Furlex Roller-reefing headsail.

[noswellplease]

I had a Plastimo 801 fitted last year and don't really think its fit for much more than some light day sailing due snags of various types eg foil grub screws falling out etc. My boat is 31 loa and wonder if anyone might have ball park figures for cost of replacing with Furlex. You could send me a private message if you like and any views on fitting new furler would be appreciated. I'm trying to get boat up to a level of safety suitable for longer passages.
Views most welcome Russ

Old boats need big cheque books.

 

[Mulge]

Not exactly what you want, but a Rotostay Regatta Stainless Steel roller reefing for a 12.5m forestay length was just over GBP 1000 at the Southampton Boat Show, a saving, supposedly, of around GBP 300.

Mark

 

[Rivers & creeks]

We had an 801 on a slightly smaller boat - a Mac 28 - and it survivided some apalling weather and always behaved impecably. I know you asked about Furlex but I wonder if it would help to get a decent rigger in to overhaul the Plastimo? Our local rigger charges £25 an hour and I can't imagine an 801 would need more than 2 hours of his time. Even if he agrees that it's not worth sorting out he will advise on what is best for the boat.

Good luck.

 

[bill12]

I have had a Selden furlex for 7 years and it has been a constant source of worry ,causing the loss of a Genoa when the reefing line failed. In my opinion it is overcomplicated.I would prefer an open spool arrangement .

 

[Spyro]

Would that not be a problem with the reefing line rather that the furlex gear?
I've had a Furlex 100 that was fitted 5 years ago and has never given me any trouble. They are not the cheapest but I would definitely recommend them.

 

[bill12]

Your right ,but after sailing in strong winds deeply reefed the genoa is so tightly wrapped that the sail will not completely furl, the first time this happened to me the reefing line became unattached the sail unfurled and destroyed itself, mayhem in 30 knts. So one has to make sure there are plentyof turns on the drum when fully furled. Then occasionally the reefing line jams when unfurling,rotating the whole body so its up to the front again to sort out ,obviously we are very carefull now operating the furlex, all Im saying is I would rather have an open spool system I could monitor better.I learned one thing never apply force to the reefing line. See this months star letter in Yachting monthly

 

[lornagrace]

don't know about any one else but, i bought and in-stalled a head-sail gear from www.spin-tec.com, an american out-fit very reasonably priced, despite inport tax and VAT. abosolutely bullet proof and designed to last. works fantastic and built for abuse

 

[alan_d]

I needed to replace the furling gear on my 29 footer when the original 25 year-old system failed spectacularly off Rothesay in July.

Mast and Rigging at Kip quoted £1323.08 plus VAT to supply and fit a Furlex 206s with integral adjuster and link plate.


Alan

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]
Your right ,but after sailing in strong winds deeply reefed the genoa is so tightly wrapped that the sail will not completely furl, the first time this happened to me the reefing line became unattached the sail unfurled and destroyed itself, mayhem in 30 knts. So one has to make sure there are plentyof turns on the drum when fully furled. Then occasionally the reefing line jams when unfurling,rotating the whole body so its up to the front again to sort out ,obviously we are very carefull now operating the furlex, all Im saying is I would rather have an open spool system I could monitor better.I learned one thing never apply force to the reefing line. See this months star letter in Yachting monthly

[/ QUOTE ]

Having insifficient turns of reefing line on the drum or the line breaking is hardly the fault of Furlex surely but of installation?

We have a Furlex which controls a large (nearly 500 sq ft) genoa and it operates very well. We have used it in winds up to F8 and still had plenty of turns left on rolling it away afterwards and we always roll several turns of the sheets around as well. We have never had to use a winch ( a definite no no) and the sail is always reefed or furled by hand. Our Furlex has done many thousands of miles including an AZAB and a 6 year Med cruise and when we had it routinely overhauled when we re-rigged 5 years back it needed little except a replacement bottom adjuster where the thread had been cross threaded by a yard in Malta.
Maybe your Furlex is undersized or poorly installed?

 

[chrisbailey]

I had a Furlex on my Fulmar for 19 years with absolutely no problems, then changed to a Rotastay which was replaced after the first season with another Rotastay because it was impossible to use due to binding now after 2 more unsatisfactory seasons I am going to replace with a new Furlex. dont waste your money on inferior products.

 

[bill12]

Our model Furlex is a 200,I note that an adjacent boat to us in the marina ,a Hallburg Rassy 352, has a Furlex 300.So maybe ours is too small for the Genoa , but thats what came with the boat. I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[widgeon]

I have just had a Furlex fitted to my Hallberg-Rassy 31 - it was previously on hank-on sails. Furlex recommended a 200, which is fitted as standard by Hallberg's, so yours may be a little under-specified.