In-Mast Roller Furling

[Stede]

I've been looking at potential live aboard boats.There's a nicely fitted out cutter that I really like, but she has in mast roller furling. While I've never sailed a boat with in mast furling, I've heard a lot of negatives concerning them. In an effort to avoid opening a "can of worms" here, I'm going to try to put the question to a poll. No comments needed unless desired, just a vote for or against.Thanks!

[simonmd]

Well you need to set a poll up then!

There is nothing wrong with a properly maintained in mast set up. In good order, they are MUCH easier to use and saves the hassle of packing the sail um properly once arrived in port. Yes, some will say you don't get as good a sail shape but as a liveaboard, i'm guessing outright performance isn't a major concern.

Age and condition is the key, ask when it was last serviced and the moving parts checked / replaced as nessesary.

[Stede]

I'm not sure what the deal is here? I did set up a poll. When I go into the post to edit, the poll appears? When I click "save" and exit out, the poll disappears. I don't have time to investigate the matter right now.Thanks ''simonmd" for your comments

[Conch Cruzer]

We had in mast furling on our IP40, Eventyr. I loved it. It was never a problem and simplified sail handing for our small crew. As mentioned, it's great to have the sail totally put away before the anchor touches sand. No worries until the next passage.

My next closest but distant preference for a cruising boat would be for a stack pack.

[Cheechako]

If you like the boat well enough, you could retro it to regular later... Although not cheap I spose. The main being the big expense as youll want to put some area back on.

[Kojiro]

How would you convert in mast to regular.?

[DeepFrz]

Very expensive to go from in-mast to standard mast. Better to look at other boats to begin with. boatman61 just had a few words to say about a boat he delivered with in mast furling(last week I think). Look it up.

[Cheechako]

Be surprised if there is not an extrusion avail. But a simple aluminum flat bar with simple bends and riveted on. New track on that.

[James S]

Wish I had gone to an in mast when I replaced my rig.

[s/vPainkiller]

Sure there are negatives, but I like my in mast furling. It's easy to reef or unreef. Also, I like "infinite" reefing. There are times when a half of a reef is just right.
Scott

[Bash]

Hard to answer this question without knowing more about the boat. The bigger it is, the more it will benefit from in-mast furling. On the other hand, I'd be less likely to want in-mast furling on a cutter as opposed to a sloop, especially if it's a low-aspect rig typical of a more classic cutter rig.

I'm unconvinced by delivery skippers who claim to have trouble with in-mast furling. Once you learn how to use it, it's fairly simple to avoid jams. I've got somewhere around 20,000 nm on in-mast furling without a jam.

[minaret]

I have in-mast and it's completely awesome. I don't think my wife could handle our boat with a traditional rig, but with power in-mast furling it's easy for her. No problems here...

[simonmd]

Poll seems to be working now

[boatman61]

Trouble is delivery skippers are working to a schedule... learning is done as you go along... thankfully it was downhill from Bayona so the main stayed in its hard won perfect furl... it was impossible to furl underway without bad crinkles unless tension was maintained on the outhaul while winching in the sail... dunno if the full length vertical battens had anything to do with it...
Advice/tips appreciated in case I get another one... and it was my first experience...