Traditional Main vs In-mast Furling

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by poiu

For the few exceptions where it happens, changing the angle of the boat to the waves or a flopper stopper like Kenomac's is a good solution. The smaller the boat, the more it should be needed. I don't know why they aren't used a lot.

People just don't anchor in rolly conditions, so don't need flopper stoppers. If they don't have flopper stoppers they can't anchor in rolly conditions without suffering, so sort of a self fulfilling prophecy.

Pete

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

People just don't anchor in rolly conditions, so don't need flopper stoppers. If they don't have flopper stoppers they can't anchor in rolly conditions without suffering, so sort of a self fulfilling prophecy.

Pete

Maybe you're onto something -- maybe I'm the only fool who does.

I'm too big for a lot of Baltic marinas, so I anchor out a lot not by choice. That might also have something to do with my experience.

I think flopper stoppers are definitely in my future.

[Ericson38]

Rocker stopper action at Channel Islands National Park

[Ericson38]

Rocker stopper at Channel Islands National Park California

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Ericson38

Rocker stopper at Channel Islands National Park California

Cool!

More thread drift, but I wonder if flopper stoppers put undesirable strain on the rig? Cyclical loading is bad, isn't it?

I was thinking about deploying a flopper stopper from a very long carbon pole I have (stole it off a dead TP52 ). It out to be terrifically effective 9 meters out, but maybe that's a lot of force to put into the rig?

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Cool!

More thread drift, but I wonder if flopper stoppers put undesirable strain on the rig? Cyclical loading is bad, isn't it?

I was thinking about deploying a flopper stopper from a very long carbon pole I have (stole it off a dead TP52 ). It out to be terrifically effective 9 meters out, but maybe that's a lot of force to put into the rig?

Switch channels over to my flopper stopper thread, ask again and I'll give you an accurate answer... but I'm not looking for another argument.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Cool!

More thread drift, but I wonder if flopper stoppers put undesirable strain on the rig? Cyclical loading is bad, isn't it?

I was thinking about deploying a flopper stopper from a very long carbon pole I have (stole it off a dead TP52 ). It out to be terrifically effective 9 meters out, but maybe that's a lot of force to put into the rig?

I've at times wondered this myself. Though when I consider the loads a rig is subjected to when leaping off of wave tops in F6-F8(or higher), I shudder at that as well. It's yet another reason why I am not at all a fan of any play in the leeward rigging. Perhaps I'll seek an answer over on Spar Talk, Brion Toss's rigging forum. If so, I'll try & remember to report back.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

I've at times wondered this myself. Though when I consider the loads a rig is subjected to when leaping off of wave tops in F6-F8(or higher), I shudder at that as well. It's yet another reason why I am not at all a fan of any play in the leeward rigging. Perhaps I'll seek an answer over on Spar Talk, Brion Toss's rigging forum. If so, I'll try & remember to report back.

Please do!

And know that like you, I always never liked slack in the leeward rigging. It just gives me a creepy feeling that the whole system is going to get a bashing with cyclical loads. Yet you can't tight it up too much . . . .

[Bleemus]

I like in mast furlers but you can have issues. Photo below is me on the way to the Marquesas unjamming an in mast furler. An inexperienced crew member tried furling it with insufficient tension on the clew. With experience you can avoid most problems.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Bleemus

I like in mast furlers but you can have issues. Photo below is me on the way to the Marquesas unjamming an in mast furler. An inexperienced crew member tried furling it with insufficient tension on the clew. With experience you can avoid most problems.

Hey, I bet that was fun (not)! But, that's a very good looking kite IMO!

Jim

[Bleemus]

Was a Jongert 68 with too narrow a mast section for in mast furling IMHO. That took about an hour. Luckily it wasnt too rough that day! [emoji41]

When I was the First Mate on Flyer II, former Whitbread winner converted to luxury cruiser, the Captain insisted on a full rig check after any bouts with bumpy weather. Checking rod rigging with a magnifying glass offshore was a challenge but I loved it. This was off the coast of Columbia heading for the San Blas. Great memories . . .

[mikedefieslife]

Originally Posted by CruiserAD

I just bought a Broadblue 38 catamaran from 2002 this summer and sailed it from UK to Germany. The boats intended usage is extended single handed offshore cruising. Even though it is a cat it has got a very small mainsail because of the mast being very far aft, as well as having backstay preventing a "loafy" or square-top mainsail.

I have a Prout Snowgoose so I believe a very distant relative of your Broadblue in some ways.

It too has a tiny main. In fact it is specced as being just 14.9m2

My boat came with an aftermarket behind the mast furling system. My sail is 13.5m2 so I am loosing almost 10% sail area, but in absolute terms it's nothing. The original mains for these Prouts never has full battens, and like you Broadblue had twin backstays and thus no positive roach.

I do not like the system I have. It is from antiquity and behaves as such, but I would only switch to an in boom system. The idea of a lazy jacks, a stack pack, various reefing lines, just sound tedious. It was when I was learning to sail so I doubt it's more fun now.

[fatherchronica]

The nice thing I found anchoring by or in a slip near boats with inmost furling is that in the darkness and with a 30 kt. wind blowing you do not need a light to find your boat due to the mournful howling of the mast. Maybe not all of them, but a lot of them.