Ric
Well-Known Member
Currently my cruising chute is launched from a snuffer. Has anybody tried refitting theirs on a topdown furler? Did it make it easier to deploy? Any other advantages?
Cruising chute on top down furler?
- Thread starter Ric
- Start date
Ian_Edwards
Well-Known Member
Yes, I had both my cruising chutes converted to top down furling by Owen Sails.
I fly them single handed, in light winds and found the snuffer very difficult to handle, it require quite a lot of work on the foredeck.
The top down furler works well, I have the furling line led back to the cockpit, so I can furl then and control the sheets at the same time. When the sail is safely furled I can leave it hoisted and take it down when I'm on a safe course, or leave it up until I'm anchored.
I leave both sails on the furling line, which is quite stiff and figure of eight the furled sail into the bag for storage. I have one top swivel and one continuous line furling system which I swap between sails. Both sails are flown from the masthead and are quite large, the down wind sail is over 2,000 sq ft, the reacher 1,500 sq ft and I can manage them both single handed up to about 15 knots true.View attachment 54062View attachment 54061View attachment 54060
I fly them single handed, in light winds and found the snuffer very difficult to handle, it require quite a lot of work on the foredeck.
The top down furler works well, I have the furling line led back to the cockpit, so I can furl then and control the sheets at the same time. When the sail is safely furled I can leave it hoisted and take it down when I'm on a safe course, or leave it up until I'm anchored.
I leave both sails on the furling line, which is quite stiff and figure of eight the furled sail into the bag for storage. I have one top swivel and one continuous line furling system which I swap between sails. Both sails are flown from the masthead and are quite large, the down wind sail is over 2,000 sq ft, the reacher 1,500 sq ft and I can manage them both single handed up to about 15 knots true.View attachment 54062View attachment 54061View attachment 54060
Ric
Well-Known Member
Thanks - I also sail single-handed so good to read that it makes deploying easier. When it is furled up, is the bundle sufficiently tight that you can leave it up and revert back to genoa?
My sailmaker also mentioned to me a NZ-made anti UV coating that can be sprayed on to a furled chute to protect it a little if left in place.
My sailmaker also mentioned to me a NZ-made anti UV coating that can be sprayed on to a furled chute to protect it a little if left in place.
Ian_Edwards
Well-Known Member
Yes, it furls the sail tightly so I can use the genoa, But you need enough clearance between the rolled genoa and the furled chute to ensure that they don't get tangled. As you can see from the photographs, Eynhallow has a carbon fibre bowsprit and the forestay is rigged 7/8, whilst the chutes are flown from the masthead, so there is ample clearance between the forestay and the cruising chute.
You'll also need to pull the chutes sheets down onto the deck unless the genoa is trimmed in tight, and you're going to windward. This means I have to use the furler to wrap a few turns of sheet around the furled sail, so there no chance of it coming free.
I wouldn't leave the chute up long enough for UV to be a problem, and have no experience of a spray to protect against UV.
rudolph_hart
Well-Known Member
+1
I have a snuffer-based cruising chute, which could be a bit of a faff, so I had Crusader fit their version of a top down furler, which works well & is easier to handle.
Like Ian, mine has a continuous furling line. Chute is 13.6m luff x 7.65m foot on a 35 foot boat.
I have a snuffer-based cruising chute, which could be a bit of a faff, so I had Crusader fit their version of a top down furler, which works well & is easier to handle.
Like Ian, mine has a continuous furling line. Chute is 13.6m luff x 7.65m foot on a 35 foot boat.
