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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Furler - Which is best?

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DaveC
Deckhand

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20 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/14/2005 : 17:13:11

I've seen a lot of discussion on this Forum regarding Furlers. I am considering making this investment and would like to read opinions on the relative merits of each system. I'm currently considering CDI, Harken, & a Schaefer Snap Furler.

I purchased my 81 tall rig last year and have been primarily a day sailor on Lake Erie, but I'm planning to do some weekend crusing & possibly some club racing. The PO had been a club racer using a foil system (no longer on the boat) and I've got a number of sails that are in good shape that I'm considering having cut down.

Dave C.
'81 #2629

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Eric Dove
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2005 : 18:32:37

Check out the Hood SeaFlex furler. I ordered mine directly from their website. It's actually on the parent company's website which I believe is http://www.pompanette.com. I highly recommend it. It has the flexibility, cost, and simplicity of the CDI, but with a halyard swivel, so you can properly tension the headsail using your standard jib halyard like on the Harkens etc. And, for that same reason, it's REALLY easy to change sails. I had a CDI on a previous boat and never felt like I got the right tension on the headsail, since all the pressure is along the extrusion and not coming from the mast. Plus, it was VERY inconvenient to change sails. I installed the SeaFlex on my C25 tall rig last winter, and it works great. Very easy to install on your existing forestay also. It costs $499. If you're considering a CDI, which I know a lot of people love, you should at least check it out, because it's pretty much intended to compete with it. The picture on the wbsite isn't accurate...they're actually now made with a cage instead of the drum. The cage is easily removable for those who want to make lots of sail changes for racing.

Eric Dove - Catalina 25 tall rig

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2005 : 18:55:28

Dave - IMHO a furler is totally inefficient for racing - under most PHRF protocols you do get a "bonus" for it - but it is inadequate.
Now, if you can get back to the headfoil that's probably worth 3 secs a mile to you for which you are not charged!

Derek

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2005 : 21:10:31

Hmmm...Which furler is best???

The answer is...it depends on your particular circumstances.

I have a Harken furler so I may be biased towards them, but I'll try to be objective with my opinion.

If I inherited a boat with a number of sails that were used on a foil system and I intended to race, I would be inclined to find a furling system that could utilize all of them.

I believe Harken is the only company that designs furlers with racers in mind while other furler brands (I won't mention any names) specifically say in their literature that when designing their furlers, they focused on daysailors at the expense of racers. Some furler brands don't even mention racing at all.

The Harken furlers are great for cruising and can be easily converted for racing. For racing, they have removable drums and swivels that allow one to use deck sweepers and they have a double groove foil that, according to Harken, allows for fast headsail changes. This system could allow you to use your existing deck sweepers on race day then hoist a high clew furling sail when daysailing.

Keep in mind that serious racers would use a simple foil system and not a furler, but you said you were a cruiser first with the possibility of racing so I think the Harken walks that fine line you're seeking.

Dave, now it's up to you to do the research then flip a coin!

Edited by - dlucier on 03/14/2005 21:38:05

DaveC
Deckhand

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20 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2005 : 22:26:19

Don,

You are correct in your assessment of my sail situation... I currently have 4 head sails set up for a foil system collecting dust in my basement. I'm primarily a cruiser/day sailor, but would like to get into the club racing. Basically, I'd like to install a system that gives me the best of both worlds. Most of my more experienced sailing buddies have told me that Harken is the only way to go. Yet when I read the posts on this forum, people praise the CDI system for it's simplicity, warranty, and low cost. They almost had me convinced, but I thought I'd throw it out for discussion first to get a variety of opinions. Thanks for yours!

Dave C.
'81 #2629

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2005 : 15:28:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveC
 ...Most of my more experienced sailing buddies have told me that Harken is the only way to go. Yet when I read the posts on this forum, people praise the CDI system for it's simplicity, warranty, and low cost. They almost had me convinced, but I thought I'd throw it out for discussion first to get a variety of opinions...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave,

It does appear that most people on this forum opt for the CDI or other similar furlers (I've never read of someone going with a Harken???), but the reasons are probably like you stated, simplicity, warranty, and low cost.

Trailerability seems to be an issue too, but since I don't trailer, I don't know the specifics as to why one furler is better than another. When I stepped my mast with the Harken rigid foil, it wasn't any different in process from stepping furlers of other brands.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2005 : 20:17:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveC
 Basically, I'd like to install a system that gives me the best of both worlds. Most of my more experienced sailing buddies have told me that Harken is the only way to go.Dave C.
'81 #2629
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I owned Harken on my Merit 25 and I will never own anything else. I trailered with no issues. I cannot afford one now, so I will have none at all. You will never regret buying the best. The best is always the "best buy".

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 03/15/2005 20:20:35

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2005 : 21:35:04

This has been pretty well covered, see archives, I bet. If you mean to race, with headsail changes, CDI is not your best choice. If you cruise/daysail, only change infrequently and for long periods, CDI may be a good buy, all other factors being cooperative. Orion came with a CDI, since the retrofit to ball bearings has been perfectly satisfactory for MY (admittedly simplistic) needs, fair winds, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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