In Boom Furling experiences?

[a64pilot]

Not being a racer, I can't comment on that, but I believe there would be significant improvement, but not as much as if the same was done on a pure racing hull.
But speed is all about spending more and more money on ever decreasing effectiveness of modifications, to get that last little bit is extremely expensive, diminishing returns.
But some love it, and speed is addictive.
Helps if your wealthy

[Pacey16]

Hi Dale, My Mate had a leisurefurl proffesionaly installed on his Lagoon 440, I didnt think much of it at all, I reckon it made a bad sailing boat sail a lot worse. The height of the boom had a lot to do with it I think. The worst thing about it though was the constant squeak that came from the plastic bearing at the back, tried for a while to quieten it but after a few days I gave up.
Where you sailing these days?

[a64pilot]

Just remembered something, it's the way my mind works, I'll think of something hours or days later.
But if capturing water is important to you, it's hard to beat a furling boom for that. My Profurl is a huge U shape to it the the sail furls into of course, but it's also a huge rain gutter, any water that runs down the sail runs into the boom, on the end towards the mast there is a drain hole. Water pours out of this hole if the sail is up and it's raining.
Easy to tap the hole for a garden hose and fill your water tank.

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by Pacey16

Hi Dale, My Mate had a leisurefurl proffesionaly installed on his Lagoon 440, I didnt think much of it at all, I reckon it made a bad sailing boat sail a lot worse. The height of the boom had a lot to do with it I think. The worst thing about it though was the constant squeak that came from the plastic bearing at the back, tried for a while to quieten it but after a few days I gave up.
Where you sailing these days?

Hey Pacey, not sailing anywhere at the moment, sold Freeform in Phuket. The deal in hong Kong ( the deal with the leisure furl) fell over. Looked at a boat in Oz yesterday, but happy to buy anywhere and keep sailing west.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

And... if I put racing sails on my Oyster 53, it's never going to go as fast or point as high as a dedicated racing boat when compared side by side. No matter how much I wish it to be so. The fancy sails will look fast, but they cannot alter the hull shape of a cruising style and equipped yacht, even when the racing sails are trimmed properly.

Better sails won't do much for top speed, but they can help with pointing and light-air performance.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Thought request for those with furling booms... Leisurefurl, Shaefer, Profurl...

I've got a 20' Leisurefurl offshore that is soon to be commissioned... My question is with regard to the luff tracks, as mine will need to be replaced, and I'm trying to decide my best course... I have 3 directions to go...

1- Replace what I have, fixed track with a feeder (1/3 cost of #2)
pic 1

2- Upgrade to newer style fixed track with newer flexible feeder
pic 2

3- Convert/retrofit or fabricate to an articulating pivot track
Either a profurl - pic 3 (not loving the looks, nor huge wind slot)
OR
Shaefer - pic 4

I'm leaning towards #3 articulating due to the perceived ability of furling at much larger boom angles...

Any opinions of your current system relative to these???

Thanks!

[accomplice]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Thought request for those with furling booms... Leisurefurl, Shaefer, Profurl...

I've got a 20' Leisurefurl offshore that is soon to be commissioned... My question is with regard to the luff tracks, as mine will need to be replaced, and I'm trying to decide my best course... I have 3 directions to go...

1- Replace what I have, fixed track with a feeder (1/3 cost of #2)
pic 1

2- Upgrade to newer style fixed track with newer flexible feeder
pic 2

3- Convert/retrofit or fabricate to an articulating pivot track
Either a profurl - pic 3 (not loving the looks, nor huge wind slot)
OR
Shaefer - pic 4

I'm leaning towards #3 articulating due to the perceived ability of furling at much larger boom angles...

Any opinions of your current system relative to these???

Thanks!

We have #2 and are happy with it.

Regarding #3, you think there might be an advantage in increased boom angle. If it is less sensitivity to the boom angle from horizontal that you seek -- I don't think that would be any different. The boom angle to horizontal -- its height -- determines whether the the sail furls with the luff lined up, riding forward, or sliding aft on the boom. If it is the ability to furl with larger sheeting angles that you seek (boom angle from centerline), I believe you will need to mostly unload the sail to furl/un-furl the sail regardless of which track you use. With #2, you should be able to furl/unfurl the sail with almost any boom angle to centerline (we can with #2), but you may have to adjust the boom height to assure the sail furls neatly and doesn't ride forward on the drum.

I would go with #2, although I cannot understand why it should cost so much more than #1.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by accomplice

We have #2 and are happy with it.

Regarding #3, you think there might be an advantage in increased boom angle. If it is less sensitivity to the boom angle from horizontal that you seek -- I don't think that would be any different. The boom angle to horizontal -- its height -- determines whether the the sail furls with the luff lined up, riding forward, or sliding aft on the boom. If it is the ability to furl with larger sheeting angles that you seek (boom angle from centerline), I believe you will need to mostly unload the sail to furl/un-furl the sail regardless of which track you use. With #2, you should be able to furl/unfurl the sail with almost any boom angle to centerline (we can with #2), but you may have to adjust the boom height to assure the sail furls neatly and doesn't ride forward on the drum.

I would go with #2, although I cannot understand why it should cost so much more than #1.

Obviously a loaded sail would be difficult to move at any boom angle... Not having used one before, I was trying to see if there was a significant advantage to having the luff track swing with the boom... You pretty much nailed the answer with regard to off centerline furling...

#2 newer style is more than #1 because I have most of the #1 base track. As it is unobtanium, I'll have to machine a stick though...

Thanks a ton for the post!

[beiland]

Originally Posted by SoundWave

The Schaefer system came with our boat, previous owners said it was just under $20K (including the solid vang and also installation) on 58' mast.

Downwind sailing and storm sailing, no problem. Preventer pretty important, that boom is like a swinging telephone pole.

Items like this make me further question the use of big full battened mainsails for cruising sailors

[beiland]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Do you ever actually race? If not, how do you know the difference, do you need to point that close to the wind? I mean... it's not like your boat is even capable of planing like a flat bottomed race boat.

You have a cruising boat.

Amen

[beiland]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I really, really like to sail. I like to sail well, and I like to sail fast.

And I have been conditioned by three 1500 mile trips against the wind, to care a whole lot about pointing ability. This year, I tacked the entire way across the Central Baltic. When you leave Point A for Point B, and Point B is dead upwind, and is several hundred miles away, believe me -- you care very, very much about every tenth of a knot VMG to windward.

Sailing upwind is the whole art of sailing, and it's not easy to get a cruising boat upwind. 5 knots VMG to windward over a wide range of conditions has been the holy grail for me, which despite investment of tens of thousands of pounds and a lot of work, I haven't quite achieved yet.

So considering all that -- I guess you can see why I am drooling over roachy flat-top mainsails.

This double headsail rig with NO mainsail did rather well sailing to windward.
Aftmast rigs??? - Page 52 - Boat Design Forums
And I might suggest you do a bit more reading on those roachy flat-top mainsails,...they just are not proving to be that much of an advantage (if any in a number of cases), especially considering their extra handling difficulties.

BTW, I like the capability to sail to windward also, despite what some folks think of me and my ideas of no mainsails on cruising boats

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by beiland

Items like this make me further question the use of big full battened mainsails for cruising sailors

I don't understand, Please explain.
My boom is heavy and you have to respect it when the sail is furled, just as I assume any boom is, but with the sail up, I doubt it weighs much more than a regular boom, and its weight is negligible, way overridden by aerodynamics of the sail.
It is big though as it holds the entire sail inside of it, has to be.
But what is wrong with a full battened mainsail for cruising?

[Polux]

Originally Posted by daletournier

Hey Pacey, not sailing anywhere at the moment, sold Freeform in Phuket. The deal in hong Kong ( the deal with the leisure furl) fell over. Looked at a boat in Oz yesterday, but happy to buy anywhere and keep sailing west.

You will find lots of information here:
https://ssca.org/survey/ES_Analysis_039.htm

There are several guys saying that the leisure furl does not work well and one says it is very bad, not working with strong winds.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Polux

You will find lots of information here:
https://ssca.org/survey/ES_Analysis_039.htm

There are several guys saying that the leisure furl does not work well and one says it is very bad, not working with strong winds.

And there are several saying how good leisure furl is.
Terms like brilliant and I would never go back.
If your going to quote a source at least acknowledge the comments either way.

[Lodesman]

Agree with Bob. The positive reviews of Leisurefurl far outnumber the negatives on that survey.
Point I saw on the survey and mentioned here - we found the sail cover was quite tight, but as it was sunbeaten and on its last legs, we decided to replace it. Made our own a little wider than the original. We recycled the continuous loops off the original, but repositioned the knots to a more sensible location. Haven't had any problems with it since.