Hi everyone,

We're going to purchase a new headsail roller
furler for our Irwin C 38, and know very little
about the pluses and minuses of the various units.

Which units are the best for long term cruising,
considering overall quality of construction, and
ease of repair if something does go wrong?

Right now, we're looking at Harken, Profurl, and
Alado Nautica. Are there other brands we should
consider?

If you consider price, ease of maintenance,
longevity in a salt water environment, etc, which
unit do you think is the best overall value?

Regards,

Don W.

The Alado is cheap and simple and bullet proof and easy to install. That
said, you'll need a high cut jib and once the jib is tensioned, that's it.
Also difficult to get much tension.
Gordon


"Don W" wrote in message
m...
Hi everyone,

We're going to purchase a new headsail roller
furler for our Irwin C 38, and know very little
about the pluses and minuses of the various units.

Which units are the best for long term cruising,
considering overall quality of construction, and
ease of repair if something does go wrong?

Right now, we're looking at Harken, Profurl, and
Alado Nautica. Are there other brands we should
consider?

If you consider price, ease of maintenance,
longevity in a salt water environment, etc, which
unit do you think is the best overall value?

Regards,

Don W.

"Don W" wrote

Right now, we're looking at Harken, Profurl, and
Alado Nautica. Are there other brands we should
consider?

If you consider price, ease of maintenance,
longevity in a salt water environment, etc, which
unit do you think is the best overall value?

Don,

After 25 years of installing furlers and using them on boats from 22 to 50
ft, I have an opinion, but not a strong one.

Profurl - You can't go far wrong - But there are some who got a run around
getting parts when in distant parts. But, they are a world wide company and
more likely to have service than the lesser known makes.

Harken - ( I have one on my boat that is an original Mk 1from way back!) -
More streamlined, less rugged looking than Profurl. If sized properly should
give good service and parts widely available.

Alado - Never seen one despite having been in business - probably a choice
if the price is the main consideration. Maybe buy two so you will have spare
parts

Others to look at:

Hood Yacht Systems - Seafurl - Hood were one of the first into modern
furlers - probably still worth looking at. sailed many miles on the original
units - no experience with recent units.

Furlex - Definitely worth considering - Good Swedish engineering.

Schaeffer - Installed several of these - not bad, but I would choose them
behind Profurl, Furlex and Harken mainly because of lighter duty extrusions
and joining system.

If faced with same decision, I would price all of above units, except Alado.
Then add on any extras that may be needed such as furling blocks, furling
line, shackles, halyard wrap preventer, new forestay (may be needed), sail
modifications etc. Sometime the price/size breaks result in one make being a
better value.

Good Luck

GBM

Thanks for your comments below. Since you've seen
so many of the units, can you tell me what to look
out for as far as failures? I recall a Cruising
World article where someone had their furler shed
its bearings at sea while the jib was partially
rolled up. They then could not roll it up, or
unroll it to strike it IIRC.

Am I correct in thinking that some furlers use
bearings and swivels such that the furler becomes
the forestay, while some furlers install around
the existing forestay? If so, what are the
advantages and disadvantages to both approaches.

BTW, the price difference between the Alado, and a
Harken unit of the proper size is fairly
negligible (~30%) when you consider how long
you'll be using the furler, and the consequences
of a failure in a remote area.

TIA,

Don W.

GBM wrote:
After 25 years of installing furlers and using them on boats from 22 to 50
ft, I have an opinion, but not a strong one.

Profurl - You can't go far wrong - But there are some who got a run around
getting parts when in distant parts. But, they are a world wide company and
more likely to have service than the lesser known makes.

Harken - ( I have one on my boat that is an original Mk 1from way back!) -
More streamlined, less rugged looking than Profurl. If sized properly should
give good service and parts widely available.

Alado - Never seen one despite having been in business - probably a choice
if the price is the main consideration. Maybe buy two so you will have spare
parts

Others to look at:

Hood Yacht Systems - Seafurl - Hood were one of the first into modern
furlers - probably still worth looking at. sailed many miles on the original
units - no experience with recent units.

Furlex - Definitely worth considering - Good Swedish engineering.

Schaeffer - Installed several of these - not bad, but I would choose them
behind Profurl, Furlex and Harken mainly because of lighter duty extrusions
and joining system.

If faced with same decision, I would price all of above units, except Alado.
Then add on any extras that may be needed such as furling blocks, furling
line, shackles, halyard wrap preventer, new forestay (may be needed), sail
modifications etc. Sometime the price/size breaks result in one make being a
better value.

Good Luck

GBM

"Don W" wrote
Wrote a long reply (twice) and both times my computer froze just before I
sent it! Trying again!

Causes of drastic failu

1. Halyard wrap (do a web search for "halyard wrap" and furling)
2. Sail luff too short and no pendant to allow swivel to go all way to top.
3. Lack of proper rigging swivels top and bottom of forestay.
4. Foils sections coming loose - poor installation - needs locktite to
prevent
5. Bearing failure - usually due to lack of maintenance or heeding warning
signs.

Regarding design - all modern furlers fit over forestay - only differences
are that some incorporate turnbuckle in design (Harken/Furlex) while others
fir over existing turnbuckle.

Profurl, Furlex and Harken installation manuals are all on-line - do Google
search - They should explain all.

This is a good summary by Brian Toss - I agree with everything he says:

http://www.briontoss.com/education/a.../miscnov03.htm

GBM


Thanks for your comments below. Since you've seen
so many of the units, can you tell me what to look
out for as far as failures? I recall a Cruising
World article where someone had their furler shed
its bearings at sea while the jib was partially
rolled up. They then could not roll it up, or
unroll it to strike it IIRC.

Am I correct in thinking that some furlers use
bearings and swivels such that the furler becomes
the forestay, while some furlers install around
the existing forestay? If so, what are the
advantages and disadvantages to both approaches.

BTW, the price difference between the Alado, and a
Harken unit of the proper size is fairly
negligible (~30%) when you consider how long
you'll be using the furler, and the consequences
of a failure in a remote area.

TIA,

Don W.

I've been looking on the Profurl website. Based
on the prices I see on the web, it looks like the
properly sized Profurl(C350) for my boat would be
about price equivalent with the Alado. I'm still
researching.

Don W.

GBM wrote:

"Don W" wrote

Right now, we're looking at Harken, Profurl, and
Alado Nautica. Are there other brands we should
consider?

If you consider price, ease of maintenance,
longevity in a salt water environment, etc, which
unit do you think is the best overall value?


Don,

After 25 years of installing furlers and using them on boats from 22 to 50
ft, I have an opinion, but not a strong one.

Profurl - You can't go far wrong - But there are some who got a run around
getting parts when in distant parts. But, they are a world wide company and
more likely to have service than the lesser known makes.

Harken - ( I have one on my boat that is an original Mk 1from way back!) -
More streamlined, less rugged looking than Profurl. If sized properly should
give good service and parts widely available.

Alado - Never seen one despite having been in business - probably a choice
if the price is the main consideration. Maybe buy two so you will have spare
parts

Others to look at:

Hood Yacht Systems - Seafurl - Hood were one of the first into modern
furlers - probably still worth looking at. sailed many miles on the original
units - no experience with recent units.

Furlex - Definitely worth considering - Good Swedish engineering.

Schaeffer - Installed several of these - not bad, but I would choose them
behind Profurl, Furlex and Harken mainly because of lighter duty extrusions
and joining system.

If faced with same decision, I would price all of above units, except Alado.
Then add on any extras that may be needed such as furling blocks, furling
line, shackles, halyard wrap preventer, new forestay (may be needed), sail
modifications etc. Sometime the price/size breaks result in one make being a
better value.

Good Luck

GBM

"Don W" wrote in message
news
I've been looking on the Profurl website. Based
on the prices I see on the web, it looks like the
properly sized Profurl(C350) for my boat would be
about price equivalent with the Alado. I'm still
researching.

Don W.

If you have a turnbuckle, you should order the "I" version with turnbuckle
cylinder - this allows the drum to be lower.

Otherwise, you would need the optional long link plates so that the
turnbuckle will be below the drum (Some suppliers may include them as
standard).

Check what length of extrusions are supplied as standard - you may need an
extra one.

Make sure you have enough turnbuckle adjustment so that you can install
rigging toggles top and bottom if they are not already there - probably need
about 2.75" for each.


GBM

We have a Schaefer 3100. It has been trouble free and easy to use.
Dick McKee
S/V ONE9TEEN

Don W wrote:
Hi everyone,

We're going to purchase a new headsail roller
furler for our Irwin C 38, and know very little
about the pluses and minuses of the various units.

Which units are the best for long term cruising,
considering overall quality of construction, and
ease of repair if something does go wrong?

Right now, we're looking at Harken, Profurl, and
Alado Nautica. Are there other brands we should
consider?

If you consider price, ease of maintenance,
longevity in a salt water environment, etc, which
unit do you think is the best overall value?

Regards,

Don W.

Thanks Dick,

BTW, how long have you owned it, is it on
sal****er or fresh, and how much do you use the
boat each year? What is the highest wind speed
that you have used the furler in?

Don W.

dick wrote:
We have a Schaefer 3100. It has been trouble free and easy to use.
Dick McKee
S/V ONE9TEEN

Don W wrote:

Hi everyone,

We're going to purchase a new headsail roller
furler for our Irwin C 38, and know very little
about the pluses and minuses of the various units.

Which units are the best for long term cruising,
considering overall quality of construction, and
ease of repair if something does go wrong?

Right now, we're looking at Harken, Profurl, and
Alado Nautica. Are there other brands we should
consider?

If you consider price, ease of maintenance,
longevity in a salt water environment, etc, which
unit do you think is the best overall value?

Regards,

Don W.

Practical Sailor did a piece on furlers recently, the first few
paragraphs of which can be seen he

http://www.practical-sailor.com/issu...es/4996-1.html

....and (of course) you can purchase the entire artilce if this whets
you apetite.

MW