Opinions on New Furler

[macbeth]

It looks like my 1987 Hood 2535 furler on my Niagara 31' has finally bit the dust: it's all cracked around the sail feeder and in my attempt to fix it I've done something to the inner forestay wire so that now the furler won't rotate about it. (Any suggestions on how or who to repair it would be appreciated: Toronto to Montreal area). It needs at least a new forestay wire and a new piece of extrusion in the feeder length.

However, I'm wondering what would be your opinion on a good replacement ? The luff is 43'. I don't like the closed drum systems, since I had bad experiences with the 2535 until I took the shield off around the drum - I'd get rope kinks inside the shield !

Thank you.

[macbeth]

I guess I'll answer my own question !

I restricted my search to Hood, Profurl, Harken, and Schafer these being commonly used and sold in my geographic location.

I rejected the Schafer on the grounds of cost. Much more expensive than the others.

After lots of research, I rejected the Profurl on the grounds of cost, the difference of opinions on "sealed bearings", some people saying the furler was difficult to furl, and apparently no independent tack swivel. Also negative comments about user support didn't help.

I seriously considered the Harken Unit 1, I liked the single slot, the installation manual, the way the extrusions were connected to one another, and the top piece. However, it had no independent tack swivel, and it was not built as heavily as my final chosen model.

My final chosen model was a Hood Seafurl 5, model 235. The price was good, given that Hood were giving a rebate if you already had a Hood (which I had). It had an independent tack swivel. (These give the sail a better shape when reefing). It was well built, heavy and sturdy. The head swivel was built like a tank compared to the Harken. The drum was made of stainless steel which I preferred to the Harken composite. On the down side the installation manual was terrible. However, the unit comes with a DVD showing how to assemble it. I'll see how good that is and report back.

[Maxs]

You just mentioned all the reasons why I chose Hood for my boat. Very simple unit. Bearings can be easily replaced, and won't jam over time like sealed bearings usually do. Parts are also easy to get. I like the ease of installation over the existing headstay with no modifications. also, is the best priced unit.

[islandplanet]

Facnor has an excellent product line as well.

[MarkSF]

Two components turned my Harken no. 1 from a nightmare into the most reliable furler ever : a halyard restrainer at the top, and the Harken ratchet block where the furling line enters the cockpit.

The first stops the halyard from catching on the furler as it turns, the second keeps the furling line under tension and makes the line wrap nicely around the drum. (it also makes the jib much easier to unfurl controllably in a blow.)

Whatever the furler, don't skip on the installation accessories.

[barnakiel]

My personal top picks are Facnor, Selden (Furlex) and Harken.

Never had a single issue with any of their units.

Profurl gave me so many headaches and they seem to NOT listen to what people find wrong. Now that they are Wichard, maybe something will inch forward there.

b.

[macbeth]

Originally Posted by islandplanet

Facnor has an excellent product line as well.

Only 1 model sold in my geographic area at twice the price I paid for the Hood.

[sloopygirl]

I would vote for Furlex, we put one on my Morgan years ago and my next boat came with 2 installed on the foresails - all worked flawlessly for many years.

[SimonV]

I vote for Profurl.

[chef2sail]

Harken with the halyard restrainer and ratchet block on our boat

[islandplanet]

Originally Posted by macbeth

Only 1 model sold in my geographic area at twice the price I paid for the Hood.

Wish we could have helped you. We have a rep based in Toronto. Glad it worked out.

[macbeth]

Originally Posted by SimonV

I vote for Profurl.

Why ??!!

Does yours have an independent tack swivel ? From the IMO poor Profurl documentation I found on the Internet, it wasn't obvious whether they had one on the C290 or not. I didn't like the sealed bearings idea and it was more expensive than the Hood.

[Ancient.Mariner]

Can anyone explain what the difference is between the LX & LS Facnor furlers, is it worth spending the extra on the LX model

Thanks

[macbeth]

Originally Posted by sloopygirl

I would vote for Furlex, we put one on my Morgan years ago and my next boat came with 2 installed on the foresails - all worked flawlessly for many years.

I had to read the installation instructions to determine you had to grease the bearings, not in the Product Information. Poor. IMO. Don't like greased bearings at any rate.

[macbeth]

Originally Posted by Ancient.Mariner

Can anyone explain what the difference is between the LX & LS Facnor furlers, is it worth spending the extra on the LX model

Thanks

LS - LX
Standard Drum - Removable drum
Aluminium sail feeder - Stainless steel feeder
Fixed tack fitting - Rotating tack fitting

I guess you get what you pay for !