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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Roller Furler Recommendations

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/05/2008 : 18:41:02

I'm getting close to buying a roller furler for my boat and I'd like to get some suggestions on which make and model is best for cruising with an occasional race thrown in for fun.

I'd like to be able to swapout or remove headsails relatively easily if I'm not going to be at the boat for a few weeks.

I know a lot of you have CD furlers but I'm concerned about how easy it would be to swapout or remove the sail. Is the Head brand worth the extra expense?

Thanks in advance for your input.

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GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2008 : 18:52:10

Gary, I only have experience with CD.

Swapping the sail on the water is not such a big deal. I just lower it onto the deck and scrunch it into it's bag, then slot in the new sail and hoist it.

Obviously you need to be into wind and not in a hurry.

I've swapped out our 150 for our 135 as the wind was increasing.

If at anchor it's a no brainer.

Paul

Edited by - on

Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2008 : 18:58:38

I hope this is not considered hijacking a post, but what would be the suggestion for a furler for a boat that is being kept on a trailer? The admiral and I raise the mast using a mast crutch and a block and tackle attached to the forestay.
Thanks,
Ed

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2008 : 13:53:18

Paul - Thank you for your input! I'm leaning towards the CDI.

Ed - According to Catalina Direct they recommend furlers with a plastic foil for people that trailer frequently. The CDI Furlers have plastic foils.

I'm not sure why I mentioned Head brand furlers above (no such brand). I mean't to say Harkin. Any advantages to the Harkin furlers vs the CDI? I might race once in awhile but not very often.

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2008 : 15:46:12

My boat came with a Schaefer Marine Snapfurl Cf-500 furler. I like it a lot and have had no problems over the last 3 years of use.

Note: it takes a #5 luff on your sail - I understand this is not a common size - #6 is more common?

Edited by - welshoff on 07/07/2008 15:47:13

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2008 : 20:11:31

Why swap-out head sails?

I had my 150 recut for the cdi furler and when I want to reduce the amount of sail I'm carrying I rollup some of the exposed sail. That works pretty well. When I want to put up the spinniker, I raise it, start adjusting, it is now outside the head sail and the forestay, and then roll-up the headsail.

Does this make sense or am I missing something?

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mcollard
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2008 : 22:09:40

I have a Harkin furler on my C25, but had a CDI furler on my C22 until a couple of years ago.

The Harkin is supposed to be a slightly better shape for performance, but I couldn't tell the difference. The Harkin also has two slots, which I think can be used for changing sails while racing, so that one is raised before the other is lowered, although I don't fully understand how.

The Harkin has a metal foil, which will be ruined if bent, so this is now my major fear when raising or lowering the mast. The plastic foil in the CDI gives you a little more margin for error. The CDI has its own internal halyard, which I think makes it somewhat awkward to change a sail but leaves your regular jib halyard free to use for a spinnaker or whatever.

I do leave my 150 jenny on all season and partially furl it when I want less sail. The rolled up sail does cut down on performance, especially into the wind, but I think that it is mainly racers who would want to change the sail.

If I were buying a new one today I would probably go with the CDI. They are both very good furlers.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2008 : 23:02:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by osmepneo
 Why swap-out head sails?

Does this make sense or am I missing something?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If I know we're going to have a prolonged period of higher winds I'd like to be able to swapout the 150 or 135 and put on a 110 so I wouldn't have to accept reduced performance with a partially retracted headsail.

About how much does it cost to get a 150 re-cut for a furler?

Edited by - GaryB on 07/07/2008 23:09:47

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2008 : 23:09:02

Thank you Mike. I appreciate your input. I will most likely go with the CDI. Seems like most people are satisfied with them and the price is almost half of the Harkin.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2008 : 23:23:18

I have a Harken-- which works well and all my racing buddies gave me a zillion reasons to go with it instead of a CDI. I think if you race, the Harken may be "technically better". However, I cruise and everyone I know swears that CDI is the best value -- if not the best overall -- for the money. If I were doing it again, I would go to National Sail and buy a CDI & headsail package. For the price of the Harken I could have had a CDI and headsail! But, I am a frugle New Englander at heart!

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2008 : 21:13:58

I have had CDI furlers on all five of the sailboats I've owned and have never had a major failure. The most common problem with them is that the halyard line eventually wears out or rots from UV exposure (that's after many years of use), and they don't cost much to replace (might even be free if CDI still has a lifetime waranty like they used to). Any brand of furler with a plastic foil is preferable to an aluminum foil for boats that get trailered; there's too many ways that a mast raising evolution can get out of control and you end up with a damaged or ruined aluminum furler. I have had excellent customer service from CDI on the few occasions when I have had to order replacement parts.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2008 : 10:35:42

CDI sounds like the way for me to go.

Now anyone got any preferences on a headsail. I'm thinking of an Ullman or a Quantum. What options should I go for?

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 13:40:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 CDI sounds like the way for me to go.

Now anyone got any preferences on a headsail. I'm thinking of an Ullman or a Quantum. What options should I go for?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have a full batten main and a 135 roller furling genny, both from Ullman (ordered through Catalina Direct). They perform well and seem ruggedly built. If you are also going to buy a new mainsail at some point, I highly recommend that you specify that the sailmaker use luff slugs with stainless steel bails, not the cheaper all-plastic slugs. This will add maybe $25 to the total price but is worth it. The all-plastic slugs, which is what you will probably get by default from most sail makers, only seem to last 4 or 5 years before they start to break. I assume that the plastic slowly "rots" from UV exposure. The stainless steel bails don't suffer from this problem and should last the life of the sail itself. My Ullmam main (which came with the cheap all-plastic slugs) was only 4 years old last summer, when a sudden wind shift gybed the main before I could sheet it in and 8 of the slugs snapped all at once.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 16:26:13

If it's still an option (rather than standard) on the CDI, be sure to get the roller-bearing upgrade. All reports say it improves the ease of operation dramatically.

The biggest decision on the sail is probably 155 vs. 135. Your prevailing conditions are the main factor... Talk to the sailmaker about your conditions and intended use (racing, cruising, or a little of both) to decide on size and clew height. I'd go with their recommendation for UV strips on the leach and foot--some like Sunbrella, and some say because it doesn't stretch with the sail, it causes some "cupping"--and therefore recommend treated dacron, which looks like the sail. Then you need to decide which way the sail will wrap on the furler, which is determined by which side of the boat you want the furler line back to the cockpit. The line should feed onto the drum on the opposite side--furler line to port means it feeds to the starboard side of the drum, rolling the sail up... ummmmm... clockwise, so UV protection goes on the... ummmmmmmmmmmm........ port side of the sail (?)

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 16:48:38

Thanks for the input Dave. I will definitely be getting the roller (Torlon) bearings.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 08:03:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Is the Head brand worth the extra expense?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Arguably for skis and tennis rackets... Their furlers suck.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2008 : 21:00:59

Check out National Sail on the web. They have packages for head sail and furler (CDI) and if you talk to them, they can modify -- on the web they list the 150 but you can bet a 135 and bearings or whatever you want. The pricing was excellent.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2008 : 23:04:32

I know I'm getting in on this discussion really late.
I trailer my 89 wing tall rig. Therefore I bought a furler with a plastic foil. I bought the Schaeffer Cf-700 furler. It uses a standard bolt rope, and has a drum which is bigger than the CDI on a friend's 25. Therefore I can use 5/16" line on the drum with no problem. I also think that using your standard 5/16" halyard to raise the sail is easier than that skinny little line used to raise the sail with the CDI.
I also have a 135 made by Gary Swenson with Ullman, and a loose footed main by Gary. I like his work so much that I had a 135 tri radial cruising/racing headsail made by Gary for my Ericson 32. (Harken furler equipped, I don't trailer the 32) (very, very sweet sail)
A furler definitely adds another degree of difficulty to raising and lowering the mast, especially if you have a tall rig, with it's larger mast section and length. If I had to do this every time I would sail I would have stayed with a hank on sail. A furler is great if you are moored or docked with only an occasional trailer sail.
These are just my opinions, I may be wrong.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3441 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2008 : 05:34:08

Gary,

I had a furler on my ODay23 and have a CDI furler on my Catalina. I would only get a boat with a furler - A big benefit especially for those that do a lot of single-handed sailing. The CDI furler was original with the boat and I think that speaks well for reliability as it still works fine. I am not familiar with other brand furlers but since most of us have boats many years old, the furlers are probably on the average pretty old as well regardless of furler and so that speaks well regardless of which one you go with since no one seems to have any real negative comments.

As far as taking off the sail from the CDI furler - You indicated for swapping or taking off if gone for a few weeks, when you get a sail made for a furler, most get a sail cover built into the furling sail with the cover made of either sunbrella or the sail material itself. Most then leave the sail on all the time since it is then protected from the UV rays. Granted, if the wind picks up significantly as the case when there is a storm approaching, removing the sail is a safe thing to do but most will leave it on and maybe tie down the furler just in case the furling line gets loose from the cleat. I would think most only remove the sail if something like hurricane winds are expected. In my case, I sail all year-round and leave the sail on all year-round. The only exception to that will be that I plan to take off my new Quantum sails at the 1 year anniversary because Quantum wants to inspect/clean (and charge me some dough) before they extend the warranty for another year. So...next December/January, I will take off the sail and temporarily put my old one 150 back on. I have a 110 and 150 furling sails but the 150 is in better shape. I went with a 150 for my new sail because in my area, especially during the main sailing season(s), the winds are generally on the lighter side.

As far as regularly swapping sails... and in the water, I do the swap when I am in my finger slip. There is no problem doing it there but it is a little cumbersome with utilizing a messenger line and pulling down and raising the sail and so I would not do that when in the water but not docked. It is also a thing that I would rarely want to do just because it is cumbersome dealing with the lines and the sail even when in the finger slip. Though, it can be done fairly easy as long as you square away the lines and capture the bulk of the sail from it getting loose/flailing about.

I would go with a 110/135/150 as is best for your area under most conditions and figure that when you get use to using the furler, you will appreciate the convenience of using it and will probably minimize the need for doing any sail swapping. I would select your sail 110/135/150 with that in mind.

Edited by - OLarryR on 07/28/2008 05:42:54

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