Foresail prefeed gizmo

[bluerm166]

For a very good video of a prefeeder actually in action by 'Life is Like Sailing' see his video

 

[Roberto]

What do people think of the Plastimo feeder .. the one for my 608 if I remember correctly - is actually fitted to the foil and not free like the Furlex etc ...

I have a 608 on my 25ft but no feeder and always wondered about fitting one. Hoisting my sail there is a thrre hands job ... a feeder IF IT works - could be a good way forward.

There may be two (usually there are, in particular for foiled sails routinely changed): one is often called pre-feeder and is tied with a length of line say 30-50cm to somewhere near the headstay attachment, its purpose is to lead the bulk the sail near the stay. I personnally prefer those prefeeders having two rollers to those being solid horseshoe, Example:




The second one is the proper feeder which is attached to the aluminium profile where the luff enters it. This second one can be permanently attached to the tube, or removable.
I have this one, it can be snapped on/off on the tube



or another removable one

 

[lustyd]

Thoughts then arise of adding slab cringles to the jib

A friend did this and changed his mind when he was hit by it while reefing. There's a reason slab reefing on head sails isn't common.

 

[Tranona]

What do people think of the Plastimo feeder .. the one for my 608 if I remember correctly - is actually fitted to the foil and not free like the Furlex etc ...

I have a 608 on my 25ft but no feeder and always wondered about fitting one. Hoisting my sail there is a thrre hands job ... a feeder IF IT works - could be a good way forward.

Pretty sure the Harken one I linked to will work. I use it on my Plastimo 811.

The photos show my 2 forestay set up and the pre feeder in the Furlex on the inner. These seem to vary from model to model and mine is on a flexible tether that retracts. The harken one I attach when needed with a line to the drum and set at the best height to keep the luff lined up. As you can see the sail has to go over the pulpit then up to the feeder on the foil and the Harken gizmo makes sure it is lined up.

 

[bluerm166]

Lusty D : what was he hit by ? Not talking using these to actually reef the jib so they would be typical lightweight holes and lines to get around the sail and control it,so only the large eye for sheets at the foot.

 

[lustyd]

what was he hit by

The cringle on the sail. It was a proper reefing one so pretty heavy and 1st reef ended up about head height when on the foredeck ready to pull the sail down. Needless to say, when you're reefing the conditions aren't usually that benign and he got slapped in the side of his head hard enough to draw blood.