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04-12-2020, 19:01
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northport NY
Boat: Idylles 15.5
Posts: 345
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Best Roller Furler ?
So I work on boats for a living and have my own opinion of manufacturers furlers, but I would like some input from some cruisers who have done some serious offshore / ocean cruising, etc. The original Goiot on my 15.5 Idylle has seen better days. This summer on my way to Newport I had to put a dog leash on the furler line feed arm to a cleat so it wouldn't spin around like crazy. lol Anyway lets just say it's time to suck it up. I have fixed a number of profurl units and I'm not a fan. Allen screws backing out or missing from inside the drum mount. Torlon bearings egged out on a few. I like the Schaefer 3100, but oooffaaa expensive. Seldon, Furlex. Fancor? I'm finally renting my house next Oct and leaving for a few years in the boat, so overall strength and reliability is what I'm looking for. I will suck it up and pay for the Schaefer, but just wanted some input from cruisers out there who have been through the **** and furler held up. Thanks. No offense to profurl fans, I've just fixed to many to have any confidence in them. Sealed seals in the dirt too if it gets in. Hence the egged out bearings.
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04-12-2020, 19:10
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Noank, Ct. USA
Boat: Cape Dory 31
Posts: 3,169
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
I have two Harken ESP furling units which I installed myself in four hours, each. Four singlehanded runs to Bermuda and plenty of coastal cruising in the last five years. No complaints.
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05-12-2020, 00:22
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 12
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Almast refit , made in Tasmania Australia, bombproof with a 10 year worldwide warranty, I asked plenty of riggers which furler they never have to repair . Good luck
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05-12-2020, 00:59
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,151
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freyfrey
Almast refit , made in Tasmania Australia, bombproof with a 10 year worldwide warranty, I asked plenty of riggers which furler they never have to repair . Good luck
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I'm happy with mine, but fairly short term. Nice bit of kit, good price, easy to set up, really complete installation set with really good instructions for DIY.
And w hen you phone them you speak to the head engineer/designer, not a highschool dropout clerk... I like that!
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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05-12-2020, 03:37
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#6
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Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
We have all Selden furlers, 2x Furlex 400S's on the headsails, and Selden furling mast. 11 years and maybe 30,000 miles. I like these the best of any furling systems I've used, but I haven't used Harken. I've had a few minor issues with the headsail furlers, and they are somewhat fiddly to take apart and put back together, but they work well and are pretty reliable. The 400S is pretty beefy and I think it would be pretty hard to break it.
The Selden in-mast furling is bombproof; a really good system. The only issue is that the furling drum loses its bite over time and you have to tail the furling line hard to get grip, and this part is really hard to replace without pulling the mast. I would make this electric or hydraulic if I had it to do over.
__________________
"You sea! I resign myself to you also . . . . I guess what you mean,
I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me;
We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
Walt Whitman
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05-12-2020, 03:39
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Boat: Catalina 18, Looking for Larger!
Posts: 53
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
JAFO, why do you say that? After reading the account, it seemed like fatigue and lack of diesel were the biggest problems after not being able to receive updated weather info. What was the roller furling issue?
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05-12-2020, 03:43
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Only have about 4,000 miles on it but so far very happy with the Harken MkIV. Been completely trouble free so far and all the bits have stayed attached.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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05-12-2020, 09:29
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Southport CT
Boat: Sabre 402
Posts: 2,712
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmc42
JAFO, why do you say that? After reading the account, it seemed like fatigue and lack of diesel were the biggest problems after not being able to receive updated weather info. What was the roller furling issue?
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When they originally set out their main r/f jammed and ripped the sail, so they had to go back to Turkey to get it fixed. They couldn't go to Greece, because they had departed from Turkey. (Those two are not on great terms even without Covid.) This delayed their trip a week or more. If they had been able to make the trip when originally planned, the weather would likely have been better.
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05-12-2020, 09:45
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Annapolis, MD
Boat: Gozzard, 44CC, 50'
Posts: 550
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
I can't say enough about both of my Schaefer furlers that I've had since new in '98. They have NEVER let me down even in 50kt winds offshore. That plus the fact that Schaefer provides outstanding customer service!
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05-12-2020, 10:22
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northport NY
Boat: Idylles 15.5
Posts: 345
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JAFO
The best roller furler is NO roller furler.
Take the Aussie couple who recently lost their boat in the Med. Had they not had in-mast furling, that whole situation would never have developed.
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Who said anything about an in mast furler? How does this always happen on here? Some people just like to hear themselves jabbaer jaw i believe. Jib furlers, and i have hank ons for my inner stay anyway.
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05-12-2020, 11:54
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: San Diego
Boat: Cal2-34
Posts: 1
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Anyone have a "STERNS" furling system? Mine is in need of bearing replacement which will happen sooner than later. Ive eased the backstay somewhat so i can still use it but am to the point of utilizing the winch to both unfurl and furl....not a good thing to do!
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05-12-2020, 11:58
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Boat: Tayana Vancouver 42ac
Posts: 1,196
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Idylles15.5
So I work on boats for a living and have my own opinion of manufacturers furlers, but I would like some input from some cruisers who have done some serious offshore / ocean cruising, etc. The original Goiot on my 15.5 Idylle has seen better days. This summer on my way to Newport I had to put a dog leash on the furler line feed arm to a cleat so it wouldn't spin around like crazy. lol Anyway lets just say it's time to suck it up. I have fixed a number of profurl units and I'm not a fan. Allen screws backing out or missing from inside the drum mount. Torlon bearings egged out on a few. I like the Schaefer 3100, but oooffaaa expensive. Seldon, Furlex. Fancor? I'm finally renting my house next Oct and leaving for a few years in the boat, so overall strength and reliability is what I'm looking for. I will suck it up and pay for the Schaefer, but just wanted some input from cruisers out there who have been through the **** and furler held up. Thanks. No offense to profurl fans, I've just fixed to many to have any confidence in them. Sealed seals in the dirt too if it gets in. Hence the egged out bearings.
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I have a pair of Profurl furlers since 2010/12 without a problem so far with one roundtrip to Hawaii. My rigger used Loctite on all the Allen screws. Will that help.
~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH
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05-12-2020, 12:13
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cape Town South Africa
Boat: Montevideo 43
Posts: 95
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
10 years on Harken!!
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05-12-2020, 12:16
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#15
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,151
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Re: Best Roller Furler ?
Just how do you mean "best"?
Lowest effort to furl? Schaffer or Almast are good.
Easiest to install? Facnor is good.
Most robust? Reef-rite (a kiwi product) is good.
Least expensive? Several systems without swivels and incorporating internal halyards are way cheaper than conventional furlers.
Best customer service? Dunno...
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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