What Top-down Furler Do You Like?

[Jskosmo]

There are a ton of posts on top-down furling - have read them all : ) Am looking for what brand/model you use, if you like it, what you like or don't like about it, please. Will be for an asymmetrical spinnaker on a custom bowsprit - on a Beneteau 361.

I believe I've settled on the GX15. But am wondering what everyone is using, what you like / don't like about yours.

Thanks so much!

Jskosmo
Mighty B

 

[sail sfbay]

The Selden GX-15 looks like a quality top-down furler kit Selden GX15, Basic Pack (velasailingsupply.com).

The forum will be offering lots of great experience with their top-down furler. I will share CDI top-down furler key features: 1) friction free torlon ball bearing swivel creates a free running tack attachment point and 2) head swivel anti-rotation bar mitigates mast abrasion.

 

[BarryL]

HI,

I have a code0 and Selden GX top down furler. The boat and sail and both new to me and I've only used the code 0 a few times, always in light conditions. The furler has worked perfectly each time, which isn't a big surprise because, again, conditions were light. I found it very easy to unroll the sail and then to furl the sail. The first time I furled it I was pulling the line pulling the line pulling the line and I thought "Something must be wrong because it's sooo easy to pull the furling line, but nothing is happening." Then I looked up and 1/3 of the sail was already furled.

This isn't specific to Selden, but it is a bit of a project to set the sail. It takes two people to carry the sail on deck. Then you need to connect the furling unit to the sprit, run the furling lines aft, connect the block back by the cockpit, run the sheets, connect the halyard and then hoist the sail. You do need a lot of halyard to tension the torsion line. It's easy to unroll the sail, trim it, furl it, etc.

Barry

 

[Jskosmo]

Hey Barry - why the Code 0 (more for reaching) and not an Asymmetric (more for running)? I know this question is on 1000's of posts . . . but am wondering why you made your choice please.

 

[BarryL]

Hi,

For me it was a very easy choice - that's what the boat came with I bought this boat in the spring and it came with a lot of sails:
145% genoa
100 jib
self tacking headsail (smaller than 100%)
gale sale storm headsail
Asymmetric spinnaker in bag
Code 0 with selden top down furler
main

Since my boat is more of a cruiser than a racer I don't see using the assym (or code 0) very often. I did have the opportunity to fly the code 0 a few times and it worked very well. I was on a 3 day cruise w some friends over the summer. The wind was light, 10 true, from at around 120 apparent wind angle. Sailing with genoa and main was slow - under 5 kts. We hoisted the code 0 and then set it. We were able to sail over 20 miles at 6 kts and it was very easy and comfortable to do. Once we sailed past orient point we needed to tack and go upwind towards our destination (Shelter Island). At orient point it was super easy to furl the code 0 and unroll the genoa. We had a great beat to shelter island. Once on a mooring we dropped the furled code 0 into the bag and that was that.

Barry