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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Amateurish Roller Furler

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C25Guy
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/28/2008 : 11:18:20

Hi all,
I wanted to consult with the group about the roller furler that came with my 25. It is an odd unit, and I can't decide what to do with it as it gives me fits.

As you can see, it's mounted just behind the forestay. The sail has a cable running through its tack that takes its halyard tension. This ends up dividing the headstay tension between the forestay and sail's internal cable, so the sail gets some extra sag when going to windward.

Also, the forestay will often wrap around the sail when rolling and unrolling it, especially if the boat isn't going into the wind. Partially reefing is also not an option, as the furler only rolls the bottom of the sail and it just relies on the twisting to get the whole thing rolled up. The thing flogs like crazy if partially reefed and it also does in higher breezes. Here you can see the forestay running just in front of the sail.

Anyone ever see a system like this? I definitely like the furler when anchoring, as a doused jib would conflict with the anchor locker. Other than that, I don't know if it matters to me whether or not I have a furler. Do you think this setup is worth anything if I tried to sell it and get something a little less amateurish? Is anyone going to want to buy a sail that is made with a cable running through it? I don't want to break the bank because the boat works, it's just a little inconvienient and the boat doesn't point as high as it could.

Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

Alan
"Maggie Mae"
C-25 #2815 SR/SK

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 11:36:59

As a dedicated hank-on guy, I like the simplicity of my jib, even when at anchor, I don't think the anchor locker is ever in the way. I bungy or sail-bag my jib to the top of the bow pulpit.

Can you remove your sail and take it to a loft and get them to retrofit it so that it will work with a Harken or CDI or more standard furler? Your most cost effective solution might be replacing the furler unit. I've had good success with sail repair. If you can identify the make of your sail, that might be the best loft to check with for modifying to a different furler.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 11:50:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by C25Guy

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Toss it. Your forestay is connected to the place a sail tack attaches, it should be connected to the tang sticking up at the front of the bowstem fitting. The furler is similar to what Jim had out in fleet7, he tossed it. I have seen them on daysailers and cats but cannot believe they are an appropriate design for our boats. God knows what is backing it up in the anchor locker, I hope it is big! You could cut it down and turn your boat into a cutter!
Bottom line someone did not do the right thing when getting a furler and now you have it.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 12:54:18

Why don't those pics look right?
The furling line passes through a bullseye that looks like its floating in mid air and in the 2nd pic I don't see any lower shrouds - does the C25 not have any lowers? Gotta love the way a camera never lies!

Oh! Duh! is it a Capri?

Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 04/28/2008 12:55:09

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 13:12:28

Could that be some type of light wind sail on a furler similar to a code0? May be designed to be removed when flying the jib? The fairlead looks to be attached to the bottom of the furling drum. Did the boat come with another headsail? Like Frank Hopper said, your forestay is not connected correctly.

Edited by - on

C25Guy
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 13:41:45

Good suggestions so far. I didn't think about trying to keep this sail and getting in to work with a real furler. As for a brand name on this, no there aren't any brand names anywhere, as if there were, I'd have someone to blame for this!

The boat is not a Capri. The lowers are there but the stbd is obscured by the furled sail. And no, that fairlead is not floating in space! But with this sail setup, I don't blame anyone for thinking I'd been sailing around with no lowers for the last 3 years. I still can't believe it hasn't torn out of the deck! No other sails came with the boat.

And yes Frank, I have actually thought about turning it into a cutter as well, but you know the saying: Mo sails, mo problems. And as for the correct location for the forestay to mount, I always wondered why my toggle protector had that hole in it!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 16:56:59

"toggle protector"

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 20:09:23

I have to side with Davy J, it looks and sounds like a light air furler. They are designed to roll up tight on the wire so you can have compact stowage or even hank on a jib without removing it. They are also all in or all out, no reefing. Certainly wouldn't fit my needs.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2008 : 12:33:56

If you don't want it I'll take off your hands. I've been looking for a furler like this for my asymetric spinnaker. I'd prefer a continuous line furler but this will work fine.

Edited by - aeckhart on 04/29/2008 12:34:58

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2008 : 16:39:11

I sold mine and went with hank on sails. It works OK if you tension the furler halyard when the sail is up and slack it a few inches when you wind and un-wind, although it sags when upwind sailing. Not ever can this design be used to reef the sails.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2008 : 12:38:59

I repeat. If you don't want it, let me know. My email address is in my sig/bio. It's not exactly what I want but very close and beats the $1800 to $2400 it would take to buy a new one for my asymetric spinnaker.

Edited by - on

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