Anyone familiar with this continuous loop furler? I'd like to know if this
furler can furl in either clockwise AND counterclockwise directions.

Yeh! I had one on the last boat.. Fairly easy to install DIY. No rigging
required.

As to your question, I had no problem furling the different head sails in
either direction..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I have this furler on a 1987 Catalina 30 that I purchased last August. It
can indeed furl in both directions.

It's not a very good unit and I would not recommend buying one. Many owners
complain of problems with it, especially with partially furling the sail.
Specifically, the continuous line does not always hold the drum solidly in
position and the drum can slip, causing the sail to unfurl. This can be
minimized (though not always eliminated) by being careful to maintain
tension on both sides of the furling line when cleating it off. Hood, by the
way, acknowledges the inadequacy of this unit for reefing the sail and sells
an "upgrade kit" for people wanting to use that feature reliably. (See
below.)

This furler was "standard issue" on Catalinas for a number of years. Many
owners have either replaced them altogether or have gone with a single line
upgrade kit from Hood, which involves changing out only the drum but keeping
the same foils and top swivel. (If you wish to go this route you can get the
upgrade from Defender, phone 800-628-8225. Inquire about the 810LD to 800SL
upgrade kit, Hood ID H7564-01. Hood lists the upgrade at $522.76, but I
think they will sell it for around $450.)

In my own case, since my unit is in good working order I plan to just use it
for a while and then replace it with a better unit (e.g., Harken, Schaeffer,
or Pro-furl) in a year or two. If it croaks before then, I'd just bite the
bullet and replace it rather than sinking any significant money into it.

Well, probably more info than you wanted but I hope what I've provided
proves helpful.

Regards,
Alan Gomes
1987 Catalina 30 Mk-II, "Sola Scriptura"


"Hmseconomy" wrote in message
...
Anyone familiar with this continuous loop furler? I'd like to know if
this
furler can furl in either clockwise AND counterclockwise directions.

Thanks, Alan and Steve. I inherited this furler with the Hunter 28.5 I
recently purchased. It came with a headsail that had the UV on the starboard
side and so furled in a counterclockwise direction. I bought another used
headsail with the UV on the port side and that sail will need to furl in a
clockwise direction. I hoped the furler would furl in either direction due to
its design.

I also agree that the Hood upgrade is a bit pricey and will do about what you
are doing Alan, ie., keep it until it dies and then replace it with a unit that
has better reefing capabilities.

Thanks again.

"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
news:ksDKb.76717$xX.543454@attbi_s02...
I have this furler on a 1987 Catalina 30 that I purchased last August. It
can indeed furl in both directions.

It's not a very good unit and I would not recommend buying one. Many
owners
complain of problems with it, especially with partially furling the sail.
Specifically, the continuous line does not always hold the drum solidly in
position and the drum can slip, causing the sail to unfurl. This can be
minimized (though not always eliminated) by being careful to maintain
tension on both sides of the furling line when cleating it off. Hood, by
the
way, acknowledges the inadequacy of this unit for reefing the sail and
sells
an "upgrade kit" for people wanting to use that feature reliably. (See
below.)


Alan is correct in this regard.. I didn't mention it because, from my
experience with this unit, the sail never sets properly when partially
furled.. There-in is the problem.. Because of the type of swivels used, this
furler is only good for a furler and only works for reefing for a very brief
period (through a squal line).

It is best to consider this unit as a furler, not as roller reefing system..
If you want a roller reefing system as well, talk to your sail maker and
purchase a Harken or others that have a double swivel in the halyard swivel,
so your foil swivels independent of the halyard swivel. This give a tighter
furl/roll. (hard to explan here.)

I presently have a Harken MKII 2.5 and I'm very happy with it.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Steve,

One of the riggers I have used highly recommends the Harken unit. (For my
Catalina 30 he suggests a Harken Unit 1, Mk-III.) So I've got that one on my
short list. Which model do you have? What do you know about the Schaeffer
units? They look like they might be built a bit better, but my rigger favors
the Harken because of being lighter (less weight aloft).

--Alan

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
news:ksDKb.76717$xX.543454@attbi_s02...
I have this furler on a 1987 Catalina 30 that I purchased last August.
It
can indeed furl in both directions.

It's not a very good unit and I would not recommend buying one. Many
owners
complain of problems with it, especially with partially furling the
sail.
Specifically, the continuous line does not always hold the drum solidly
in
position and the drum can slip, causing the sail to unfurl. This can be
minimized (though not always eliminated) by being careful to maintain
tension on both sides of the furling line when cleating it off. Hood, by
the
way, acknowledges the inadequacy of this unit for reefing the sail and
sells
an "upgrade kit" for people wanting to use that feature reliably. (See
below.)


Alan is correct in this regard.. I didn't mention it because, from my
experience with this unit, the sail never sets properly when partially
furled.. There-in is the problem.. Because of the type of swivels used,
this
furler is only good for a furler and only works for reefing for a very
brief
period (through a squal line).

It is best to consider this unit as a furler, not as roller reefing
system..
If you want a roller reefing system as well, talk to your sail maker and
purchase a Harken or others that have a double swivel in the halyard
swivel,
so your foil swivels independent of the halyard swivel. This give a
tighter
furl/roll. (hard to explan here.)

I presently have a Harken MKII 2.5 and I'm very happy with it.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
news:GeEKb.76998$xX.543868@attbi_s02...
Steve,

short list. Which model do you have? What do you know about the Schaeffer
units?

I had to choose between the Hood Seafurl and Harken Unit 2.5 MKII. (both
were used, off a Shannon 50).. Both needed rebuild of the swivels..

I tried contacting both Hood and Harken.. Guess how responded to my request
for assistance.. The rebuild on the Harken went very easy and cost me about
$180 for new sets of bearings. The manual was available for download
online..

Since I still have the Hood Seafurl and want to sell it, I have still been
trying to get some model information from Hood.. They respond but don't seem
to understand their old model discriptions and give my incorrect
information.. Even though I have sent them pictures of the drum and swivel..

The Harken is great, very easy to operate single handed.. With a prefeeder,
I can hoist/change sails as easy as a hanked on sail (easier).

For me, the down side of the Harken, was the complications of installation
in the field with my rod head stay.. You have to have the rod 'headed' after
the foil section connectors are on the rod.. So if you ever want to remove
the unit, you have to a problem removing the foils from the head stay..
(BTW. Rod rigging can't be 'headed' in the field.)


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I had one of these on my Pearson 30 and it was bullet proof/jam proof unit. I
can't imagine how it could jam when installed and used correctly and that's NOT
the case with spooling units.
I wish my C&C 32 had one instead of the Harken!

Capt RB
C&C 32
NY

I had one of these on my Pearson 30 and it was bullet proof/jam proof unit. I
can't imagine how it could jam when installed and used correctly and that's NOT
the case with spooling units.
I wish my C&C 32 had one instead of the Harken!

Capt RB
C&C 32
NY

"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
news:GeEKb.76998$xX.543868@attbi_s02...
Steve,

short list. Which model do you have? What do you know about the Schaeffer
units?

I had to choose between the Hood Seafurl and Harken Unit 2.5 MKII. (both
were used, off a Shannon 50).. Both needed rebuild of the swivels..

I tried contacting both Hood and Harken.. Guess how responded to my request
for assistance.. The rebuild on the Harken went very easy and cost me about
$180 for new sets of bearings. The manual was available for download
online..

Since I still have the Hood Seafurl and want to sell it, I have still been
trying to get some model information from Hood.. They respond but don't seem
to understand their old model discriptions and give my incorrect
information.. Even though I have sent them pictures of the drum and swivel..

The Harken is great, very easy to operate single handed.. With a prefeeder,
I can hoist/change sails as easy as a hanked on sail (easier).

For me, the down side of the Harken, was the complications of installation
in the field with my rod head stay.. You have to have the rod 'headed' after
the foil section connectors are on the rod.. So if you ever want to remove
the unit, you have to a problem removing the foils from the head stay..
(BTW. Rod rigging can't be 'headed' in the field.)


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions