44') is so easy a 12 year old girl does it, and dropping is just a matter of releasing the halyard and controlling the drop with your foot. I don't see the need for Battcars (and the expense).
...just how difficult is it to raise and lower your main? and how will the Harken system help? Raising the main on my boat (P = 44') is so easy a 12 year old girl does it, and dropping is just a matter of releasing the halyard and controlling the drop with your foot. I don't see the need for Battcars (and the expense).
they work great,
I deliver sailboats. I have used several of these systems and they really do reduce friction and make the sail easy to raise and lower. i dont think they make it much easier to fold the sail, but they do a great job. My 50 foot mast is a pain in the butt to get up, i wish i could afford to do them on mine.
I deliver sailboats. I have used several of these systems and they really do reduce friction and make the sail easy to raise and lower. i dont think they make it much easier to fold the sail, but they do a great job. My 50 foot mast is a pain in the butt to get up, i wish i could afford to do them on mine.
ed
It sounds like you have an excessive amount of friction in your sail raising system. You could put the Harken system on your boat and spend a ton of money doing it, or you could reduce the friction with some minimal expense and accomplish the same thing. I have read time and again how sailors have difficulty with this operation and are willing to spend huge amounts of money to try fix it or ignore and suffer needlessly.
It sounds like you have an excessive amount of friction in your sail raising system. You could put the Harken system on your boat and spend a ton of money doing it, or you could reduce the friction with some minimal expense and accomplish the same thing. I have read time and again how sailors have difficulty with this operation and are willing to spend huge amounts of money to try fix it or ignore and suffer needlessly.
My Daughter is 37 !
Ed, I guess it depends on how you use your boat. I'll give you an example. A couple of weeks back we crossed the line in 15 knots which quickly rose to 25 knots and by the time we headed into the wind and reefed we were at the back of the fleet. Then on the run home when we wanted to shake the reef out, the pressure on the main made it impossible to winch it up. When cruising with the Admiral the ability to put the sail quickly where you want it, without all the bucking and rolling and noise associated with heading into the wind will mean I don't have to go out whimp-like with a couple of unnecessary reefs.
Ed, I guess it depends on how you use your boat. I'll give you an example. A couple of weeks back we crossed the line in 15 knots which quickly rose to 25 knots and by the time we headed into the wind and reefed we were at the back of the fleet. Then on the run home when we wanted to shake the reef out, the pressure on the main made it impossible to winch it up. When cruising with the Admiral the ability to put the sail quickly where you want it, without all the bucking and rolling and noise associated with heading into the wind will mean I don't have to go out whimp-like with a couple of unnecessary reefs.
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