Comments below.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Hank" wrote in message
...
I've had 2 Profurl's. One a lot longer than the other. After 2 years
of solid So Pac cruising the seals in the lower unit failed and the
bearing started to be hard to turn. The bearings (2) were standard
off-the-shelf carbon steel - they rust and seize solid in salt water
after the seals fail. Make sure you can get spare seals and bearings
if you choose Profurl. Also watch out for putting the rotating
extrusions together - the s/s setscrews weld into the Al extrusions
without miracle goop.

I've heard about the problems with the seals and bearings. Only an
idiot would put ss screws into an al extrusion without protection.

I might buy another Profurl but only after looking at other products
and spares available. Profurl in the US were miserable assholes to
deal with from NZ.

Isn't ProFurl a French company? If so, why go through US distributors
from NZ?

My opinion of Harken as a co. is much higher than the Profurl
distributors in the US.

I have heard that Harken is very good company. Most of the other hardware
on our boat is Harken or will be soon.

Of course, if you're a marina sailor - it won't matter.

If I were a marina sailor that I would be happy with the Famet
furlers I have.


Thu, 1 Jul 2004 21:19:54 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

How does this help me decide between Harken and Profurl?

"rhys" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of friends who've sworn by Schaefer.

CDI seems a bit problematic, however.

Me, I am a simpleton who uses hank ons. What a Luddite. G

R.

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 18:04:56 -0500, "Karin Conover-Lewis"
wrote:

Doug -- the Profurl NC32 on my Rawson 30 is much easier to use than
the
Harken MkII was on my CT-41. Go figure, eh? ;-)

On Thu, 1 Jul 2004 21:19:54 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

How does this help me decide between Harken and Profurl?

Because the statement:

I have a couple of friends who've sworn by Schaefer.

presents you with an option that you may not have considered and that
may save you money and gain you quality. My friends have investigated
furlers extensively, having owned them for years, and I hear good
things about Schaefer that convinced them to switch from the more
obvious Profurl and Harken options.

I bet you own a Yanmar, with an attitude like that. G

R.

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
I know that this is a no win debate, but anyone have any
useful opinions?

Doug
s/v Callista

Hope this is useful:

Harken pros:

- has separate top furler unit (licensed from Hood I think) that allows the
foil to start turning before the top and bottom furlers, which allows for
better sail shape

Harken cons:

- smaller models have a drum that is a bit too small to accommodate decent
sized furling line.

Profurl pros:

- a bit more bulletproof construction IMO
- easy to get replacement bearings if the seals go

Profurl cons:

- the seals can sometimes fail on the bearings
- additional extrusions are more costly than Harken if the unit you want
doesn't provide enough length

Basically I think they are both pretty well developed pieces of gear. Happy
to have either on my boat (though last boat and this boat have Harken)


--
Evan Gatehouse

you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me
ceilydh AT 3web dot net
(fools the spammers)

The Harkin has a major design flaw that cost me a sail. They use a small
plastic piece that fits in a slot in the extrusion and this keeps the
extrusions from twisting on each other. They are held in place by tiny set
screws coated with locktite. The problem came when the screws backed out
(locktite failure because the proper color was still on the other screws
when I dismantled the furler)...this allowed the plastic piece to slide down
into the lower extrusion. This happened in 45 kt winds and big seas so when
we tried to roll in the sail, it started ripping the sail in half at that
joint. When I told Harkin about the flaw in our 1.5, they just blew me
off. I would not own a Harkin if it was given to me.
I now have two profurls that in am installing on my renovation
The Harkin might be OK for the charter and coastal boats, but I would never
go offshore with one.
For what its worth.
Bruce