Furling jib and genoa any good?
 

Have not considered changing from jib to genoa and vice versa too much
hard work in our small 27ft boat. No problems with furling systems and
one can always take the sail down real fast if needed.

Now we plan to upgrade to 30-35 ft boat because our family has grown.
Notice that 99% of secondhand boats have furling system installed and
seriously consider getting rid of it or finding a boat without. Am I
very old fashioned conservative or just crazy? Like to keep things
simple and not have onboard systems I cannot fix...

Would like to hear comments from those who have had both systems.

Mike

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In article ,
Mika wrote:

Have not considered changing from jib to genoa and vice versa too much
hard work in our small 27ft boat. No problems with furling systems and
one can always take the sail down real fast if needed.

Now we plan to upgrade to 30-35 ft boat because our family has grown.
Notice that 99% of secondhand boats have furling system installed and
seriously consider getting rid of it or finding a boat without. Am I
very old fashioned conservative or just crazy? Like to keep things
simple and not have onboard systems I cannot fix...

Would like to hear comments from those who have had both systems.

Mike, I haven't owned both, but I've sailed with both (owned the
without version). I've also unsnarled the furler type while
underway. I tend to agree with you in that I like the standard set up,
but when it comes down to it, the furlers are very useful and pretty
hardy. For easy day sails, it's not such a big deal to deal with hanks
and such, but even then it does make life easier when going to
anchor. You don't have to either stow the jib or step on it while
working at the bow. for distance trips, the main downside to furling
is that if you need to put up a storm jib, you'll need to completely
remove the furling mechanism (not a big deal if you plan ahead)..
unless of course you have two forestays I suppose.

It may be difficult to repair a furler while underway on a long trip,
but I do know people who carry a spare unit. They're really not that
complicated anyway.

Certainly, if you're single handing, you need a good and quick way of
bring the sail down. With a furler, it's easy, but a standard rig can
be easy too... just use a downhaul, which is what I did on my previous
boat.

--
Jonathan Ganz (j gan z @ $ail no w.c=o=m)
http://www.sailnow.com
"If there's no wind, row."

Jonathan Ganz wrote:
Would like to hear comments from those who have had both systems.

working at the bow. for distance trips, the main downside to furling
is that if you need to put up a storm jib, you'll need to completely
remove the furling mechanism (not a big deal if you plan ahead)..
unless of course you have two forestays I suppose.

It may be difficult to repair a furler while underway on a long trip,
but I do know people who carry a spare unit. They're really not that
complicated anyway.

Certainly, if you're single handing, you need a good and quick way of
bring the sail down. With a furler, it's easy, but a standard rig can
be easy too... just use a downhaul, which is what I did on my previous
boat.


For sailing with the family I would go with the furling gear. It makes
reducing or removing the genoa easy and painless, which is important if
you are underway with your family. There are special storm-jibs made to
fit over a furling sail, with a familiy you would probably plan ahead
enough to avoid storm situations in the first place.
Reliability can be a concern with furling gear, but if it is your own
boat the you can look after it and maintain it as necessary. I've bee up
to the mast repairing furling gear on the sea, fortunately the weather
was good. The boat was a bareboat charter and was not looked after well
enough.

Markus

I had fifteen trouble-free years with a Harken furler. It might still be
too early to tell if they're any good. I'm not sure about electric lights
either. ;-)

Seriously, there are some well-made furlers which are quite reliable.


"Mika" wrote in message
...

Have not considered changing from jib to genoa and vice versa too much
hard work in our small 27ft boat. No problems with furling systems and
one can always take the sail down real fast if needed.

Now we plan to upgrade to 30-35 ft boat because our family has grown.
Notice that 99% of secondhand boats have furling system installed and
seriously consider getting rid of it or finding a boat without. Am I
very old fashioned conservative or just crazy? Like to keep things
simple and not have onboard systems I cannot fix...

Would like to hear comments from those who have had both systems.

Mike

----------------------------------------------
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eka numero kahdeksan numeroksi viisi.
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eight to five.
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In article ,
Jim Conlin wrote:
I had fifteen trouble-free years with a Harken furler. It might still be
too early to tell if they're any good. I'm not sure about electric lights
either. ;-)

Seriously, there are some well-made furlers which are quite reliable.

Let me guess... the warranty is 15 years. :-)
--
Jonathan Ganz (j gan z @ $ail no w.c=o=m)
http://www.sailnow.com
"If there's no wind, row."

In article ,
Mika wrote:

Have not considered changing from jib to genoa and vice versa too much
hard work in our small 27ft boat. No problems with furling systems and
one can always take the sail down real fast if needed.

Now we plan to upgrade to 30-35 ft boat because our family has grown.
Notice that 99% of secondhand boats have furling system installed and
seriously consider getting rid of it or finding a boat without. Am I
very old fashioned conservative or just crazy? Like to keep things
simple and not have onboard systems I cannot fix...

There's a reason why most have the furling.

It's one of the last big upgrades I installed, but it has real value.
Keep meaning get the working jib switched over to fit, but there are too
few times I really want the increased efficiency. Thus, we furl instead
of changing sails.

One consideration: You won't have the genny taking up valuable stowage
when you're not sailing. [Course, our chute takes up a bit of room....]

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Mika" wrote in message
...

Have not considered changing from jib to genoa and vice versa too much
hard work in our small 27ft boat. No problems with furling systems and
one can always take the sail down real fast if needed.

Now we plan to upgrade to 30-35 ft boat because our family has grown.
Notice that 99% of secondhand boats have furling system installed and
seriously consider getting rid of it or finding a boat without. Am I
very old fashioned conservative or just crazy? Like to keep things
simple and not have onboard systems I cannot fix...

Would like to hear comments from those who have had both systems.

Mike


My first boat had a twin foil and it was quite difficult to get the foresail
up by myself. Those pre-feeders only help a little. Careful flaking of the
sail at the base of the forestay was necessary. Moral of this story is that
I would stay with hanks if I was not going to have a furler.

My present boat has a Harken furler and it has worked well but I did have
the halyard wrap around the forestay this year. Don't really know why.
Possibly the halyard was inadvertently loosened at some point. Had to go up
the mast to correct the problem but it was simple to fix. Don't think the
furlers themselves break too often as they are fairly simple units. This
assumes they are sized correctly for the boat and installed correctly.
Wrestling down a 130% genoa on a 35 footer in rising wind/pitching deck is
probably not part of the enjoyment of sailing. I would go with furling but
have a knowledgeable person check the installation and overall condition.