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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

CDI furlers vs competition

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Kidless
1st Mate

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USA
26 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/10/2004 : 21:56:09

We will be putting a furling system on our boat for this summer season and I am doing my homework.
CDI ff4 seems to be good choice to me and the price seems cheep compared to sheafer snapfurl and others.
What do you think?
Thanks,

Dan & Pam Currier

Kidless
1983 C25,SK,SR,TRAD.
#3726
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/curriers/index.html

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2004 : 22:02:13

I recently installed the new Schaeffer CF-700 Maxi furl, which is flexible, and an Ullman 135. Works really nice. The furler drum is fromone of their heavier duty furlers. I was quite impressed with how smooth the bearings are. The Ullman sail looks like it could really take some wind. So far the biggest wind I have been in has been about 15 knots.
I'll let you know how it works in the Keys over the next 3 weeks.

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2004 : 23:26:41

I installed the CDI ff4 two years ago and have sailed two seasons with no problems. It is easy to rig and has furled without any jam-ups even in high wind situations.

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 00:07:57

We have had the CDI ff4 on our boat for 7 years and works perfectly. I think it is hard to beat for cost vs. return. I am not sure but I don't think the bearing model was available when we bought ours. It seems to work fine without the bearings. Recently we replaced the standing rigging and the CDI furler was easy to work with. After 7 years and 2 or 3 moves we had misplaced the instructions and quickly downloaded new instructions from the internet. Really could not be any happier with our investment. Be sure to have your jib properly cut for the furler and add luff foam to allow proper sail shape when furled. This will make all the difference in the world!

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 06:25:46

I have to support the cdi-ff4, I installed one on osmepneo a couple of years ago, and it works perfectly. cdi is very good to work with and seem to a company that is interested in their customers. I miscut the luff, the extrusion that goes up the forestay, and they sold me a second one a theri cost. I mess up and they they sent me a new luff at their cost. Very fair!

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 08:29:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by osmepneo
 I miscut the luff, the extrusion that goes up the forestay, and they sold me a second one a theri cost. I mess up and they they sent me a new luff at their cost. Very fair!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I did the same on my first FF2 furler several years ago - cut the luff to 240" when I was supposed to cut 24'-0"! CDI also swapped me a new foil for the one I had cut too short. I have also had to replace FF4 halyards a couple of times over the years, both were sent FREE under waranty. I agree that CDI is a great, curtomer-oriented company. I am glad to hear that someone else screwed up cutting their foil to size; I felt like a compleat idiot when I had to call CDI and explain why I needed another foil

Edited by - on

Kidless
1st Mate

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USA
26 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 09:03:01

Thank you all sooo much,
Were new with this size boat and we aren't really sure whats available and what really works.
the internet is all we have.
Once again thanks,

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 09:14:28

my story

:

I calculated the lengeth, something more than 25 feet. I measurered with a 25 foot tape. Marking off 25 feet, and measured the remaining portion - 3 feet or so. So far so good.

Then I got the saw, checked my measurements, and attacked the 25 foot mark. Clean through. Perfect cut, except there were 6 or 7 feet off luff left over.

I picked up the extrea piece and saw my Correct mark

"Uh, oh!"

I too felt like a complete idiot.

I think cdi is used to us idiots doing this. They were very friendly and cooperative. Highly recommend cdi!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 09:34:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by osmepneo
 my story

:

I calculated the lengeth, something more than 25 feet. I measurered with a 25 foot tape. Marking off 25 feet, and measured the remaining portion - 3 feet or so. So far so good.

Then I got the saw, checked my measurements, and attacked the 25 foot mark. Clean through. Perfect cut, except there were 6 or 7 feet off luff left over.

I picked up the extrea piece and saw my Correct mark

"Uh, oh!"

I too felt like a complete idiot.

I think cdi is used to us idiots doing this. They were very friendly and cooperative. Highly recommend cdi!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

CDI...

Check
Dimensions
Idiot

Edited by - on

LeighMarie
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 11:01:02

I went to the Schaefer Marine SnapFurl 2 years ago and I love it. I also installed it incorrectly the first time (having never even seen a roller furler before I bought mine) and I got a new foil sent out within 2 days from them. (I misread the instructions and thought the halyard retainer was optional. It's not optional as halyard wrap can do mean, nasty things!)

My hunch is that no matter what system you go with, you will be happy with it as they all seem to work well. I went with SnapFurl because I didn't want to cut my forestay.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 15:15:09

Thanks Don, for calling me an idiot!

But the lesson is that with cdi, you need to be very careful as you approach the cutting of the luff.

Also, I'd suggest having the luff shipped flat - costs more but a heck of lot easier to work with, especially if you're doing this part of the project alone.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 15:16:57

Dave, I think you're right.

Which ever system someone gets will work exceptionally well, and the owner will be very pleased with it. I can't imagine sailing without one, it makes setting and retrieval so easy.

Edited by - on

Kidless
1st Mate

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USA
26 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 19:36:15

Hi Dave and Sharon,
You mentioned that you did not want to cut your fore stay.
Will I have to with the CDI?
I thaught it goes over your forestay just like the snapfurl.

Please explain if you know differently.

Edited by - on

LeighMarie
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 20:14:09

Kidless, you will want to check it out, but I think with the CDI furler you will have to do something with your forestay. It has been 2 years since I did my investigation, but it seemed like that was the case. I just really, really didn't want to cut or change my forestay. Because of my lack of mechanical skills, I figured my fallback if the furler didn't work I could always go back to a hanked on jib with an intact forestay. If this isn't the case, I'm sure someone will chime in here.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 21:08:55

When I installed my cdi furler I did nothing to the forestay, except adjust it to length before installing the luff extrusion and raising the mast, which I have my marina operator do. I think I remember seeing that, but, aat least in my case it wasn't necessary. Had it been I probably would have cut off more than I should have, to make up for cutting off not enough on the luff.

Edited by - on

seads
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2004 : 22:11:53

Pretty much ditto here.
Have a CDI ff4. Love it. Works great. There's really nothing to break or go wrong. The price was right and two of us put it on in a day.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 07:06:52

REad in cdi stuff that you could put the luff extrusion onto the foresty with the mast up. Char and I tried and didn't work. Half way up, or so, and it became very, very difficult to control the forestay. Had marina operator drop the mast, put the extrusion on in 5 minutes (if that long) and had the mo raise the mast. (I let him stuggle to connect the pre adjusted forestay.)

Edited by - on

FrankV
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 16:02:58

We put our CDi on 3 years ago and have had no problems. Works very well. We out it on with the mast up. We used a wire puller that an electician friend lent us so we could fish the fore stay through the groove. We did not have to trim the fore stay. When We cut the luff, we measured twice and an inocent bystander verify the cut location.

Edited by - on

TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 16:45:26

I also have had a good experience with the FF4. I recently added the steel roller bearing and really like it. I think the cost was about $90.

Edited by - on

deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 21:42:08

I agree with Tom. The bearing IS owrth the extra money. Without it, rolling in the sail in any kind of wind can require some real exertion. Installing the CDI, on the other hand, is a snap. Measure twice, cut once. Best to do it with the mast down. It will go faster. Also, since your forestay will be hidden from view once you install the foil, it is a very good idea to check its condition before installation.

Above all, do not give in to the temptation to order without the bearing. It only costs about $50 extra if you order it with the reefer.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 15:41:30

I thought installation of the 44f was pretty easy. It did take a bit to get it to uncoil. If you could afford to ship flat it might be worth it. I staked ours out on the back lawn adjusting the stakes each day to get it close to flat. Getting the first reverse curve in will take at least four people. I tried it with my kids and it was too strong for them so I resorted to the stake in the lawn method.

I was pretty nervious about the measure and cut thing too. I started to instal with the mast up but gave up and dropped it. It was easy then.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 17:03:03

After short cutting my first foil, and struggling to get it flat, I had the second one shipped flat. For me it was worth the extra $'s to avoid the hassle of straightening the thing.

Edited by - on

Kidless
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
26 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2004 : 12:39:22

Thanks Again,
I was going to order the ff4 without the bearing, but once again thanks to your experiance I am going all out,and shipping it flat.
I would be lost without your input.
Thanks,

Edited by - on

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