New Furler

[yukonbob]

Thinking about upgrading the headsail furler this winter. From what I've very breifly looked at its between 500-1200 bucks for something new. Any thoughts on products ect. Just throwing around ideas about what to do this winter. It's either a new furler or a new sh~t er

[mastreb]

Furl or poo, furl or poo. Huh. I see your conundrum.

What's wrong with your current furler? Is it broken or are you looking for some capability you don't have now?

I've got the factory (non-CDI) furler, and I rather like it. It's simple enough to look at an understand and fix, and I like the open spool. The new heavier 6oz headsail is a lot more work to get started furling, but it spools up faster than the 4oz sail once you get it moving (and looks way better both furled and unfurled).

Matt

[yukonbob]

Maybe the new sail is the problem. It has been harder to furl than the old stock. I'm not looking for anything fancy, maybe smoother operation, a little beefier. I have the stock CDI ff2

[mastreb]

When I say it's a lot more work to furl the 6oz, I mean I can barely get it started. The heavier sail is part of it and the luff pads are part of it. Once it moves, it's got inertia though and rolls up much faster, so it's more like a "ripcord" than the long-haul that the 4oz genny was. I really like the new sail's performance though so I wouldn't go back just for easier rolling

So yeah, I bet it's the new sail. The fix would be a larger diameter spool.

The problem with a beefier furler is that the spool-end is going to be larger, therefore longer, therefore a lot of work to move the hound up on the mast. I'd put up with a lot before I'd do that work.

You could put the furler line on the port winch to get it started and then haul it by hand once it's rotated a turn. Seems to be real resistance to getting that first turn done with the new genny.

[yukonbob]

I've been a little worried about the furling line snapping; its pretty worn and is on the winter list. Thanks for the info. At least I have most of the winter to think about it.

[bscott]

Check out Schaefer Snap Furl 700--larger drum and more line capacity(heavier line), conventional jib halyard. 4th year with 6 oz dacron 110 jib on my X. Excellent sale shape to 50% Requires 5/32" forestay. www.furling.com/snapfurl

Bob

[mastreb]

I've been a little worried about the furling line snapping; its pretty worn and is on the winter list. Thanks for the info. At least I have most of the winter to think about it.

Yep, I'm afrayed as well.

[yukonbob]

Check out Schaefer Snap Furl 700--larger drum and more line capacity(heavier line), conventional jib halyard. 4th year with 6 oz dacron 110 jib on my X. Excellent sale shape to 50% Requires 5/32" forestay. http://www.furling.com/snapfurl

Bob

Thats the one I've been eyeing up. Already have the heavier forestay. Easy install? Worked with sails?

[Catigale]

After 10 years of sailing I've gone to hanks. Cost of a furler is more than a new hank on sail. I'm putting on haul downs on my jib to allow handling from cockpit for convenience. Around the Cape, pointing is king.

With Roger closing the factory The support from CDI in NY is as important as ever. I have a Schaefer snapfurl on the Harpoon 62 ...nice kit but pricey.

[bscott]

Check out Schaefer Snap Furl 700--larger drum and more line capacity(heavier line), conventional jib halyard. 4th year with 6 oz dacron 110 jib on my X. Excellent sale shape to 50% Requires 5/32" forestay. http://www.furling.com/snapfurl

Bob

Thats the one I've been eyeing up. Already have the heavier forestay. Easy install? Worked with sails?

Extremely simple with their turnbuckle set-up--go to their install PDF. Never fouled a line or had any trouble reefing, even on a beam reach. Conventional jib halyard is a major plus. I sold my CDI on this site so the upgrade cost was tollerable.

Bob

[reastmure]

I have a Schaefer Snap Furl 500. It is smaller then the 700 but i think the 700 looks bulky and over kill on these boats. I think the literature may say the 500 is good up to something like 25ft but I was told the manufacturer says they are fine for the M26. The 500 has worked beautifully for this first season. Very smooth operation and flawless rolling in my Hyde Challenge 7.3 100%.
They are less expensive than the 700 as well.

[yukonbob]

Good to know Reastmure. They are almost half the price.

[bscott]

CF 500, sailmaker rerquirement, light duty #5 luff tape, 1/8 (X-M) to 3/16 forestay.
CF 700 requires #6 luff tape, 5/32 forestay.

Judy B was (is) trying to get Schaefer to supply the CF 500 with #6 as that is the tape Mac, and most other manufacturers, uses on their sails for a 26' boat--lot of discussion about this here. If heavy duty is needed the CF700 is the best choice especially if you have already gone to a 5/32 forestay.

Bob

[yukonbob]

Good to know about the 500. I like having the heavier forestay, good peace of mind in heavy weather. It's really too bad those continuous line furlers are so dam expensive, great idea.

[tek]

Just another one to look at, I've had first hand experience with both the Factory furler and the Harken 00AL on my .

I started out with the factory furler (not the CDI), but didn't like not having a turnbuckle to adjust tension. (Dealer told me to 'sweep the mast back' using the shroud adjusters ) Along with new standing rigging with turnbuckles, swapped out the furler for a Harken 00AL.

So far I've been quite happy with it and no alteration to my existing sails was required. It has dual slots on the same side of the furler if you want the ability for fast sail swaps (factory had them, but slots were on opposite sides). It also has a mostly open drum, which I prefer because you can see the line, rinse saltwater out of it, etc. It also uses a halyard swivel that slides up and down to raise the sail. I'm in the habit of putting my sails back in their sailbags, some of the features might not be as useful to someone who keeps their sails on the furler.

Price is a bit higher than your given range, but I was able to work out a package deal with some additional rigging I needed, so could probably find it at the upper end of your range.