Catamaran with leisurefurl

[GRIT]

Is there anyone here with experience using a leisure furl boom on a catamaran?

We have a new 15 meter, 50 foot, fairly lightweight cat. Dwl at 10 tonnes, 22000 lbs. Lihtship, 7.55 tonnes, or 16600 lbs. The mainsail will be about 80m2, 850 ft2.

The boom would be a leisure furl Ocean series, but I'd be pleased to hear from owners of any of the leisure furl line of roller furling booms.

Thanks for relating your firsthand experience.

Paul.

[GRIT]

I'll bump this a couple of times, then just let it die.

Cheers.
Paul.

[Paul L]

See this thread
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ls-223557.html

[GRIT]

I forgot about that thread.
Thank you.

I'm still hoping to hear from actual users of boom furling, on cats.

I saw a leopard 48 on that tgread, I'll pm him.

Thanks.
Paul.

[donradcliffe]

There is a problem with leisure furl and full batten mains--you can't use battcars. The workarounds require constant sail maintenance at the front batten pocket.

[GRIT]

Well, I've been told by Mack sails that it's not a real issue, and requires some luff work every 3 years or so. I've written to a fellow who's using one on a leopard 48. I'm looking forward to hearing his views on the matter.

Thanks for your contribution.
Paul.

[donradcliffe]

My experience was with a 58 ft mono with Leisure Furl and a full batten main. The luff wouldn't last a season without reworking and I was concerned about a transatlantic crossing. I ended up taking ALL the batten tension off and it lasted the 16 days I needed.

[GRIT]

Wow. That's terrible.
Thanks for sharing.

Paul.

[SFer]

Paul, I am also curious about in-boom furling on a cat. I have a Schaefer system on our monohull and love it. I noted that someone in the other thread note that many cats can't take a big boom vang to support the boom. Ours has a very specific fixed angle and is non-adjustable and I can see where the coach roof on a cat might not allow for it.

One of the issues is that boom is a bit of a beast weight-wise, so not having a vang to support it might be an issue.

[GRIT]

Thank you for your comments, regarding vangs.

We're fortunate enough to have a forward cockpit, which allows for the installation of a proper boom vang system.

The issue of chaffe, and the maintenance required to keep the luff up to snuff, is my newest concern.

It's going to be quite a chore to remove the sail and repair or replace the luff tape.
We prefer to sail, and the roller boom seems like a double edged sword. Even as it makes sailing easier, it seems it makes maintenance harder.

Which is why we appreciate contributions, such as yours, from actual users.

Thanks.
Paul.

[Sailwithscott]

I have a 40 ft catamaran with an in Mast Furler. I go sailing 180 times a year and have for the last 12 years.

The secret to keeping it from jamming is to never furl it while it is luffing.

Do not head into the wind to reef or furl it up, but stay on a reach where the sail is lightly against the shrouds. It always furls and unfurls nicely.

verticle battens in the mainsail allow a nice roach.

[GRIT]

Thanks for your comments. We're not considering an in mast furler, but I'm glad you're pleased witg yours.

Cheers.
Paul.

[Intentional Drifter]

We have twice chartered a Lagoon 380 with a Leisurefurl out of Vancouver. Total, we've spent about 4 weeks on the boat. We never had a serious problem with it and, overall, it was a pleasant experience. I had two main take-aways with it:

1. At least on relatively calm, inland waters (Strait of Georgia, Sunshine Coast, Desolation Sound), it was a very nice. I didn't see where it significantly hampered performance, but a Lagoon 380 isn't exactly a performance cat, in the first place. I did notice (and was careful) that the area where the boltrope goes into the luff feeder seems to be a critical wear point and takes special attention. There was a fair bit of chafe on the boltrope, and I recall thinking that if it jumped out of the luff feeder and ran like a broken zipper, we would be truly screwed. However, we never had a problem. We also didn't have a problem with reefing on a reach -- worked fine. I don't recall doing so downwind.

2. As mentioned, we were in pretty calm inland waters. I don't recall seeing anything more than 25 knots and 4 to 5 foot seas. I remember coming away from it thinking that it was great for that purpose, but I wouldn't want it offshore with force 7 or more. That's probably my personal bias for wanting things as simple as possible and the less to break the better.

While this isn't lots of experience, at least it's something.

Good luck with your decision.

ID

[davecalvert]

There are a few issues with multihull mains on furling booms and masts. 1st, the sail area will be greatly reduced. The in mast mains have almost no roach and the boom furlers, only about 10% roach. This was the recommendation I got from Leisure furl. If the mains are full battened with even moderate roach, the compression on the luff ends of the battens, quickly wears the bolt rope. In mast furlers can be great like described by Sailswithscott but, they can jam.
So, less performance, and more wear and tear.

[GRIT]

Thanks to you both. It's good to hear about other folks' experiences. That's exactly what I'm hoping to hear; good or bad.

Thanks Dave, for your insight.
Please check your email for the measurements you requested.

Cheers.
Paul.