MacGregorSailors.com

Hi All,

Just purchased a 1999 26x which needs quite a few repairs. I was told I can use a harken small boat furler and bought the #435. Now that I am looking at it, I see that it is only good for dinghies up to 20'. I don't want to pour too much money into it, and don't think I will be reefing the jib much, but want to make sure that it will work / is safe. Does anyone have experience with this?

Also, looking for a used jib if anyone has one for a reasonable price.

Thanks!

I also bought a similar furler BUT only to set up a second jib so its not the main front stay!!!Not sure the furler you have is robust enough for a Mac

Well it would be on its own wire luff...

I was going by how my furler works...its actually part of the front stay

For the sail you want to use- will the roller spool take enough turns of the line (and still fully furl the sail) without being overfilled with line and binding? That might be one limiting factor to check.

My experience over 10 years of sailing my 26X is that you DO want to be able to furl the jib fairly routinely. It is the easiest way to decrease the angle of heel when the wind gusts or picks up suddenly. Furling the jib is a lot easier than putting a reef in the main. And, if you have just the one headsail, as I do, you will want everything associated with the forestay to be solid and strong. If I were trying to keep costs low (and I think that includes most fo us), I would look elsewhere for the savings.

Agreed, although this has the larger drum of the small boat furlers.

I was more worried about the load limitations. According to the website, these furlers can only take 950 lb of working load.

That furler is for furling only u r not meant to reef with it is either all out or all furled in & the forestay has to be seized into the head sail which has to be done by a sailing loft its ok if u r fitting it to a smaller storm sail but u still have to get the forestay seized into it by a sail loft & thats more more $$$

J

The only thing I'd worry about is the load capacity of the furler. Even using your existing forestay and assuming they are even compatible? Another option would be to leave the existing forestay and run the smaller furler as a second headsail. Might not sail exceptionally well, but just a good excuse to get new cloth and have a cutter rigged boat.

Thank you for the replies. I was looking to use it for 100% jib. I was under the impression that the it would be on its own wire (which I have already arranged for), but will not need to be seized into the existing forestay.

That furler might be the ticket for furling a chute or a genaker but a poor choice for a Mac 26.

Bob

Welcome aboard.

Thank you for the replies. I was looking to use it for 100% jib. I was under the impression that the it would be on its own wire (which I have already arranged for), but will not need to be seized into the existing forestay.

I have looked at that furler on and off too for using as a cutter rig. I think highlander has used that furler before if I remember right. I think what he is trying explain is you would need the standard wire forestay for the mast for support, like with a hank on jib, then this furler right behind it with a jib that has a wire luff sewn into the sail.

The sail for this furler needs a sewn in tensioned wire luff to keep shape, but it is not your structural wire holding up the mast. The CDI furler has a plastic luff extrusion for sail shape and a wire forestay for mast support, this uses one wire for sail shape, and another in front of it for mast support.

As long as the furler drum can hold enough line you should be OK. The working load of 950lbs sounds adequate.

Actually that furler with the seized in wire can be ur forestay , but its strictly furling no reefing its either in or out no in between as I said could be used as an inner forestay for a smaller jib or storm sail to cutter rig if u wished

J

I just purchased the Harken 436 max working load 2000# @ the T.O. Boat Show $399.00 it will go on the inner third forestay for my storm jib

J PS that now makes 5 furling systems on my boat

Highlander wrote:J PS that now makes 5 furling systems on my boat

Sounds like all you have to do at the ramp is unroll it and voila, instant sailboat.