Roller Furling Systems
Date: August 24, 1997
From: Rob Chamber rchamber@snip.net
I am in the process of purchasing a 1979 Endeavour 32. The specification sheet indicates the boat has an 18 HP Yanmar. Could someone tell me if that means the engine is a 2QM20? The current series of Yanmar's are GM's.
Also does anyone have a jib roller reefing system on their boats? If so how satisfied are they will their present system. Thanks for any information. I was hoping to find a page such as this.
Date: August 27, 1997
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Two years ago we put a Harken roller furling system on our 32 and feel that it works really well. It has always furled and unfurled beautifully. The greater issue for me was the way the furling line is led aft. Because friction and a little wind can have a huge effect on how easily the furler works, make sure your leads create as little friction as possible. We found some from (of all places) Beneteau boats! They're made by Harken but not sold retail. We bought them through a Beneteau sales office in Chicago. They are aluminum housed rollers that are installed in the toe rail. Its very clean and has a fairly low friction level. The other point is where and how you turn and cleat the bitter end of your furling line in the cockpit. So far I haven't found a good system. I've been looking for a small swivel mounted turning block with a jam or cam cleat. This would allow you to haul in the furling line from a variety of angles which again lowers the friction level (vs a non-swiveling device), and depending on what's happening in the cockpit, allows furling from multiple positions. This is really my only complaint but it isn't necessarily a Harken issue as nobody has developed a good solution for this in my mind. My experience has been that the top furling systems are all good, but how you lead and position your furling line and leads can make it a gem or a dog.
Date: June 29, 1998
From: Daryl Di Dio ddidio@email.msn.com
If anyone out there has had difficulty with the large Endeavours; overpowering and difficulties with the main....I have installed a great roller furling system which has stabilized the boat, improved performance and has made her a great single hander with no fuss at the end of the day furling sails. Contact me through this forum...
Date: June 30, 1998
From: Greg Gorak greggorak@aero.net
I would be very interested in a roller furling main for my 42 Endeavour but so far the cost has been prohibitive. What was the cost of yours and how did you do it?
Date: June 30, 1998
From: Jim Woodard jamesfwoodardmd@ibm.net
Darryl - What kind of system is it?
Date: June 30, 1998
From: Daryl Di Dio ddidio@email.msn.com
Paul: The type of furler I used was the FAMET system. This is a "bullet proof" system built in Kansas. It has no bearings and is very easy to use. It is a behind the mast system and is essentially the same as a head furler. The cost is Approx. $2500.00 plus the cost of a new sail. It is great. Any competent rigger can install it as it needs some modifications from boat to boat. Famet advertises in Cruising World magazine. I would reccommend it to all...
Date: July 14, 1998
From: Bruce & Mona Bdb2@aol.com
What kind of furling system did you install? (Profurl or Forespar, ?, ?). Has anyone installed a roller furling boom system on their main?
Date: July 16, 1998
From: Daryl Di Dio ddidio@email.msn.com
I installed a FAMET system on my mast. It is an after the mast system advertised in cruising world as"bullet proof". It works great and makes cruising much easier. If you need more details write to me at ddidio@msn.com
Date: April 7, 1999
From: Bill Lezotte wlezotte@indiana.edu
I also have a Harken system for my Genoa. The only trouble I had was the furling line. It broke. I thought it might, and then it did when I needed it most. I replaced it with another line with a 1800lb break point and almost no stretch. Still trying to figure a good way to cleat the tail.
Date: April 8, 1999
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Cleating off the bitter end seems to be a common problem. I once saw the perfect solution on a Beneteau however. It looked like a custom Harken item with a swivel cheek block mounted on the starboard coaming that turned the furling line into a cam cleat, but Harken doesn't know anything about it. For now we just use a cam cleat with a fairlead assembly that fit into a pair of pre-existing holes. It's ok, but not perfect.
Date: May 15, 1999
From: Mike Miller capnmike_s@yahoo.com
I have the original Hyde Streamstay furler aft of the mast for the main...works wonderfully except that every 2 years or so the bearings need to be serviced, which means taking the whole thing down...it's a solid rod and can be lowered with a spare halyard...The internal thrust bearings were made by Fafnir Bearing and are no longer made, and there doesn't seem to be a cross-over for them to another brand, but I did find some in Trinidad at a bearing shop. Otherwise they are available through Rig-Rite in Warwick, RI, although they are very expensive. The bearings in the Halyard Swivel, on the other hand, are common automotive-type sealed bearings and are available at any bearing shop. If anybody needs help with overhauling this system, let me know. Used to have this Hyde on the genoa, and a system called a Jib-Away on the staysail (One of the few cutter-rigged E-37's made)...have replaced the Hyde with a new Harken 1.5 and it works great! The Jib-Away also takes standard bearings, and has performed flawlessly for 13 years, so it's staying for a while longer...The staysail is actually my storm jib---12 ounce triple stitched cloth---that runs on a round bar track I have designed myself installed across the foredeck just forward of the mast...it is self-tending and really helps when pointing to windward as it can be trimmed very flat.
Date: August 22, 1999
From: Donna Cass bacchus42@earthlink.net
I would like to survey any owners of rollerfurling mains as to their opinions on ease of handling, price, into the boom or mast, and any other items of information they may feel important. We are the recent owners of a 42, "Bacchus", we have decided to ugrade her sails for some long term cruising. We have just sailed her for the first season, having acquired her in late April, and are making a list of necessary and desired changes. I am the person handling the sails and have some problems with my shoulder and elbows, so this type of sail would be a benefit to me. We are also raising the boom a bit for the bimini as the boom hits the bimini. We hope to enclose the entire cockpit for all types of weather. Any suggestions from other boat owners are appreciated.
Date: August 27, 1999
From: Josh Wallach jwallach@flash.net
Dear Donna:
Two years ago I fitted my 1987 E42 with a Facnor mainsail furler. Costwise, probably the cheapest on the market, ease of installation, it is owner installable without drilling any holes in the mast (two men can complete the installation WITHOUT taking down the mast, in about 4-6 hours) JSI sold me the unit and they also built me a new main. I lost about 15-20 ft of sail area from my full batten main size, but the flatter sail took out ALL of the weather helm that 42's are famous for. I lost about 1/2 knot of sailing speed, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH IT! It takes me about 10 seconds to perfectly stow my main! (no more cussing!) Needless to say, I'm very satisfied and would but it again...
Need details? Pls call me..
Date: September 5, 1999
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Donna,
There is a good article on the different main sail furling systems in the July issue of Sailing, pgs 36-37. It covers the pro's and con's of a variety of manufacturer's systems and their approaches.
Date: July 21, 2000
From: Paul Major MajorPau@HWMH.ON.CA
Paul
I think I finally have my engine beds stabilized and would like to thank the group for all the help. My next problem involves the Schaffer roller furling which came with the boat. This furling is the old type that has a wire in the luff and is separate from the forestay. I am having a great deal of trouble rolling this sail up in stronger winds (20-30mph). It's my understanding that you are supposed to go on a beam reach and let the sail luff then roll it in. The problem I'm getting is the sail is extremely difficult to roll. It seems to roll up too tight and as I approach the end the force I must use is high. I usually have to take a few wraps around the winch and use the handle to bring the sail in completely. Often the sail is a mess when I do get it in. Everything seems to be moving fine and I can't see that there is any friction on the furling line. Does anyone know any tricks for using this type of set-up more efficiently. What is the proper technique, how much tension should be on the halyard, ect. I will upgrade eventually but because of budget restraints this is what I must use at the moment. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Date: July 21, 2000
From: Albert Augustine ABig2guy@aol.com
HI! In case no one has mentioned it before never use a winch on your furling line others have damaged their headsails doing so . Always turn downwind to blanket the headsail ,a broad reach is the point of sail you want. Hold a little tension on the leeward jib sheet and you should have no problem as you pull on the furling line. I assume you have not increased the size of your furling line for good hand feel. If everything is freed up there should be no problems. good luck.
Date: July 24, 2000
From: Rex Crawford Sockhat1@aol.com
Paul,
We have an Endeavour 33 with a harken headsail roller furling. Ours did much the same thing and we did not know why. We are relatively new sailors and I thought that we needed some lubrication or something. When I looked close for something to oil or grease I found the problem. Duh!! The aluminum extrusion had twisted in the lower bracket just above the roller drum. Screws just came out. Easy to fix and it is fine again. Yours might be a lot more complicated but just thought I would share our experience. It doesn't have to be a major problem to wreak havoc with your furling. Hope yours is as simple.
Date: September 8, 2000
From: Peter Gradeff gradina@innet.com
Hi Paul,
In the event anyone wants to discuss IN BOOM FURLING of the main , I will be glad to outline my experience with installing and using a PROFURL MK2 on my E37. No problems encountered and the system works better than expected.
Date: October 15, 2001
From: Bob and Sandy Warren warren9776@yahoo.com
We had roller furling installed (on our E32) Spring 2000 and are very pleased with it. We got the Furlex system. It provides a new forestay as part of the package. We were replacing our standing rigging at the same time anyway so avoided paying double for that particular stay. I gather Furlex is sold only through dealer/installers; you can't buy it through West, Boat U.S. etc.
Now that we got it we don't know how we ever managed w/o roller furling before. This is a common reaction. One unexpected benefit is that when it blows hard we can roll the genny in from a 150 to approx. a 100, leave all the main up, and cut out the weather helm we'd otherwise have.
