"Bryan Fox" wrote in message news:Jothb.56349$9l5.6070@pd7tw2no...
I didn't have much luck with CDI, in fact I sent it back.

However, that doesn't answer your question.

Over the past 20 years I have had furling on three boats, and wouldn't sail
without it.

On two, the genoas were custom made by Sobstad with a foam luff. The other
was the 150 which came with the boat, modified by a local sailmaker without
foam. Furling gear was Pro Furl and Harken. All did the job well.


When the wind picks up enough to reef in a little, there is no problem with
the shape.

When it gets serious, reef in a lot. It doesn't matter a darn about the sail
shape. If you want to survive, you are much better off with an inefficient
sail than you would be going up front to change sails. These situations
occur so infrequently that you don't have to worry about pulling the sail
out of shape. If it gets too hairy, furl it all in and start the motor.

BUT, go to a reputable sailmaker.

Bryan

I went with CDI because Practical Sailor rated them highly.
Installing the furler wasn't a problem and required no changes to the
headstay so that was a plus. It is also a fairly simple system. I
did go with the ball bearing equipped system.
After recalculating and factoring in the decrease in luff length for
the roller, I find that the 150 genoa I want to buy is really a 140.
If I reef it 20%, it becomes a 112 which is ok as my current work jib
is a 100. I have read that they can be reefed 30% (probably not
really) and still work well and that would give me a 98%.
I agree, when it gets serious, dont worry about sail shape.

SO, I have decided to go with the heavier pre-made 150%

This should make sailing with my family a LOT easier, for example:

Putting up the jib

Me: (to my wife) Kath, can you take the tiller while I go put on the
jib?
Kath: Give me a minute to get on more sunscreen and make sure Katie
(our 7 yr old) is tied in. (this takes 10 minutes at least)
Me: (at last) OK, keep us on 140 degrees.
Kath: How do I read the new compass? (is this really rocket science?
She has done this many times before). I want to put on the jib to
remember how.
Me: (thinking, oh, god, its gonna an hour or so till the jib is up)
OK, put on the work jib.
Kath: Is that the bag marked 100% or "Genoa" KATIE, get out of the
way so I can get the sail bag!
Katie: I'm coloring a dolphin picture, see. (Kathy stops for a while
to admire the dolphin picture)
Kath: Nicholas (my 13 yr old) help me with this sail. (Nick has his
headphones on and cant hear a thing) NICK, HELP ME WITH THIS SAIL.
Nick: huh?
Kath: (after getting the sail to the bow) Which end goes on first?
(She has done this many times)
Me: Look for the North sail logo
Kath: Its gone (so what, its old, its still obvious where it was, she
finally gets it hanked on.
Kath: Krista (our 17 yr old daughter) Pass me the jib sheets
Krista: (A blank look on her face even though she is brilliant) The
jib whats? Oh, the rope thingies, where are they?
Kath: (after finally getting the jib sheets from Krista) I cant get
these clips to work, I want to tie a bowline instead but cant remember
how. (She has been rock climbing, vertical caving and sailing for
years and can't rememebr how to tie a bowline?)
Me: KRISTA, take the f**** tiller and point us at that sand dune on
the island. (I go forward and put the clips on the jib for the jib
sheets and then go back to the tiller only to find we have turned 90
degrees)
Krista: OOOOhhhhhhh, THAT sand dune.
Kath gets the jib sheets run to the blocks and all is well until I
pull in on them only to find she has run them INSIDE the shrouds. At
this point, which would be better, just shooting myself or slitting my
wrists and jumping overboard and waiting for the sharks?