I have sailed extensively with both boom furling and lazyjack systems and have
very firm views, all prefaced with KISS - keep it simple ... .

In boom furling is a very expensive means of doing a job very badly for the
following reasons:

* You have no outhaul control, especially when the sail is reefed, and so you
cannot vary the sail shape and draft location to suit wind and swell
conditions. Yacht will not point.

* Boom and reefing assembly is very heavy which flattens sail in light weather
when you need maximum sail shape. Yacht will not sail well in light conditions.

* When reefing/furling boom must be absolutely horizontal or sail creaps along
furler and may jam due to bunching.

* Needs at least two people reef/furl - one to crank reefing winch (hard work)
and another to lower halyard at exactly the same pace, else sail will furl
unevenly and may jam. Also needs autohelm or a third person steering.

I would urge you to look at a jiffy reefing system (also called slab reefing) in
conjunction with lazyjacks or dutchman lines. I have never used the dutchman
system so cannot comment on it.

Lazyjacks are almost fault free although you do have to watch that batten ends
do no get caught in them when hoisting sail - just drop the sail five feet to
free them, then continue.

My next mainsail will probably have full length battens, oversize batcars or
similar, firm roach, and fit the existing lazyjack system.

Finally, make sure that the sail cover is large enough. In normal cruising mode
you will not drop and flake the main as neatly as your sailmaker, so you will
need more room in the sailcover. Some sailmakers, especially Hood, seem to put
a premium on making sailcovers very small and inobtrusive.

Considering size of investment proposed you might consider sailing (even
chartering) on yachts fitted with both systems to try them yourself. Just talk
around your local yacht clubs and some helpful souls may emerge.

Hope this helps.

Graeme
sv Leonidas