MacGregorSailors.com

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread, especially in such detail. It really helped and I learned a lot from these inputs.

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Moe

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa wrote:Well, I have a bunch of comments on this one.

First, on Paul's pic...wow, that fairlead is really far back. Mine is much closer to the furler. However, maybe too close. I used to think that keeping some tension on the furling line while the sail was unfurling was a good idea, but then I noticed the line bunching up around the bottom of the drum..perhaps because the fairlead is too close, who knows. But once I stopped snubbing the line and just let it fly, it fills the drum just fine and does not jam...so, that is my new approach and it works great.

That was our dealers demo boat in FLA.

The first (dealer installed) fairlead on our boat was installed FURTHER back and higher (on the railing). Totally did not work. Hard to use, wrapped like crap, chaffed the line, etc.(OK...not going to b%tch about this screwup...I let it go).

I removed the first fairlead and installed a deck mounted fairlead about half the distance from the railing to the roller. Following the directions with the furler...works like a charm now. rolls perfectly now.

Paul

I don't remember which way mine rotates, but the fairlead is pretty close and the line goes to starboard. It does slightly interfere with the anchor locker and the front hatch. Re-routing around the aft part of the pulpit might fix that. I'll have to look into it. I agree that the first fairlead should have the stainless insert. Mine is plastic and the line has worn a groove in it. Instead of additional bullseye fairleads, I just ran the line through the braces at the bottom of two of the stantions. Works like a dream, no winching necessary.

Mine was set up with a clamcleat, but a small rope clutch would be better.

Other considerations you might be interested in, would be the plastic ball bearing upgrade to the furler available from CDI.

Also, you might consider a sock instead of sewn on sunbrella. My genoa has the sewn on UV strip and the jib doesn't. My boat also came with a sock that you hoist up with the unused jib halyard. I bought my boat used and this is how it came set up. It's really backwards though. Since the ginny is the sail I use most of the time, the relatively heavy canvas can sort of collapse it in really light air. Some people use sacrificial sail cloth instead of canvas to reduce weight. I don't know how often it would need to be replaced. A sewn on strip shouldn't affect a jib as much. The sock is not hard to use and really comes in handy to better protect the sail (even with sewn on canvas) when trailering.

Alan