Furlex Vs Facnor

[vyv_cox]

Now on 3rd Facnor 165 top swivel and 2nd complete drum on 2005 launched boat. Keep contemplating junking it and getting Furlex. Current Facnor top swivel fitted last summer a "new design" - new design seems to be lots of thick grease inside: forget spinning it, quite hard to turn by hand straight out of the box with no load.

Facnor (and local riggers) insist 165s have sealed for life bearings that can't be replaced. I'm sure somebody could, but it's well beyond my ordinary toolkit and reasonable general DIY competence.

Yes, the new swivel is a very different beast from the old. Very heavily built (= heavy) and with a lot of preload on the bearings. Expect to fit mine in the next few days and hope for a big improvement.

 

[jwilson]

Yes, the new swivel is a very different beast from the old. Very heavily built (= heavy) and with a lot of preload on the bearings. Expect to fit mine in the next few days and hope for a big improvement.

When my new top swivel was fitted last year it made the furler significantly harder work to furl, though unlike the (2nd) previous version it did not jam under load and cause halyard wrap. I do have a diverter fitted, and luff length set right.

 

[Malish]

surprised nobody has mentioned Profurl as an option, I fitted one on my last boat and inherited one on my current boat - never had problems.

 

[GTom]

surprised nobody has mentioned Profurl as an option, I fitted one on my last boat and inherited one on my current boat - never had problems.

Looked at those too, but reluctant about sealed bearings.

 

[Heckler]

We need a new furler on our boat (a Moody 27) if the current Colnebrook furler does not come apart for re-rigging. We could choose many makes of furler but really need to choose between Facnor or Furlex. I know Facnor are cheaper and Furlex generally held up to be one of the best. Having said this the boat is used mainly for coastal cruising with maybe a cross channel run in the back of our minds , no racing , so trim is not paramount above everything. However we want it to be durable over many seasons.
What do respondents think of the costs and benfits of the two makes ?

My Facnor is 20 years old, I stripped it and greased it 6 years ago when i replaced the forestay. It works faultlesly every time.

 

[doug748]

After all these years I guess a bit of thread drift is permitted, I have found my Harken furler to be excellent. Must be nearly 30 years old now.