Which Roller Furler?

[Idylles15.5]

My 15.5 restoration will finally be done this spring. I have replaced everything you can think of. The last purchase is the new roller furler. I have been reading about all of them and I'm leanining toward the Schaeffer system. The boat is a 51 Frers Idylles with a 74' stick. I do plan on a Panama passage and a lot of ocean milage. So any of you sailors who have logged many big water miles feel free to advise ok. Thanks Nelson S

[Efraim]

For a boat your size and intentions I would go with Reckman, why play around, go with the best.

[Idylles15.5]

Efraim if you lend me the moola for carbon fiber I'll do it lol.

[Joli]

Harken, or Harken, or Harken. Good kit, great company!

[delmarrey]

I check'm all out at a boat show a couple years ago and was leaning towards a Scheafer until I seen the Furlex so that's what I chose due to it's construction.

[Laidback]

For your Idelles 51 Frers - recommend the Harken Mark IV unit 3
Here is the link :- Product Details

[why me?]

I have to agree with Joli and Laidback.

I had a harken for 7 years and found it very good. Never snarled line in the drum, never had to use a winch to roll, and almost never maintained it.. the squeaky wheel gets the grease and it rarely complained.

Best deck gear I've ever had.

[FSMike]

Our Profurl is one of those pieces of equipment that you never have to worry about. 14 years and still going strong.

[James S]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Our Profurl is one of those pieces of equipment that you never have to worry about. 14 years and still going strong.

Same here ....nothing ever has gone wrong with it....It may be like anchors....a little oversize makes a big difference.

I forget the details but it was one size up.

[Idylles15.5]

Thanks for thr info, and no offense to anyone, but I have done a lot of sailing, Antigua race week, Block Island and so on. I'm aware of all the models and what they say the pros and cons are. The problem is that I don't think a magazine is going to bash a current or potential advertiser, so I always take those tests with a grain of salt. What I'm actually looking for though is some real tested hardcore ocean mileage from anyone who has been out there doing the live aboard thing. Did the aluminum tubes stay straight and not bend in heavy weather; did the bearings hold on and not go out of round? This is the kind of info I'm looking for. Thanks

[barnakiel]

Facnor, Harken.

b.

[Zednotzee]

My's boat's got a Harken cruising unit, which came with the boat. The previous owner said the main factor in his decision was that the Harken was the only furling unit he'd found that didn't require him to cut the forestay. FWIW.

[Joli]

Well, if the foreguy breaks and you bash the pole against the headstay you'll probably kink the foil. The Profurl units have sealed bearings that don't stay sealed. For a 50 footer you're limited to the larger companies (harken, profurl, rekman, maybe facnor)

Good luck

Joli

Originally Posted by Idylles15.5

Thanks for thr info, and no offense to anyone, but I have done a lot of sailing, Antigua race week, Block Island and so on. I'm aware of all the models and what they say the pros and cons are. The problem is that I don't think a magazine is going to bash a current or potential advertiser, so I always take those tests with a grain of salt. What I'm actually looking for though is some real tested hardcore ocean mileage from anyone who has been out there doing the live aboard thing. Did the aluminum tubes stay straight and not bend in heavy weather; did the bearings hold on and not go out of round? This is the kind of info I'm looking for. Thanks

[Idylles15.5]

Thanks Joli, and yes for that exact reason profurl is out. Two of my buddies have profurl units and your correct, the sealed bearings don't stay sealed. Then the bearings get dirt on them and start to wear out of round. Since they are supposedly sealed to, they are a pain in the ass to fix.

[timberboat]

Done 20,000 miles on boats with Harken and Furlex gear and loved em both. Put a furlex on my present boat, never a problem, would do it again. Heard ood things about schaefer too.