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 CDI upgrade		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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dbrooks
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts
Initially Posted - 05/07/2006 :  21:38:23  Show Profile
I've been tossing the idea around of upgrading our CDI furler with a ball bearing upgrade. This being my new wife's first full season of sailing I thought it might make life easier on the 1st mate.
I'm just wondering if it'll make much of a differance.If you've gone with the ball bearings what improvement have you noticed,would you do it again? Thanks
Don&Karen Brooks
Leilla Dee #1807
1980 FK/SR
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Brian King
1st Mate

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USA
73 Posts
Response Posted - 05/08/2006 :  07:19:39  Show Profile
I upgraded to the ball bearing last year. CDI is just 30 minutes from my house so I drove down and met with the owner. They are located in an old train station in a small town in central NY. Did I notice a difference? Not a significant difference. The furler worked very well before the upgrade and with the bearing is only slightly better. I guess it all depends on how well your furler turns now. There is a teflon washer (bearing) in the standard version and maybe cleaning and lubricating that will save you $100+.
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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts
Response Posted - 05/08/2006 :  23:33:15  Show Profile
We switched to the bearing and it works alot better. For my wife and I, a very worthwhile $100. I also had switched to a smaller furler line in order for the line to be wound up in the housing easier. I think the line is 1/4". It came with a much bigger line that was always getting jammed when wound up. Both mods made furling and unfurling a breeze.
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dbrooks
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts
Response Posted - 05/09/2006 :  21:46:09  Show Profile
Thanks for both sides of the coin.If we decide to make the change will the mast have to come down?
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 05/09/2006 :  22:11:14  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
Don,
good to see you on the forum.


Paul
Association Webmaster
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 05/09/2006 :  22:48:33  Show Profile
Welcome aboard Don!

Here's a related link...

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=6658"]Go buy the bearing for your CDI roller furler[/url]
Edited by - dlucier on 05/09/2006 23:16:04
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 05/10/2006 :  09:30:59  Show Profile
Don,
You do not have the lower the mast to make this change.
Secure the foresail halyard as a temporary forestay. Then remove the locking pin from the top of the furler drum. Slide the furler drum up out of the way and then push the luff carrier up the forestay as far as it will go. Clamp a pair of vice grips onto the forestay directly below the luff carrier to keep it from sliding back down. With the drum and carrier raised you can then access the forestay turnbuckle. Undo it, counting the number of turns it takes to release it. You can then remove the lower portion of the unit and the forestay toggle to switch over the synthetic bearing to the ball bearings. Reassembly is pretty much the reverse of the removal procedure. Tighten up the turnuckle the same number of turns you counted when you removed it. I cannot remember exactly, but you may be able to release the turnbuckle toggle after backing off the turnbuckle rather than removing the entire turnbuckle. A helper to hold onto the forestay makes the whole thing a lot easier.
Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 05/10/2006 09:32:24
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 05/10/2006 :  10:03:26  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
I like my bearings, I added them last year. Joes method and suggestion about vicegrips is dead on, I clamp them on the top of the swage fitting, I do not clamp the wire. You can rig a halyard if you want as a safety but the mast is not going anywhere anyway, the lowers keep it up. I removed my entire furler Sunday to change the halyard and put it back up with the mast up and only the lowers holding it. This is the third time I have taken it down for one reason or another. I do it by myself. We changed out the halyard on another one last Saturday. These things are terrible for their windage but sure are easy to work on.
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takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts
Response Posted - 05/10/2006 :  16:33:58  Show Profile
I'd vote for best upgrade I ever made to the boat in terms of bang for the buck!

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=6658&SearchTerms=CDI
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 05/10/2006 :  21:46:37  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
By the way, I think I paid $65 for mine from Cruising Direct. I called them and asked them if they would sell me one for the cost difference between a new system without one and one with one. The guy said sure, I had it a couple of days later.
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dbrooks
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts
Response Posted - 05/15/2006 :  20:28:19  Show Profile
Thanks for all the great info. The upgrade is in our todo list early this summer.This truly is a great fourm.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.