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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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To furl or not to furl?

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CatalinaGuy
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/03/2003 : 18:00:26

So, I totally destroyed my CDI furler when I lowered the mast. The unit was about 10 years old and on it's last legs anyway. So now I'm trying to decide whether to replace the furler or use a hanked on jib.

Furler pros:
- Easier when shorthanded
- Can quickly reduce sail

Furler cons:
- Not a very efficient sail shape for performance
- Kind of hassle to maintain
- Hard to get the lead angles dialed in
- Expensive

Any thoughts from the group on whether the furling system is worth it? It's been a long time since I sailed without a furler, so perhaps I'm just forgetting what a hassle it is without one.

Doug Hibberd, 'Shiraz'
C25 SK/SR 1983
Austin, TX

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 18:14:37

Doug, my personal opinion is, if you are a racer go with a hanked-on jib (or even better, a head foil and luff tape). If a cruiser, then a roller furler has more pros than cons <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 18:46:39

Schaeffer is coming out with a new flexible furler made for larger trailerable boats like ours. It will have a larger foil section, and be able to handle a #6 bolt rope, which is standard.

It is due out any time now.

Catalina Direct will be handling them. I already talked with Lindsey about it and let her know what her competition is charging. I saw it listed with Rigging Only for about 750.

Of course Catalina Direct will put together a kit with all you need. I'll wait on them, and also to catch my breath after all of my new boat/motor/trailer expenses.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 19:39:59

I think Derek summed it up quite nicely. If you plan on racing, go with the hanks, for anything else go with roller furling.

Do you still have the roller furling headsail? If so, then it might not be that expensive to go back with roller furling since you already have the sail. What happened to the old furling unit? Can it be repaired? Parts replaced?

"It's been a long time since I sailed without a furler, so perhaps I'm just forgetting what a hassle it is without one."

You know what's funny?...When I didn't have a furler, people with furlers would say, "Why do you hassle with hanked on sails when it is so much easier with roller furling?" to which I would reply, "What's so hard about hanked on sails". I thought that furling was for old, lazy people with money to burn and that a real sailor wouldn't have one. I thought nothing of going forward in some weather with a wildly pitching deck to change headsails. This to me was fun and what I thought sailing was all about.

Well, that all changed the first time I used roller furling. I finally got what others had been saying to me for so long. No more hanking on a sail at the slip, then getting out on the open water only to discover I have the wrong sail up. No more wrestling the big genoa on a heaving, wet deck(I actually thought that used to be fun?!) especially while singlehanding. No more wet sails below decks. The forward berth is now used as an actual berth, instead of a sail locker.

There are probably a few more things I'm forgetting, but you get the idea. I've become one of those old lazy sailors who ask, "Why do you hassle with hanked on sails when it is so much easier with roller furling?" <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 21:24:58

I love my furler, and older I get the more I love it. But why not try using your current sail as a hanked on sail with a downhaul to the cockpit and some netting on your foredaeck to keep the lowered sail out of the water. It would be a cheap experiment. There are some (fewer) sailors who really prefer a hanked sail, although aware of the benefits of the rollers. You might turn out to be one. As advised, think ahead and be careful up there, godspeed Ron srsk 1981 Orion SW FL

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 22:33:46

What part of the CDI furler got destroyed (extrusion)? CDI carries many parts (including the extrusion), and rebuilding what you already own may be a much cheaper way to stay in the furling game -- if you are primarily a cruiser.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 22:41:01

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
...rebuilding what you already own may be a much cheaper way to stay in the furling game -- if you are primarily a cruiser.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
...or primarily old like me. <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 23:41:53

Furl

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2003 : 01:00:53

My 2000 c250 came with a 135% CDI roller furling. Never had one before. I don't think it will be good for racing but I think it is great for cruising. I am glad to have the roller furling. Would not go back to hanks.

Bryan Beamer
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc23b3127cce9462f2858f2b0000001010" border=0>
Daylight Again
C250wk #495

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2003 : 11:39:31

Here's the link to the CDI "spare parts" page http://www.sailcdi.com/spmain.htm. With the shape of the extrusion, they make it pretty easy to identify your particular model.

My CDI furler is going on 20+ years and still going str...umm, well, at that age, at least it's still going. I tend to take it easy on the unit, like furling/reefing only after heading into the wind or by blanketing the jib with the main -- a small price to pay to continue receiving the benefits of roller furling without having to dig deep for a new one. However, with a fin keel boat which stays in the water year-round, I rarely have to take the unit down -- I can see how the requirements of trailer-sailing could be rough on the extrusion, especially an old one.

Edited by - RichardG on 03/04/2003 11:45:02

Edited by - on

CatalinaGuy
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2003 : 12:17:01

Good thoughts here, thanks folks. I'm thinking the furler is the way to go. The extrusion joints broke when the luff extrusion bent while lowering the mast to make some repairs. I checked with CDI and the extrusion joiners for this model are no longer available. The furling drum was also getting pretty stiff and part of the top drum flange had broken off, hence the decision to replace the unit.

Since I have a fairly new 150% Genoa for the furler, I think I'll replace the furling unit and reuse the sail.

Doug Hibberd, 'Shiraz'
C25 SK/SR 1983
Austin, TX

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 09:53:09

- Hard to get the lead angles dialed in

I have solved this problem on my boat by adding Twings... they are a line with a block on the end. The line is fed thru the jib car fairlead and back to a cleat with the jib sheet now running thru the new block. They do require a fairlead ahead of the winch to bring the sheet to proper winch angle.

The jib car is left forward. When the twing is hauled, it pulls the jib sheet angle down - when slackened, the jib sheet angle rises making adjusting easy while the jib is under load so that the proper angle can easily be dialed in.

When I first thought of using them, I'd never heard of them and really thought that the idea wouldn't work as the lazy side would foul. But, they work quite well (at least on the c250) and I've never had a fouling problem. They may be more suited for cruising compared to day sailing.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - arlyn stewart on 03/05/2003 09:55:52

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 19:09:52

I have had CDI Flexible Furlers on all three of the sailboats I've owned. Since 90% of my sailing is single-handed, the furler is a convenience I would not want to be without. Also, when I am sailing in narrow channels, for example the San Joaquin River or the American River south fork (behind Folsom Lake), the speed of the furler is really handy. These channels are only a couple hundred yards wide in places, and the ability to douse and stow the headsail in a few seconds, from the cockpit, is worth every penny I paid for the furler. Even my wife agrees!

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

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