Hello, I am going to be a 2nd season sailor this spring, and have been working on my venture 22 over the winter. I am pretty old and not as quick any longer, so I was thinking of adding a prefeeder to my main sail. Does anyone have any experience they can share? Is it worth the effort or cost. Thanks for your help. Tom
Value of a Prefeeder
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Prefeed or not..
to prefeed... that is the question. I am relatively new to sailing and have a boat that came with a prefeeder (it looks like an earring or nose ring that you see those punks wearing around and is attached near the mast groove). I have an in-mast furler... and it is usless for my set up. Yet again... I am only up at the mast a couple of times a year. Looks like it is a $5 item. I would imagine if you had a specific prefeeder for your sail luff and mast type... and it was installed correctly... it might help some. Its pretty much a 2 man job regardless what you do... I think. You need to wait for more posts with some expertise. Rich
to prefeed... that is the question. I am relatively new to sailing and have a boat that came with a prefeeder (it looks like an earring or nose ring that you see those punks wearing around and is attached near the mast groove). I have an in-mast furler... and it is usless for my set up. Yet again... I am only up at the mast a couple of times a year. Looks like it is a $5 item. I would imagine if you had a specific prefeeder for your sail luff and mast type... and it was installed correctly... it might help some. Its pretty much a 2 man job regardless what you do... I think. You need to wait for more posts with some expertise. Rich
nice upgrade.....
...although I've seen the non roller type for under $10, the installation looks fairly easy on any type. Just lock it into the mast groove. I think you'll like the convenience, especially if you single hand a lot. http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d273000/e270807.asp
...although I've seen the non roller type for under $10, the installation looks fairly easy on any type. Just lock it into the mast groove. I think you'll like the convenience, especially if you single hand a lot. http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d273000/e270807.asp
Pre-feeder
I was able to purchase, at a very reasonable cost,a roller ball style prefeeder which I am planning on installing in the grove of my mailsail.I have a bad knee and I thought that this may help me in guiding my mainsail. Once I raise the mast in the spring the main sail stays on, cover by a sail cover when not in use. I used to have to goforward when raising to guide the rope into the groove. Maybe I can elimminate that trip somewhat. Thanks for both of your imput. Tom
I was able to purchase, at a very reasonable cost,a roller ball style prefeeder which I am planning on installing in the grove of my mailsail.I have a bad knee and I thought that this may help me in guiding my mainsail. Once I raise the mast in the spring the main sail stays on, cover by a sail cover when not in use. I used to have to goforward when raising to guide the rope into the groove. Maybe I can elimminate that trip somewhat. Thanks for both of your imput. Tom
Prefeeders
...are only needed for a bolt rope luff and then they are very effective at guiding the main through the slot. Same thing for the genoa. They need to be far enough below the slot to make them totally effective. If you don't have a bolt rope main it is totally useless.
...are only needed for a bolt rope luff and then they are very effective at guiding the main through the slot. Same thing for the genoa. They need to be far enough below the slot to make them totally effective. If you don't have a bolt rope main it is totally useless.
Why not add sail slugs?
They would cost less money, and you would be able to raise and lower the mainsail much easier. You could also add a sail stop in the slot of the mast to keep the slugs from falling out. A set of mast gates would be an another consideration. The total cost of all would be about the same as a prefeeder.
They would cost less money, and you would be able to raise and lower the mainsail much easier. You could also add a sail stop in the slot of the mast to keep the slugs from falling out. A set of mast gates would be an another consideration. The total cost of all would be about the same as a prefeeder.
the nice thing about a prefeeder...
...is that you don't have to make it sandwiches before you leave the dock. Nor do you have to buy it a beer back at the yacht club. They only seem expensive until you tally the cost in terms of the crew members being replaced.
...is that you don't have to make it sandwiches before you leave the dock. Nor do you have to buy it a beer back at the yacht club. They only seem expensive until you tally the cost in terms of the crew members being replaced.
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