Taking my furler question one step further.

[bmiller]

The current furler drum is right at the top of the bowsprit, as low as possible on the forestay. The genoa fills the entire luff length, minus a couple inches. When fully deployed the genoa has to go up over the pulpit railing. This causes the foot of the sail to have to bend over the rail. When sheeting close to the wind it's a bitch to get the sail up over the rail.
When I install the new furler is it practical to have the drum a little higher to have the foot of the genoa less affected by the railing? This will also afford slightly better visibility forward? Can the existing sail be cut for the new configuration? The profurl units come with extra long tangs for this purpose, that's what got me thinking this way.
Or could I have the sail recut a little shorter and take up the space, at the tack, with a pennant?
Does all this dribble make sense, image added for clarification:

[Meridian]

Yes, to both. On my previous boat, my original headsail was exactly as yours...a real "deck sweeper". Difficult to sheet-in properly, and damn near impossible to see around. I replaced the furling unit (though you could just add the pennant and re-cut the sail if your rf unit is in good shape) and raised the new drum with elongated tabs. I re-cut the genoa from a 155 to a 110, installed it on the new drum, and Bingo...a better-performing sail that was much easier to tack, and safer because I could now see what was in front of me!
Good luck,
John

[GordMay]

What John (Meridian) said ...