450: Leisure Furl on Lagoon 450?

[DavefromNZ]

I am thinking of putting a Leisure Furl (new electric drive) on our L450 and would welcome any thoughts?

The stack pack and reefing lines work but I find they are a very big hassle and I don't use the main very much on shorter day trips;
- getting the cover on and off a hassle,
- battens catch the lazy jacks,
- reefing lines jam and often around the end of the boom making for a dangerous exercise to untangle,
- downwind reefing not really possible in stronger winds and stresses very high. Leisure Furl say possible but we shall see...
- stack pack poorly made and I have had to repair rips.

Very expensive and such a waste as the main and boom have to be replaced, but would we look back in 5 years and be happy it was safer and the main was used a lot more?


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[PaulinOz]

Been having the same problem with snagging the Lazy Jack lines with the main on the way up. So loosened them off at the mast and main went up easy, forgot to re-adjust so when I dropped the main it went every where.
Just adding a couple of Spinlock rope clutches at the helm and a pair of blocks at base of mast. Can then adjust Lazy Jacks from cockpit very easily with out a trip to mast, hopefully that's an end to snagging them when raising the main.

[roetter]

Yep - I hear ya. Getting ready for you spring eh?

I have a mast furling on my mono and the main goes out any time there is possibly 2 minutes of sailing. Takes seconds to do and is a pleaure. I can do it myself while leaving the marina under autopilot, as I only have to step a little forward of the steering station to reach the outhaul.

I talked to someone at the boat show in the Frisco Bay last April. I believe he was from Leisure Furl. The man said it requires an 89º angle between boom and mast. Since the L450, like most cats, has a lot of rake ,the boom attachment point on the mast has to go up quit a bit. Probably about 1 meter.

How did those flexible solar panels work so far?

Rolf

[DavefromNZ]

Hi Rolf,

Yep, spring is here, next outing I will chase the Coastal Classic yacht race Auckland to Bay of Islands in late Oct.

I was aware of the critical boom/mast angle but hadn't considered the effect of the rake. I will do a few sums!

The solar is great but way less capacity than your set up. However reduces the use of the generator significantly and mostly to make water. And nice to arrive home and walk away without having to connect shore power.

I will email you an article on our around NZ trip. Are you now lazing in the Caribbean on your new L450?

Cheers, Dave

[DavefromNZ]

On first investigation the manual has the rake at 2.6 deg and a rough measurement from a picture shows about 4.5 deg. The Leisure furl needs to be set at 87 deg (mast down to boom) so that may just work to clear the bimini and not have to move the attachment up the mast. A bit more measuring to do on Magique.

Dave

[DavefromNZ]

Ok we are going ahead with the Leisure Furl on our L450. Should be fitted by the end of Nov so I will add a few comments and photos then.

I understand one was done in Australia so if you are reading then any advice would be most welcome?


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[a64pilot]

I have one on my Mono, I like it. I was told 86 deg. by the factory when I called trying to fix the extreme difficulty I was having furling or unfurling, but the real indicator is to get it so the battens are exactly parallel to the boom, don't worry about exact number of degrees.
Key is to have the sail a few inches away from the end of the boom when furling so it doesn't jam. PO had the boom at 90 so the sail would bind, and let me tell you it was all a Milwaukee drill could do to furl or unfurl, getting the angle right makes a huge difference.
The sail seems more efficient, I carry less sail to keep the boat balanced usually, makes me want a bigger Genoa.
I think you may well pick up some speed, be interesting to hear from you about if performance changes

[Smrdp]

I am investigating these systems as well. If you have a square top mainsail the uppermost batten will cause a problem as it is not parallel to the foot of the sail and can't be rolled onto the boom.

[DavefromNZ]

Yes it cannot be a square top mainsail so I have to sell my current one (any buyers? 85 sq m, comes with track, cars, reefing lines, stack pack and lazy jacks, 3 years old - cheap but in New Zealand, picture attached

The new sail has 7 full length battens and a large roach so I still have an 80 sq m sail.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[DavefromNZ]

Just finished fitting the Leisure Furl and new mainsail. Only run it up and down a few times and had one sail. So far I would say excellent fit and usability. A few pictures;


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Emerald Sea]

Well done Dave! I'm a taking a liking to one of these and will check back with you later to get your feedback.


Steve
L450
SV Emerald Sea

[DavefromNZ]

Thanks Steve. I will try various reefing setting and update here.

I think that the stack pack and reefing lines on the high boom of the L450 are a week point. My stack pack was disintegrating after less than 3 years as no UV protection. The reefing lines which frequently tangle around the end of the boom become a danger.

Lagoon should offer the Leisure Furl as an option as I believe it would have 100% acceptance rate.

Cheers, Dave


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[TOT]

Looks great Dave, post a video if you can showing it in operation

[DavefromNZ]

I have been asked a few times the cost of the Leisure Furl so here it is in NZD (NZD=0.63EUR, =0.78USD).

Note that if this had been done at the L450 original new purchase the cost of the new sail, mast removal, electrician, and part boom would have been removed, so maybe EUR 10k?

Leisure Furl say that it can be done with the mast in. However it cannot with the L450 as the old track cannot be removed with the mast in. Actually mast removal and refit was incredibly quick and easy over 2 days.

..................... Unit Price.......... GST....... Total
Leisure Furl (aft drive) $19,900 $2,985 $22,885
Sail 80sqm................ $9,488 $1,423 $10,911
Mast removal
and all installations.... $6,000 $900 .......$6,900
Electrician estimate......... $350.... $53... $403
Vang .............................$2,000 $300.. $2,300

Total $43,399

Minus boom sale ?
Minus mainsail sale ?

[DavefromNZ]

more photos