Does everyone use roller reefing?

[prv]

I cannot understand how anyone can vote YES, it is self evident that NOT EVERYONE uses roller reefing.

Because we're assuming that the OP was sloppy in his drafting, and answering the question he meant to ask instead of the one he did ask.

He said that he himself doesn't have roller reefing, so he already knows the answer to the question as-written.

Pete

 

[Artic Warrior]

That's right,,,,and they think,,,what ive got to go on deck,,,,i cant operate it from the cockpit,,,,,Bless um

Some people have been conditioned to think that setting foot outside the cockpit of a yacht at sea is akin to climbing out onto the wing of an aeroplane.

Pete

 

[Vara]

That's right,,,,and they think,,,what ive got to go on deck,,,,i cant operate it from the cockpit,,,,,Bless um

As you get older the thrill of being a fore deck gorilla palls, trust me on this.

Sailing done with little or no physical input is my ideal.

 

[Artic Warrior]

You are right,,,,just teasing really,,,
As im single handed, I have normal main into a bag and cutter rig both on rollers drums but carry a permanent storm sail on the inner drum,
Ive found in 15 to 20 knot winds when I fly the storm sail as well boat speed increases by 1 to 1.5 knots,
Nice really

As you get older the thrill of being a fore deck gorilla palls, trust me on this.

Sailing done with little or no physical input is my ideal.

 

[pmagowan]

I cannot understand how anyone can vote YES, it is self evident that NOT EVERYONE uses roller reefing. I do, on both main and genoa but know of many local yachts that have conventional main and headsails.

As already said the question should have been Do YOU use roller reefing, it might then have produced an interesting answer to the current prevalence.

I think on this forum you have to answer the question you think people are trying to ask rather than the question they are actually asking. Unfortunately it seems impossible for most people to make a comprehensible poll. I assume the OP is talking about foresails and individuals so I answered yes but the ambiguity obviously makes the results pointless.

 

[laika]

He said that he himself doesn't have roller reefing, so he already knows the answer to the question as-written.

But perhaps the OP, being aware of the evident answer to the question was actually posing a hyperbolic rhetorical question. So this is not actually a poll at all but simply a statement on the prevalence of roller reefing in the form of a poll.

 

[Hadenough]

Well here we go! We have roller genoa, roller staysail, in mast main and ------ in mast mizzen! Ok, I'll go to confession next week - twice! Shush! we also have an, owmygawd - BOWTHUSTER!
[Should I tell 'em about the electric windlass, davits, gas installation, MiFi and genset too!]
Oh bugg*r, I forgot about the fridge - and scatter cushions -- 8! --ok, ok, I'll hang myself from the crosstrees tomorrow, as soon as I've Googled how to tie a knot :encouragement:

 

[Poignard]

Some people have been conditioned to think that setting foot outside the cockpit of a yacht at sea is akin to climbing out onto the wing of an aeroplane.

Pete

That may be so but for many people (me for instance) the big advantage of a furling genoa is the speed at which it can be set or furled. This increase the time spent under sail which, for me, is the object of the exercise.

 

[Greenheart]

Perhaps the question (which I'm sure we can agree, meant "do you use a roller?") ought to have asked "why do you use roller-reefing...", since plainly the OP is content not to.

My genoa isn't very big, but now I've got it on a roller, I'd never think of reverting to the no-tech approach of hanking it on. I suppose I'd have a roller-mainsail too, If I could.

I like seeing historical and traditional craft, and I'd be disappointed if one wore roller-furling gear...because it would be such a half-assed approach to the complex yet rewarding business of running an old-fashioned vessel. But aboard modern boats designed and built since roller-headsails were introduced, it seems odd to decline the convenience.

Perhaps it also relates to whether you singlehand or have crew to assist. It must be better for the sail too, to be quickly rolled up rather than lowered, folded and creased?

 

[prv]

It must be better for the sail too, to be quickly rolled up rather than lowered, folded and creased?

I suspect it's the opposite - better loosely folded in a slightly different place each time, than rolled into a tight tube that doesn't even match the shape of the sail. Maybe not so bad with pure roller furling, where it will never be done up too tightly, but with roller reefing there must be significant strain along the foot and leech. Obviously modern sails designed for that use cope with it ok, but the handling of a hanked-on sail seems kinder.

Pete

 

[prv]

I like seeing historical and traditional craft, and I'd be disappointed if one wore roller-furling gear...

The Wykeham-Martin roller furler was invented in the 1890s, I believe, and quite popular for jibs right from the start (staysails remained on hanks since they could be reached more easily from the deck).

The classic Bristol Channel pilot cutter used a roller-reefing boom for the mainsail, too.

Pete

 

[Greenheart]

I stand corrected. From my perspective, the earlier the roller-furler was introduced, the better - because it won't be out of place aboard any boat I may aspire to.

I haven't used my roller-furler for reefing, just for rapidly, tidily removing the sail from the sail-plan whilst on the water. But it rolls up quite tightly...it looked uncreased, but now I'm worried it suffers from being stored in a perpetual tight curve...note the wrinkles parallel with the forestay...

...it's certainly not a new or valuable sail, but it's much better than my old one! I don't keep it hoisted on the stay - it's just rolled, lying under the cover - but maybe it ought to be gently folded as you describe, or rolled up but less tightly?

 

[Rum Run]

I took the roller furling off - the sail wasn't big enough at full size and the gear was not all that reliable. I'd rather plan on going forward than only do it when forced. So far I found the addition of a downhaul led to the cockpit does the job for rapid dowsing. The boat is only 22' though so nothing is very heavy. On a bigger boat I'd think again

 

[NealB]

Perhaps the question (which I'm sure we can agree, meant "do you use a roller?")

This type of survey work is so fraught!

If the question was meant to be "do you use a roller", my answer would have to be fairly convoluted.

ie "no" on the boats I own at the moment, but "yes" when I sail on friends' boats, "yes" when I sailed on some of my previous boats, and "probably" when sailing on some of my boats in the future.

Now...what is the point of the survey?

 

[Greenheart]

Not entirely sure about the benefit of the survey. Presumably the OP wanted to hear people's reasons for doing what he doesn't.

I reckon your convoluted answer can be reduced to yes, you do use it...if not all the time.

Roller-headsails don't carry the sort of antipathy which bow-thrusters engender...so anyone who has ever benefited from gently pulling on a light line to shut down a large proportion of a boat's drive, will probably concede that it's a fantastic reduction of the bother and (in rough weather) the danger of foredeck work.

Against that, I can't delete from my mind the vision of beauty I saw at Studland Bay a year or four ago - a biggish old ketch at anchor with all sails flaked in neat clumps on booms or at the foot of their stays. Undoubtedly more trouble than roller-furling, but the effort her owner was clearly content to put in, made her a memorable sight and I envied him.

 

[johnalison]

There is a place for hanked jibs on boats of less than 28' and for racers and fully crewed yachts but for anyone else it makes no sense. The loss of area from the higher cut furling jib, and the quite small loss of pointing when part-furled (assuming a well cut sail with some form of padded luff) is more than made up for by the fact that the boat with the furling sail can frequently deploy more sail when the boat with hanked sails is either dithering about whether to change up or has set out with too small a sail. We sailed in company with a Sadler 32 with 4 jibs in our 29 and almost always led them into port when cruising.

 

[oldharry]

I don't think many powerboats use roller reefing so the strict answer must be no. On my boat it depends which end you are: roller jib on the sharp end, slab at t'other. And yes, I use it every time I go sailing.

Or is the poll actually asking whether there is anybody who doesn't actually use their roller reefing? I don't know many who have it fitted who don't use it when setting the sails...

I love the precision of the English language!