RE: catalina27-talk: furling?

[Phil Agur]

Gerry,   We have a Schaefer 750* on our C270 and if your boat were new today that’s how it would come.   Let’s start with the basics. A roller furler is a system for stowing a headsail. Often the uninitiated hears roller furling and thinks roller reefing and it’s not the same thing at all but more on that later.   Let’s talk features:   Control lines: - The drum* style is preferred and could handle a reefing sail. - The continuous loop style saves space but could slip if asked to handle a reefing sail.   Halyard treatment: - Semi fixed halyards are part of the furler and can only be adjusted at the furler base on the foredeck. - Double swivels* allow a normal halyard to tension the furling headsail from the cockpit if so rigged.   Drum Type: - A Permanente* drum stay in place at all times. - Removable drum can be removed leaving the foil alone for use in racing.   Foil Type: -          Rigid* foils are usually aluminum (we trailer our boat a few times a year and I single hand the mast stepping). -          Flexible foils are easier to deal with if you trailer or step and un-step your mast often.   Luff Grooves: - Single* hoist one sail at a time. - Twin grooves for doing blanketed sail changes (racing) or hoist twin headsails (cruising) downwind.   My recommendation feature wise is indicated by the * above.   If you’re really thinking roller reefing then a drum style furler is the first piece however the real key is a sail designed to reef effectively. Attempting to reef a standard cut headsail more than just a small percentage can get you into trouble quickly.   A headsail designed to be reefing is cut flatter initially and has padding near the luff. The pad gathers in the sails center draft as you reef making it present a flatter foil shape to the wind. In contrast, when you attempt to reef a standard sail the material that forms the draft of the sail push back into the exposed sail area deepening the effective sail draft which is very bad in high winds.   Phil Agur                    s/v Wing Tip Commodore,             Call Sign WCW3485 IC27/270A                   MMSI 366901790 www.catalina27.org      Vessel Doc# 1039809 -----Original Message----- From: catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com [mailto:catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com] On Behalf Of Gerry Banford Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 9:11 AM To: catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com Subject: catalina27-talk: furling?   I would like to install a furling on my 27 but not too sure of a type or kind that would be a good choice. I haven't set a price limit yet since I need to know what is out there first. Obviously I would like the best buy for the money spent but I also understand the importance of quality for value. Any suggestions? West Winds land locked Alberta