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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Alado Furling System

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Bob Phillips
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/22/2004 : 10:13:57

I think I want a furling system but know nothing about them. I have found the Alado Furling System online for about seven hundred dollars. Does anyone know anything about them? What furling system is best suited for the Catalina 25? Are they worth the money? Only had the 1986 fin keel a short time and love it but not sure witch add ons would be worth the effort and money.
Thanks

Robert D. Phillips

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2004 : 11:28:06

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">witch add ons would be worth the effort and money<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

It's really easy to spend more on add-ons than the boat is worth without adding much to the resale value of the boat. If that's your style, if you will get lots of enjoyment out of it and if you plan to keep the boat for a long time, go for it. Personally, it's not my style (although I plan to keep my boat for a long time).

Notwithstanding, everyone has their list of "really-want" stuff. Here's the first two items on my list, both of which cost a bit --

1. Autopilot -- my single best add-on (full stop). I got the Navico one (T10?) because it was a bit less expensive than the rest. Seems lots of C25'ers have the Raytheon/Autohelm one which has worked well for them.

2. Roller-furling -- I don't know anything about the Alado system. It seems like I've noticed more ads for new furling systems in sailing mags lately. But I'd guess the most often successfully used furling system on the C25 is the CDI unit. Mine is 23 years old (same age as the boat) and still ticking. Some folks (especially racers) prefer to keep the standard hank-on system. I, however, think the ability to raise, reef and wrap-up the jib from the cockpit is really nice. The furling line is the only "led-aft" sail control line on my boat (other than the jibsheets which are always led aft on boats our size).

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2004 : 12:27:52

Wow what a question!! What is worth the money? Where and how do you sail?
Ok, My 2$. If what you buy makes your boat sail-able on a day when it would not otherwise be sail-able it is worth the money because you are getting more out of your original investment.
If what you buy makes it safer...
There are people on this forum that do not night sail, do not sail over in wind over 10 knots, heat over 85 degrees or over 8 degrees of heel. These people have entirely different criteria for improving their sailing experience than others.
I have heard time and time again that the bimini or the auto pilot or the furler is the number one addition. It depends where you sail. I am a lake sailer, (often single handed) of that list the furler would improve my quality of life the most. I paid $7k for my 82 sk on a trailer. I made a prioritized list of things to do based on need and cost. The top of the list was need regardless of cost, the scale slides as you go down.

The first thing I spent money on was rebuilding my trailer so it was safe and would not damage my hull. New brakes and new rollers.
Next was a new main, passion took over, It should not have been so high on my list but I am a petty person and flying a rag was embarrassing and unsatisfying. (Sometimes you need something so you will smile when you look at it.)
After a few sails I discovered how dangerous it was not to have control lines led aft for a single hander in a high wind area. Optimizing this project generated a new outhaul, topping lift, spinnaker halyard, rope halyards, reefing lines, deck hardware, etc. That became priority #3.
#4 was poorly chosen. I spent thousands redoing my bottom, it was a mistake and not worth the money, I could have waited years before it was needed to preserve the boat.
#5 Replaced standing rigging when I found a bad lower shroud. It is all the same age, if one is bad they are all bad. (Keel cable and ball as well)
#6 A decent stereo to replace the "flying" boombox maybe the best dollar/pleasure money spent.
#7 Boom tent/custom canvas that snaps onto the pop-top deck snaps to protect my boat from rain and insects when I am gone.
That all cost thousands, worth it? Absolutely! (Except the bottom job) How much could I sell my $7k boat for now? Maybe $10k to someone who gets it, $7k to someone who does not get it.
What about the other thousands I have and will throw at the boat? Should I drive a newer car instead? Have a showcase lawn? Go to Vegas? Everyone spends their money on something, for me it is the boat and Macintosh computers; its who I am. Who are you?

Edited by - on

km0e
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2004 : 08:35:10

Hi Frank, I am curious about your boom tent? Where, How much and do you have any pictures? Thanks, Jim

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2004 : 09:34:06

A boom tent as they are intended and as they can be used under headsail alone in place of a bimini. I think some people call them spar flys?

My boom tent is made out of heavy canvas with a nice halyard ring in the center. To use it on the pop-top tent snaps we ordered a pair of vice-grips with special snap mandril jaws and a bunch of snap heads. We found that the snap placement for the snaps along the sides of the cabin was too far inside the edges for the vice grips to work so we simply put a fold there to double the material and allow the vice-grip jaws to work. In hind site a small piece of leather as a third layer would greatly reinforce the material and keep the snaps from ripping out. Snaps can be hard to get open and "helpers" often are too zealous. Martha notched out a slot for the mast. The cover keeps insects and rain from getting inside the boat through the companionway openings and keeps all my deck hardware and lines clean.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2004 : 09:58:57

Hi Frank,

Thanks for posting the photos of your cabin top cover ... I need to sew one, too, but I keep procrastinating.

I was wondering ... how do you store your jib sheets? It looks like you keep them "at the ready" ... is there a snap hook or shackle somewhere in the middle that you simply attach to the jib clew when you're ready to sail? If so, do you attach it to a padeye (or ?) on the mast when you're "storing" the jib sheets?

I like your setup ... it looks like you're able to get out of the slip and start sailing in minimum time. I plan to sew/buy a jib bag like yours, too, and that should also cut down on the time it takes to get out on the water. BTW, what size headsail do you keep in there? Do you plan to change it during the season, after the summer doldrums set in?

Thanks!

Edit: Something else I've been wondering about ... what do you do with the jib bag while the jib is raised and you're sailing? Does the jib bag come off completely so you can stow it somewhere, do you bungie it to the deck, or what?

Edited by - Buzz Maring on 05/23/2004 10:04:45

km0e
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2004 : 10:53:48

Yhanks for the pictures Frank!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2004 : 19:54:49

Bob, I hope this discussion is speaking to your general question of where to spend money, it is not my intent to take over our post.

Buzz, yes I have a serious snap-shackle that I clip to the whisker pole pad eye on the mast. When I sail, the boomtent, headsail bag and mainsail cover stay in my dock box with the fenders, extra headsails, and often the crib boards. The sheets are coiled in the coaming compartments along with the headsail downhaul. I have a 110 in the bag now but a 150 fits. I have always flaked my headsails on the forestay and simply folded up the clew to the forestay. In the past I would then un-hank the sail and slip it in the sailbag, now I slip the deck bag over it. It is not much quicker putting it away but it is much quicker getting it out.

km0e, your welcome.

Edited by - on

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