roller-furling

3777 Aug 28, 2003

Greetings All,

In anticipation of the Appalachicola trip, I'm seriously considering replacing my old wire luff Schaefer furler. Any comments, recommendations, cautions or successes? Any and all input will be gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance,

Don Edgar, Windfall 64K, Cortez, FL

3778 Aug 28, 2003

I have been most satisfied with Profurl NC32, inshore and offshore including half of the perfect storm for over 24 hours, over the past 5 years. I have recently lost a stop screw (although I had taped it, but it popped through the tape, I would tape it with several thickness of duct tape, easy as it is below the groove)which resulted in hard furling and possibly damage to the bushing. The local rep is on a 2 week vacation in Alaska, but the Florida HQ have already sent me free replacements. I am about to order some spare bushings et al. just in case, as recommended by the rep when told the extrusion seemed to have come down a bit in the lowe sleeve. He will visit as soon as returned to his City Island home. I will report, but until then, no maintenance and no pain.

Bert dF, Pianissim o80K

3781 Aug 29, 2003

I agree with Bert, the Profurl NC32 is a fine unit. Had one on my last boat and sailed many miles without a problem. I plan to install one on Hooligan next month. I installed the Yanmar in Hooligan yesterday and I'm in the process of hooking up the exhaust, water, fuel, etc. Hope to hear it roar to life in the next few days.
Ed 040K

3783 Aug 28, 2003

Just completed installation of a Profurl LC32. Not having a lot of experience with roller furlers this may not help much but the research I've done, this unit seamed to always come out on top and to date I am really pleased with it
performance. As I was informed by their Rep., the difference between the NC and LC is the furling drum is a little bigger and longer (i.e., more) extrusions (which is a mute point for the SWII). The cost is a little more than the NC
model but I felt the larger drum was worth it. I installed it with the long link plates (removed 3 inches though) and I got to watch when raising my 35 lb. CQR. The anchor shank will make contact with the drum if I raise it over
the bowsprit to fast.

Rick, 003K

3784 Aug 29, 2003

Rick, I have wrapped my NC 32 drum with a simple adhesive foam strip of the soft pvc type, such as found in any hardware store or home depot. It gets a bit dingy with age and slightly cuffed, so may need to be changed every 4 or 5 years... but even if changed more often, it is very cheap and protective.

Bert dF

3785 Aug 29, 2003

Bert,

Thanks for the idea. I'll need to do something because I currently don't have a windlass and hauling up 45 feet of chain rode with the 35 lb. CQR attached doesn't leave me in the best of moods on a hot and humid day sometimes. I keep trying to tell my wife that on a boat we both should know how to perform and operate all things, but concerning this activity all I hear is I am SOL. Always worth a try.
Thanks
Rick, 003K

3789 Aug 31, 2003

Don,

Not having owned a system such as yours, why would you replace one that is working properly?

My furling system is an old Staystream #1 that is about 23 years old and works fine. On occasion I do have to replace the bearings which takes an afternoon, but other than that its a great system.

Have a Great Day!

Don Bundy

3799 Sep 2, 2003

Don, Bert, et al,
Thanks for all the input. It's certainly helping with the decision and it looks like the new furler will be rigged and ready to go before the 12th of Sept. I decided on the "purist" route last year when I acquired Windfall and purchased a new suit of sails with a hank on 135 and working jib, keeping the old wire luff sails from the Schaefer furler as spares. Well, as the desire for foredeck work dropped off and the desire for easier is better took over, (forget
purist...that's for young guys!) I started looking into an upgraded furling system that wouldn't have the sag and reduced windward ability that the Schaefer presented. After considering price, advice and utility, I've opted for the new Hood 707, reconfiguring the 135 genoa and Goodbye hanks.

Looking forward to hooking up either at Anclote or in Appalachicola, depending on time off from the office. I don't think I'll be able to take the time to gunkhole up the coast to Appalachicola but more likely will make a straight shot
from Anclote Key.

Thanks again to all,

Regards,
Don Edgar, Windfall 64K, Cortez, FL

4655 Apr 5, 2004

Does anyone have any experience with CDI Flexible Furlers?

Mac #45K Odorilla

4675 Apr 9, 2004

The Feb 1, 2004 issue of Practical Sailor (vol 30, num 3), currently on sale at WestMarine, had a review of several furler's. As reviews go, this one was of poor quality, though it did give some satisfactory feedback on CDI's products (priced at about $650 for boats our size).

The more interesting part was they threw in a name of a new furling system by spin-tec (http://www.spin-tec.com/).

It looks very appealing.

4676 Apr 9, 2004

I had a CDI furler on a previous boat, much smaller Bristol 22, and I can't begin to list the complaints. I would not go down that road again.

Rip McEldowney, "Paikea" #96

4677 Apr 10, 2004

I had my ancient and almost defunct Profurl, which was beyond repair replaced by a Furlex = Selden 200 in 1997.

Price $2000.- BUT this included all parts necessary, complete installation and the adapt ions necessary for the sails eg new luff. I had the thing Really ready to go. that was done in Trinidad by a Swede professional. I believe in the States you could get a substantial better price.

The Furler came with the necessary tools (so far not needed and even with a tube of grease (big deal!) It has functioned well since and allows me to reduce the jib at ANY wind (I have encountered so far) with bare hands and little effort.

I have experience with a Selden 300 on a 45' Sailing school yacht, working 30 weeks a year solid (and with the beginners most abrasively) for ten years before it sustained damage due to freezing.

I believe it is a good unit and recommend it.

Willy # 100 UNDENE

4681 Apr 10, 2004

We second Willy's endorsement of Furlex...we had it installed in 1996, it came with new forestay and at the time we had new sails made to it as well. The sail loft installed it, it has worked flawlessly since. We are able to reef down to 90% headsail with no loss of shape or performance. I believe that the Furlex portion ran around $1700. incl. installation. we had a minor part break, the service was exceptional. It gets my vote...

Sharon, Silver Spray 101K

6158 Sep 7, 2005

Alas, the end of the sailing season is fast approaching up here in the Northeast :( I have already begun to make my to do list for the winter. One of the items on my list is to replace one of the roller furlers. The previous owners had installed twin headstays and two roller furlers on Integrity. There is a Hood unit on the port side with a 120% genny and a Schaefer unit on the starboard side with a 150% genny. The top bearing unit on the Schaefer is seized and I am
thinking of replacing it and coverting the wire luff on the 150 genny. I am curious as to what other Seawind owners are using for gennys and furlers.

Regards,

Tony Torphy, Integrity, 126K

6159 Sep 7, 2005

Tony,

My boat came with a Harken and it's done alright so far.

James Self, Niko (91)

6160 Sep 7, 2005

Dear Tony: I have found Profurl N2 a good value back in 1998 for genoa furler. It does not need to be washed as it is sealed, and seems to hold for years.

Because my program is offshore cruising, I have a 130% genoa with high clew (to see under) on the furler, besides a hanked-on yankee (bagged in and stored on stbd side mainstay) or an 80 sqft storm jib (which would be bigger to 100sqft if I had to do it again), both on the flying forestay which is stored stbd side by the mainstay. My old 150%genoa is stored and not even aboard until I go offshore again and want everything onboard, as I have become used to see leeward under the rim of the genny.

Be well, Bert dF 80K

6162 Sep 8, 2005

My experience with twin headstays has not always been good but I do heartily suggest that if you have the older HOOD furler that it beats just about any unit I have sailed (that may be almost all of them) the drum bearings are fairly easy to replace and so is the upper swivel bearing. Having just done mine for the second time in 14 years I suggest that you insist on the factory sealed bearing ($35 each at a bearing supply house) and pack the entire case with fibrous wheel bearing grease before installing the headstay. Use the zerk grease fitting in the drum once or twice a year to "top off" the packing... Hose the drum with fresh water two or three time a season...

Hank on sails are far easier to change than furlers. In the Chesapeke, Long Island Sound and Delaware Bay light air sailing is normal summer fare and the 150% possibly your best asset. On my Southern Cross 31 I left the 150% hanked on in a bag at the base of the headstay and flew the 120% with a pendant that rose from the tack to just above the bow rail. Changing up was no more than a 5-minute job with the hanks. With the srare headstay (sans the troublesome old Schaeffer) your change is even faster.

Paul

6163 Sep 8, 2005

If you retain a furler and need to change sails, make sure you procure a luff guide, a stainless U shaped fitting with a ball at each end close enough to each other to grab the luff "nerve". You tie it (with a twine of easily adjusted length) at the foot of the furler so it improves the feeding of the luff into the furler gorge, by providing a lower entry guide with a smoother feeding entry (the balls), plus the fact that two wider angles are better than one sharper angle on the luff at the feeding point(s).

Bert dF, 80K

6164 Sep 8, 2005

In researching a solution to my own needs, I ran across a product from spin-tec (http://www.spin-tec.com). It sounds to be very well engineered. I have not come to the point of buying it, however, it represents my first choice for purchase sometimes next year (that is unless someone derails it with a better product).

Always looking for a better mouse trap,

6165 Sep 8, 2005

A nubmer of years ago we put a Furlex on Silver Spray and had a 150 built. At that time, we knew we would not be doing any offshore passages for a while, but we also had the old (hardly used) working jib recut to work on the furler. We also had the new sail cut and built so that it can be roller furler to 90% without damage. After 10 years of coastal cruising in the Northwest and S. Florida we are very happy with our Furlex. If however we decide to go offshore, we would probable reconvert to a standard hank on 100% sail. One of the benefits of the Furlex gear is that you get a whole new headstay. We had our installed by the sail maker - Lidgard-now Halsey Lidgard and would recommend them.

Sharon

Silver Spray

101K

6166 Sep 8, 2005

Sharon,

Thanks for your reply and the information. The reviews I have read rate the Furlex unit highly and strong enough for offshore work.

Bert,

Many thanks for your reply and the info on your Profurl unit and the suggestion about using a pre-feeder. The Profurl is also rated very highly and I have read that you can actually use the winch to haul in the reefing line to flatten the sail during a blow. Apparently it uses sealed truck bearings and is a very strong unit. By the way, how is Pianissimo and the new engine?

Paul,

The Hood unit I have is the Sea Furl and I'm not sure how old it is. It works fine even though the reefing line guard broke off and fell overboard. I would repair it but the parts would cost more than $500.00. I have used it this year without the guard and it works fine as long as you are careful when rolling in or out. Alas, more work to keep me busy over the winter.

James,

Practical Sailor reviewed roller furlers in their August 2004 issue and the Harken furlers were rated very highly for both quality and customer service by the professional riggers surveyed.

Thank you all for your replies.

Tony Torphy, Integrity, 126K

6168 Sep 9, 2005

I also have a Furlex and have been very happy with it--furls great in too much wind, etc. Mine was installed by Nance & Underwood in Ft. Lauderdale 4 years ago--no problems so far!

Darryl, Seawind II, #4

6341 Nov 18, 2005

I haven't seen any posts in amost 3 weeks - so I,m checking to see if the system still works.

Anyway, I have a bend in the aluminum extrusion tube for the roller furle, a casualty of hurricane Ivan. I removed the forestay, laid it on the dock, and have 2 brick supports at either end of the bow, and put weights on the apex of the bow. I intend to let the weight work over a 2-3 week period, and see if it works.

Has anyone used any other method that proved successful?

thanks,

Bob gruber, Summerwind #5

6342 Nov 18, 2005

Bob, Nothing to add to your solution, but the system must still work as I am reading and responding to you. What brand of roller furlling do you have?

George, Mandala 83

6343 Nov 19, 2005

Waiting for 2-3 weeks is counterproductive. You need to determine how far you have to bend the tube to make a permanent change in shape.

Make a template of the shape, trace it on the dock say. Stress it as you are and then compare it to the template. If it changes then that's good and continue. If not use more weight to bend it further in the direction desired. Continue to raise weight until a permanent change is observed compared to the template. Refine the positioning of the weights as the bend changes. This may involve distributing and changing the weights but monitor that changes are taking place.

No extended time interval under stress is needed.

Dave Fleming

6344 Nov 21, 2005

Thanks Dave,

My plan is to check it in a week, and if it's not corrected, use a piling as a fulcrum. It does have 2 - 8ft. 1x4's bolted on either side to keep it from twisting.

Bob gruber

6732 May 25, 2006

There was a round of emails recently about roller furling makes & models from which folks have had good
service. Not knowing then that I'd need that information now, I didn't save it. Seems I have to replace my forestay, and the furling system I have is an unknown brand and unknown age and can't be re-installed, says the rigger.

In the Knowledge Base, Profurl seems to get good reviews with the N32 model. Can anyone give me some
advice? I believe Bert, in particular, had Profurl experience.

Grey Hodges, Greyhavens 104k

6734 May 25, 2006

I think ours is an old Profurl P40, and has given faultless service, despite our abuse.

If there is one thing I don't like it is how hard it is to change sails onto the foil at sea, but I believe they are all the same there.

John

6735 May 25, 2006

Grey: Indeed I have had my Profurl N32 since 1996. The only thing to watch (and tape) is a couple of side screws at the bottom a few feet above deck that may pull out (did in St.Martin after the crossing from Cape Verde) if unattended too long. There is no need to rince the drum as the bearings are totally enclosed and tight. The antiwrap system is simple and effective. I furl and unfurl by hand at 71 years of age, may have to put the string on the jib sheet winch if it really blows before I roll it in, but it is so easy to furl that I generally do it on time and rarely have to resort to the winch at hand.

I have spent a year around the Atlantic working it in all conditions - from 65kts over 20 hours on the 40th parallel, - to 20 days on the 18th latitude in the Trades down wind, twinsailed with the hooked on yankee on the 2nd (flying) forestay, - to 4 months beam reach or close to (on the way up) in the Antilles in 20-35 trades, besides the ususal 5 to 50 kts (rare) one may encounter in the Long Island Sound.

Sometimes my conservative Nuckie mind tells me I could have gone for the next size up, but the value of N32 remains great, unless something new has come since to the market, with a well proven better value, but I have not heard about it.

Happy Sails and Be well, Bert dF 80K

6737 May 25, 2006

Good point John, for trouble free feeding in the foil, I suggest one of these horseshoe with two bearing balls (that racers use to feed their jibs) be permanently available at the end of a string of the right length, so one man can do it with his two hand on the halyard, but one eye on the feed in slot, ready to stop and intervene. Bert dF

6740 May 25, 2006

Bert,

I have a feeder but it doesn't have ball bearings, and I didn't know they existed, so thanks! I am going shopping for one.

Cheers,
John

6741 May 26, 2006

Sorry John for the words bearing ball, which described the shape of the extremities, but these balls are affixed and do not roll... I doubt you'll find one that features encased rolling balls. apologies for my lack of precision...

6742 May 26, 2006

Grey,

I've been researching furling systems for myself (a SW1) for about 1 year. I've intentionally stayed away from the name brands thinking that I'll get better value. I've come up with 2 candidates, as follows:

www.aladous.com

www.spin-tec.com

At $800, the aladous sounds great. If you get the chance to look at these products please let me know what you think of them, as it may influence my decision.

AK

6746 May 26, 2006

We installed a Furlex about 8 = 10 years ago, has worked flawlessly since. We oredered new sail so that it can be partially rolled up without creating undo stress or causing it to go out of shape. For my opinion I would go with known quanity such as Profurl or Furlex rather than off brand, any trouble will be easier to deal with them than smaller maker. Our Furlex came with a new head stay as part of the package. We ordered all through the sailmaker, he installed so there was no argument as to why something didn't work as advertised. I would buy Furlex again.

They are made in Sweden for N. Sea conditions.

Sharon, Silver Spray 101K

6750 May 28, 2006

Grey, I put a Profurl N32 on my boat and sailed over 30,000 miles before I had a problem with it. I sent the unit back to Profurl and they replaced the bearings and sent it back at no charge. I hate to recommend a product made in France but it is a good unit.
Ed Hart
Hooligan K40

6751 May 28, 2006

Ed: Any reason why you hate recommending French products? Wichard, Profurl, Plastimo are among the best values around. And are not the dames (too wild for my taste) racing around the world proof of such values? On the other hand, my experience with "proud" British products such as Sto-boom or Windhunter has been uniformly dismal, no matter how I benefit from the advice of salty British cruisers I meet.

So, thank you for recognizing one good French value around more than a few, but let's leave it at that, please...

Just joking. Be well, Bert de Frondeville, 80K

6752 May 28, 2006

No worries Bert,

I found them on the net with the rollers from Wichard and others. I didn't know they existed at all. I have been using Alison for this job instead, and I think these will mind getting wet less.

Cheers,
John