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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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What type roller furling?

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Rodney Tow
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/01/2002 : 22:34:38

I'm considering a roller furling system for my standard rig. Can anyone give me suggestions on the type to buy? Will my genoa be able to be used as my roller furling sail? It's as old as my boat (81) but it is in great shape. I can get another sail if I need.

Thanks,

Rodney

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2002 : 23:42:08

I don't have roller furling yet and I am not endorsing any one make, but this is what I have picked up from reading this forum for the past 4 years.

CDI seems to be a very popular make due to its price and quality for the casual to semi racing sailer. Harken makes the top of the line product but very pricey. If I had an unlimited budget I would go for the Harken. I will probably go with the CDI and the money I save can go toward a new 150. Definately order a furler with roller bearings regardless of make. Sail Warehouse in Monterey, CA has been recommended for price and service for both the furler and the sail needed. Check your sail loft for recommendations regarding the conversion of you existing sail. I believe that Sail Warehouse can also evaluate your sail and make any necessary alterations.

If racing is big in your future, stay with the hank on sail and go fast. Sailwarehouse.com

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette

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nate
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2002 : 09:58:24

Rodney,
I have owned two CDI furers on two different boats and can attest that they are very nice. The design is simple and the unit dependable. I don't race so I'm not concerned with "go-fast" set ups. I do sail alone however or with my daughter and feel a furling headsail is one of the best upgrades to any boat.
Regarding using your old sail.....both my boats came with CDI units already installed so I can't comment on how much that will cost. I'm sure your local loft can modify the sail if you like.
Good luck in your search.........Nate Adams

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jandrus
1st Mate

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USA
79 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2002 : 17:55:41

I have a CDI-FF4 on my C25 and love it. The boat came with it purchased but not yet instaled, along with a new reefable foam luff headsail. The unit is holding up very well. I also don't race seriously so I don't much care about the go fast features. I can't imagine seeing much difference on our boats anyway, unless you are _really_ good and everything else on the boat is perfect.

Ask your local loft about converting but also look into a new sail. Expensive but worth it. I have a Catalina loft genoa and while its not as well designed as my Doyle main it works great and it is holding up.

Justin

c25 #1942 s/v tako kichi

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2002 : 22:16:29

I installed a cdi-ff4 last year and am very, very pleased with it. I had my 155 recut and it draws better than it did before having it redone.

One piece of advise. Somehow I got the idea that you could install the cdi unit with the mast raised. So I tried it, and worked at for several hours before resorting to asking my marina operator to drop the mast for me. Then it took only about 5 minutes, marina operator raised the mast and we went for a sail.

Loved it from the getgo.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, std, wing
The Great Sacandaga Lake

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2002 : 22:18:23

I doubt that a 21 year old sail is really in great shape! Unless the boat was never, never, never used.

I'd give serious thought to a new sail to go with the roller furler.

Don Peet
c25, 1665

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LeighMarie
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2002 : 08:53:54

To respond to the initial question of which furler to go with: I did some investigation regarding my sail and a furler also. I have an '85 swing keel C25 with the original sails - we just bought the boat a month ago. I brought the sails to a local loft who said the mainsail is not so bad and I should get 1 - 3 years out of it yet. The 100% jib I had should be replaced, especially since I wanted to go to a furling system. The amount of money to get into a furler and then to put an older, stretched out sail on it just doesn't seem the way to go.

I just ordered a new 150% Genoa (Doyle Sails) and went with a Schaefermarine Snap Furl system. I like the ball bearing set-up on the Schaefer and other features of the Snap Furl better than the CDI. They're both in the same ball park price wise, so I'm sure whatever way I went would have been OK. But since I went with the Snap Furl those of you out there who don't think that is a good idea should be gentle on me as the decision has been made and I don't want to feel bad about it. When you're new to a sailboat like this you end up making a lot of decisions that you just don't have the time or experience to chekc out to the nth degree, so you just go with your gut, I guess.

Dave & Sharon on "Leigh-Marie"
Hull #5128

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Greg
Deckhand

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18 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2002 : 10:31:17

I have a CDI-FF4 on my C-25, Std. rig a 150 genoa. I am very pleased with the setup. Very smooth, and its real nice to be able to roll in a bit of sail if needed in a blow. I sail quite a bit singlehanded and or at night so my wife was all for the roller furling.

Greg Grasshoff
C-25 #2560 "Fore Sail"
Lake Conroe, Tx.

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Steve
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2002 : 11:01:03

I installed a Harken unit on my '87 Catalina 25. It works great, probably the best improvement I've made to the boat. You do have to cut and shorten the forestay, and swege on a new fitting that screws into the drum. It also has rigid foils that slide up over the forestay, so if you trailer the boat I would recommend a flexible foil system.

I used my existing jib, and had a local sailmaker cut the hanks off and sew in the luff tape. It cost about $200 bucks, I think.

Steve
87 WK TR

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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.