ROLLER FURLING

[Fred Chadsey]

I have someone who wants to buy my boat but wants me to put a rooler furling system on it. Does anybody have same and whose product do you recommend ?

[tpf]

I put on a Harken Flex Furler several years ago. Performance has been very good overall. I had to purchase a new headsail that was cut to be able to roll up. I did it because I had two small kids at the time and it made it hard to get the family out for a sail because it was such a pain wrapping up the boat.

I selected the Harken unit because it used #5 Luff Tape which allowed me to use all of my existing sails if I tacked them to the deck for racing. The drum can also be removed to make it very similar the tuff luff that was originally installed. The flex furler is also nice because it is not as fragile when the mast is lowered.

The bad news is the flex furler is discontinued. They have the exact same furler available with a rigid aluminum furler.

[grandillusion]

tell the future new owner to get it theirself, and that way they get one they like; plus if they really want to buy it, that shouldn't matter much, it's just part of the new boat list of upgrades, I'm about 1/4 of the way through mine, good luck

[Gerry Connolly]

Go with Harken. Its the lightest and you can easily remove the drum. All your old sails will work. I had a 125% North roller genoa built for general purpose cruising and afternoon "take the people who don't know the 1st thing about sailing" out for a spin. My wife loves it and if she's happy.... I saved my old headstay and luff tape in case things get really serious.

[tpf]

There are a lot of decisions to be made with a furler and you are better off knocking off the cost than buying it and having all the headaches. The new owner will need to get educated and this is a good start.

If memory serves I paid about $800 for my furler.

[Bob Kirsten]

Fred,

I agree that the new owner should buy it. We bought the Harken 00, and it works great for cruising, but:
1. It's not cheap at about $850
2. I also had to replace the headstay, because the turnbuckle did not fit, so that was another $150.
3. I had to have an old 150% mylar genoa recut, which was only about another $75 bucks, but still more.
4. Then I had to add some blocks for the furling line.

The good thing about the harken 00 is that I can remove the drum and line, and drop the halyard car so that I can use my regular racing sails. They would not fit correclty over the top of the drum.

Will all the expense as a negative, I would add the positive, that for my frequent single handing, and just plunking around with my wife and I, it is great to have.

Hope this helps.

Bob Kirsten
DD Mau, #483