Foresail prefeed gizmo

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bluerm166

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Any arguments/endorsements of a simple jib feeder such as the Harken C.£30 against the type with rollers Spinlock or Harken at c.£100.
I can see where to get a good price on the latter-the question is how beneficial they are for the single handed user or for the sail ?
 
For single handing, a must, if headsail changes are required. Without, the chances of the luff / bolt rope jamming in the headfoil slot are much higher. A well set up pre feed will greatly aid single handing foresail changes and can guide the sail into the foil without any assistance, providing the sail flake is reasonably neat.

Mine is an older design with brass coloured, cone shaped rollers and works well, single handing install of my furling genoa.
 
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I have the Harken one and although it looks expensive for a simple bit of kit it works very well - at least as good as the one on my Selden furler.
 
Just to confirm Tranona,you use the Harken one with rollers ?
Ah perhaps not,the 'plain' Selden stainless one has now come up and is similar to older stainless shaped and polished items.Looks convincing.
 
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The Furlex I have - that has the prefeeder on a wire tail as Tranona describes .. Its a pain in the a*** ......

I have to tie up out of the way because it fouls the furling action and a couple of times actually jammed the drum by wrapping itself ..

I assumed it was supposed to stay on the sails luff - but it just drops down and then gets in the way .. many times I have considered removing it.
 
we have the solid harken on our raceboat. Typically 12 hoists per day minimum. the solid one wears out after a season but its only 30 quid to replace

The ones with the brass rollers last forever, but our last one was stolen at an event o_O
 
I used a Wichard opening prefeeder for a time could start the sail and then clip on when the sail was part way up. I took the halyard around the winch on the mast and went to the foil and feed and pulled and then clipped the feeder on and then went back to the winch and hoisted the last bit with the winch. Only used for a couple of seasons before I changed to ketch rig with hanked foresails and have been using that set up for 12 years so cannot comment on durability.
 
Thanks very much for all your informed comments.
I have never come across these until this week and they seem particularly useful.Previously I've brought the halyard to a turning block after it emerges from the mast base block so that I can align and hoist from the furler position.Means though that there is no way to stop the heavy genoa from dropping back by jamming the line if the luff sticks..
If I can hoist from the winch on the mast that would be briliant as foreseen sail changes may increase a little next season .
If anyone has also found ideas for folding /managing/bagging the 130% sail as it comes progressively out of the groove ,on a small foredeck ,when changing down ( not a clip-on forestay though) that would really make the whole process more practical.Even in port there is a lot of sail to manage.
Based on your input I will first buy the solid Harken version and see how it performs in reasonable conditions when I stand at the mast..I suspect that there must be quite a strain on the feeder and sail even if the latter is perfectly laid out so I would envisage buying the roller type later as the first turning point for the rope luff.
Thanks again.
 
Netting along the guardrails helps to keep the sail onboard. A sausage bag makes bagging easier at sea. As the sail comes down pulling the luff rope to windward helps fold the sail, then kneel on the folds at the luff. Have sail ties cow hitched to the tow rail or lower wire if no toe rail. You find a method that works best for you and your boat.

This is a review of a book for single handed sailing. Search for the title online and it can be download. Some good ideas from a racer in small boats.

Book Review: Thoughts, Tips, Techniques & Tactics for Singlehanded Sailing
 
Refueler said:
The Furlex I have - that has the prefeeder on a wire tail as Tranona describes .. Its a pain in the a*** ......

I have to tie up out of the way because it fouls the furling action and a couple of times actually jammed the drum by wrapping itself ..

I assumed it was supposed to stay on the sails luff - but it just drops down and then gets in the way .. many times I have considered removing it.
Click to expand...
Depends. If it’s a roller reefing system the sail should stay up and the feeder removed as the sail won’t be changed often enough to warrant leaving it in place. I’ve always removed mine immediately.
 
We have the Harken pre feeder - https://www.harken.co.uk/en/shop/furling-accessories/prefeeder/

It is only used when fitting the roller furler sail then removed.
It is marginally better than nothing, but in spite of adjusting the position on the string many times, it doesn’t seem to work well with our heavy and stiff jib if used solo. Get a couple of metres then have to manually move sail on foredeck to reposition, or just jams.
 
lustyd said:
Depends. If it’s a roller reefing system the sail should stay up and the feeder removed as the sail won’t be changed often enough to warrant leaving it in place. I’ve always removed mine immediately.
Click to expand...

The Furlex I have - the feeder and pendant are permanent ... checking the manual says its removable ... but someoner in the past has made it permanent with crimped eye wire pendant ...

I shall be cutting and removing it - return it to correct setup.
 
My old furlex just had a bit of string, and I don't even think that was included in the package! I bought it new so pretty sure I had all the bits and bobs. I think I used to tie it to the shackle at the tack on the drum while hoisting as this is low enough to give a reasonable angle. Then had to remove to use that shackle.
I have to say also, Furlex come with the nicest/fanciest shackles I think I've seen before or since :) Sadly I now have the terrible POS that Jeanneau fitted as standard which barely functions as a furler
 
Refueler said:
The Furlex I have - the feeder and pendant are permanent ... checking the manual says its removable ... but someoner in the past has made it permanent with crimped eye wire pendant ...

I shall be cutting and removing it - return it to correct setup.
Click to expand...
Do you have a picture ? We have a feeder, attached to the foil with Velcro strap PLUS a pre-feeder on a bit of string of the types the OP referred to.
 
I’m convinced one of my previous boats had a Furlex wherein the pre-feeder was on a spring loaded line a bit like a OB starter cord. It retracted into furler drum assembly when not in use. Anyone seen one like this?
 
fredrussell said:
I’m convinced one of my previous boats had a Furlex wherein the pre-feeder was on a spring loaded line a bit like a OB starter cord. It retracted into furler drum assembly when not in use. Anyone seen one like this?
Click to expand...

Yes, on my previous furling system, a Furlex system. It didn’t retract in on my model, but was held in position by the elastic.
 
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.
 
Thankyou Runaground hard for the tips.Netting and pre fixed ties on the guardllnes make sense.
Thoughts then arise of adding slab cringles to the jib for progressive control in lowering and stowing but then why not go the whole hog .......? ( Actually because size reduction is limited.)Flaking the genoa is near impossible on the sidedecks - I resort to small spring clamps at the folds when doing this single handed on the lawn.
Have downloaded the book for perusal.The link seems broken but via the association.
 
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