MacGregorSailors.com

I have been thinking it would be nice to have a furler up front, and got to wondering how many folks go without.

When sailing frequently I keep the jib hanked on and bagged on deck, but it sure seems like a furler would be handy when single handing -- which seems to be always...

So what do you all have? And do you wish you had something else? Lastly, for those of you who've added a furler: what brand, and are you happy with it?

CDI FF2, came with boat. Two edged sword. Makes jib handling easier most of the time, makes mast raising harder all of the time. Nice to have the foresail almost ready to go instead of hanking on a jib every time.

I have both: furler main & furler jib

Gerald, I think I remember your post about making the mainsail furler. Do you have pics posted somewhere of the finished product? I'd love to see it...

I started out with a hank-on jib. In about a year I had my dealer install the CID FF2 with a 150 w/UV strip. I feel it was one of the best upgrades I've made. The majority of my sailing is off shore and singlehanded. The furler gave me a whole new level of confidence. It's nice to be able to douse the headsail in a matter of seconds and not go forward--especially when the waves are higher than the X.

I know some argue the furler causes a decrease in efficiency of the sail, but heck, it's a Mac. I can't tell any difference and wouldn't give up my furler.

As for the additional weight in raising the mast, there's a couple of tricks to help overcome that problem. I don't even use the mast raising system.

Gerald, I noticed CDI now has the mainsail reefing system. Did they copy yours?

I have two hank-ons, Jib & Genny, but have often thought about a furler. It appears to be a very nice convenience thing especially for single handling. With my investment in two hank-ons though, it does not look finacially feasible to switch. Perhaps an autohelm would be more helpful that way I can jump up and hoist the headsail while on auto. (Halyards run aft would also help, that's next) I always have my headsail attached, hanked on and ready to raise before making way so it is only a matter of hoisting the halyard. Having two headsails gives me a choice for differing conditions, something I wouldn't have with a furler. I am seriously considering a luffgroove setup that will allow me to have both headsails attached but only one in use so that I can switch on the fly. (something another member here put me on to) I'll wait till it is time to replace my sails then go for it. At this point I am not entirely convinced that a roller furling headsail is a complete solution, especially after reading about the luff groove.
http://www.practical-sailor.com/newspic ... groove.pdf
I may prefer this route when the time comes, but that is a few years away yet, mean time I'll make do, but add halyards aft in the very short term, autohelm in the medium term, then perhaps the luff groove in the long term.

That's where I'm at too. Seems like it would be really nice, but I'm not sure it's worth the cost.

I see several people installed their own setups. Anyone want to comment on how hard it is?

Billy
I did not know that CDI had a mainsail furler. Got to check it out. Mine is working pretty well.

Here the installation/operating instructions (and their disclaimer )
http://www.sailcdi.com/sailpdf/Mainsail ... 201_02.pdf

I have no idea of the price.

The last sentence here shows the suggested list price as $1695.

I guess it's clear that the mainsail would need a UV strip - how else would it be protected?

I'm unsure that the performance and reliability of my CDI foresail furler inclines me to triple the investment - and performance risk - for the mainsail. Beyond that, one thing I DO NOT need is more weight when raising the mast. And finally, I wonder how one arranges for trailering that rig with mast down?

I realize that they're cost-prohibitive, but I'd be vastly more interested in seeing
a smallboat boom-furling solution for automatic reefing/furling into the boom.

But I'm NOT interested in the classic swivel-gooseneck, rotating boom approach,
because that invalidates the use of a vang.

I think I have seen genuine roller furling main sails on some of the larger ships in the marina here. It appears that the furler is inside the mast and that it unrolls as the foot slides along the boom. Don't ask me about the battens, haven't figured out that yet, maybe there are none. I like the sound of a roller in the boom better though, makes for convenient reefing, guessing one would need a pretty thick boom though, to accommodate the internal roller furler. Anyone up to being an inventor?

The Mac is the third boat that I have owned that came with a furler. On the previous two, it was ditched pretty quickly.

They are problematic though, as they do indeed make the mast-raising exercise a pain and yet are great for family cruising.

The real problem for me though, is sailing performance. A partially rolled headsail does not replace a jib, or a number 2 (as the Mac needs over about 12 knots of breeze). The great fat leading edge of a partially rolled sail around an already substantial foil just kills the airflow over the first third of the sail. There is also the problem of rig tension; very important for managing good upwind performance. Lastly, you cannot run battens on a furling headsail.

I guess if cruising is the only thing that you do, and like real gentlemen, never sail to windward, then the furler is the G-O. If you are looking for performance however, you need to walk the foredeck.

Yes two CDI FF2. One was on the boat when I bought her since then I installed a 4ft bowsprit & moved my 150 genoa 3ft out onto the bowsprit installed an quick- release shroud lever under the furler therefore I did not have to lenghten my forestay so I can switch it back & forth if I wish to . I had my jib modified to a 3/4 rig bought a new demo cdi ff2 "the price was right " installed it on the mast head with a new mast hound at the hole 3/4 up the mast where the mast crutch bolt hole was & install a second set of 2ft spreaders & another set of shroud wires for extra support, the new 3/4 forestay also has a quick-release under the furler when I raise the mast I bungy both furlers to the top of my mast raising pole that keeps them out of the way . Anyway I plan on buying the bearing package Kits for these furlers at the boat show this jan. coming . If you buy one though be carefull when you cut the foil I measured mine as per the instructions left it 1ft longer to be safe you can always shorten it then found I only had to shorten it by 4" so I misinterpredated the instructions some ware will be sending you pic,s soon ok kev.
Anyway I like my furlers as you can guess eh. the bearing kits should make it alot easier to furl, thinking of adding some blocks to replace the bulls-eyes that should also help

have fun JS

CDI FF2 installed when bought (thanks Art) on a 150 genoa.

I moved the furler up when I put on a quick release lever (see Mods), installed the bearing upgrade, and also use Harken MiniBlocks instead of the bullseyes...I like the furler much more with these add-ons.

IF I were outfitting the boat again I might consider moving up to the next size furler with a 150 genny - the FF2 with the 150 requires the furler line slack be in a fairly narrow range to avoid either running out of furler or jamming the spool.