Correct Size Sails for a Westerly Longbow

[Tranona]

We had our Berwick (same rig as Longbow) re-rigged by Ian Cochrane at XW rigging, who had original Westery rig records for all their boats and he also produced a roller furler (Rotastay?) I think his son now runs the business so maybe worth having a word particularly if you're looking to add roller furling. http://www.xwrigging.com/

The Rotostay has not been made for several years, although XW do give some service for existing gear. The replacement market for furling gear has dwindled away as boats have been fitted with it as standard for more than 25 years and most older boats have already been converted.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The Rotostay has not been made for several years, although XW do give some service for existing gear. The replacement market for furling gear has dwindled away as boats have been fitted with it as standard for more than 25 years ...

Is the replacement market so very different from the OEM market?

 

[duncan99210]

Is the replacement market so very different from the OEM market?

Yes. Whereas boats used to be supplied with hank on sails and owners replaced them with roller furlers this is no longer the case as most boats are supplied with roller furlers. The roller furlers fitted to new boats tend to be from the volume makers rather than niche makers like Rotostay.

 

[Tranona]

Is the replacement market so very different from the OEM market?

Yes. Selden dominate the OE market in Europe. Essentially no British builders who might buy a British made product. rotostay tried a much more sophisticated design to compete with the big companies (Harken, selden, Facnor etc) and made little progress so gave up.

Replacement was big business 10-20 years ago as owners changed from hank on to furlers on existing boats. These things rarely wear out, so there is effectively very little replacement market.

 

[bitbaltic]

These things rarely wear out

They do if they are Facnor.

 

[Humblebee]

This is a good site with lots of explanation: http://www.uksailmakers.com/encyclopedia/1-1-introduction/

Thanks for that link, Vic, an interesting and helpful site.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes. Whereas boats used to be supplied with hank on sails and owners replaced them with roller furlers this is no longer the case as most boats are supplied with roller furlers. The roller furlers fitted to new boats tend to be from the volume makers rather than niche makers like Rotostay.

Yes, yes, but presumably an awful lot of roller furlers are still being made and sold. Is there any particular reason why these ones should be unsuitable for retrofitting?

OP, get a Sailspar continuous line setup. They rock.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes. Selden dominate the OE market in Europe. Essentially no British builders who might buy a British made product. rotostay tried a much more sophisticated design to compete with the big companies (Harken, selden, Facnor etc) and made little progress so gave up..

Won't Selden sell to people who want to retrofit?

 

[ex-Gladys]

Yes, yes, but presumably an awful lot of roller furlers are still being made and sold. Is there any particular reason why these ones should be unsuitable for retrofitting?

OP, get a Sailspar continuous line setup. They rock.

+1! Sailspar set up is excellent, and cheaper than a lot of the competition. A mate has Harken on a 28', which was 50% more expensive than my Sailspar on a 35'

 

[PetiteFleur]

+1! Sailspar set up is excellent, and cheaper than a lot of the competition. A mate has Harken on a 28', which was 50% more expensive than my Sailspar on a 35'

I also recommend Sailspar - always worked on my previous boat unlike the Rotostay on my current boat which you have to treat carefully. If you get a Sailspar, fit a clutch on the reefing side - much easier to reef as you just pull in, but you need the clutch you can open up to insert the endless furling rope, Rutgerson make as I now believe Spinlock do.

 

[ex-Gladys]

I also recommend Sailspar - always worked on my previous boat unlike the Rotostay on my current boat which you have to treat carefully. If you get a Sailspar, fit a clutch on the reefing side - much easier to reef as you just pull in, but you need the clutch you can open up to insert the endless furling rope, Rutgerson make as I now believe Spinlock do.

I have an old fashioned horned cleat that works very well too!