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Harken Small Boat Furler

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irishsailor321
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/09/2012 : 18:35:27

Has any one used the Harken 436 furler??? I need to replace my old facnor and the Harken looks like a good, and much less expensive, alternative.

Aboard the sailing vessel ''Simple Pleasures'', Kerr Lake, NC

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irishsailor321
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 18:37:16

The 436 is the one that uses a wire luff rather than the forestay

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eguevara
Navigator

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USA
111 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2012 : 20:10:48

I've been staring at it too.. I need to do some more research on it.. so I'll be interested to see if anyone here has any real experience with it...

-eddy

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5378 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2012 : 00:20:55

On my 16 foot daysailor I have a Ronstan RF76 furler that uses a drum on the bow-chainplate and a spinning shackle on the halyard. The jib has a luff wire in it.

For a small daysailor it does a good job in several respects. It lives inside the forestay, but can get wrapped.
1. When the jib is unfurled, the sail shape is good. I have to keep a lot of tension on the jib halyard, but it takes all the sag out of the luff wire.
2. The sail furls pretty smoothly most of the time. Occasionally, the jib will bunch or wrap around the forestay if I'm not careful about keeping tension on the sheets when furling.

It's pretty useless for shortening sail. But I've only got a 100% jib, so I usually don't reef with the furler. On occasion, I have furled it down to the size of a "trisail" or stay sail, just to keep a little weather helm. It's fine for that.

I can't speak from experience for a larger boat, especially if you have a 135 of 150 genoa. But for my little boat, I find it extremely useful.

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irishsailor321
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2012 : 05:11:57

The Harken unit info says not to reef with it as it puts too much load on the overall system.....not quite sure about the physics....one would think with less sail surface the loads would be reduced.......I sail on a lake and will likely never have need to reef anyway.....in July and August we barely have wind, never mind a good blow.
The harken is about 1/3 the price of a 'standard' system.....attractive but performance will be the determining factor.

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irishsailor321
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2012 : 05:13:10

Voyager: appreciate your input......thanks

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.