[alberg30] Roller Furling Considerations

[Bill Newman]

Kevin

I don't have roller furling on my Alberg but did have it on a Endurance
40 footer I owned previously. These are the advantages and disadvantages
as I see them.

Advantages

If you do a lot of day sailing, the boat can be readied and put to bed
with less time and effort.

The space occupied by stored large Genny becomes available for other
uses.

The head sail can be reduced or completely furled quickly in case of a
sudden change of weather.

You can sail more and motor less in a confined waterway such as the
inter coastal when the wind is fair for a short while and then foul for
a short while.  With a hanked sail you probably won't bother.

Disadvantages

Initial cost of the hardware and luff conversion of all head sails, i.e.
$2000 - 3000 plus $300-400 per sail conversion.

It is much harder to change up or down under way, than with hanked
sails.  You can furl a bit instead but you don't get a good sail shape
and a furled No. 1 is usually too light a cloth to be used partially
furled in strong winds.  The sail will be stretched or possibly torn.

Furling is something else that can to wrong when things hit the fan.  I
haven't had the problem but have heard lots of stories about jamming
with the sail out in windy conditions.

In boats 30 ft. and less , the head sails are not so large that they are
so difficult to handle.  A well rigged downhaul at a cost of about $50
line and hardware, will bring the head sail down between the life lines
without having to go forward to wrestle with it. In rough conditions you
can then usually wait until you are in calm water to go forward and
reduce the possibility of going over the side.

Bill Newman
Marion Rose III, #233






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