Furling Gear

[campbell]

Having got various quotes for furling packages it is now time to choose

Furling Gear :- Choices are from Plastimo 406 / furnor SD 60 / Rotostay 406

Prices range £250 / £ 330 / £555 respectivily

Has anyone any points to make on any of the above reefing gear before i choose , i am tempt to go on cost therefore it will be the plastimo system .

Boat is Club 19ail area 110 square feet .

MAny thanks for any info

 

[stevebirch2002]

You get what you pay for. I personally do not like the plastic feel of the plastimo but the price is attarctive. I have fitted many Rotostay units and they come with a new purpose-built forestay and made really well. You pays your money and takes your choice....

Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

 

[tillergirl]

I'm a fan of Sailspar who are at Tower Street, Brightlingsea. It's much better made than the Plastimo in my view, has one continuous line and is British. Can't help you on prices now as I got mine 8 years ago and I suspect it is a size up on what you want. I do, however, remember it being competitive at the time. Their phone number is 01206-302679 or 303796.

 

[snowleopard]

Rotostay

if you go for this one, make sure you don't get a spar whose sections are held together with glue. it's embarrasing when it comes unglued at sea.

 

[sjohn_gibson]

Replaced mine last year.

The experienced rigger who works at my local marina said I would be wasting my money if I bought a Plastimo. He said I should spend wisely and recommended some other systems.

It hurt the pocket but I took his advice and bought a Rotostay.
I am very pleased and sail with confidence.

Yours
John

 

[Aeolus_IV]

Had similar discussion with riggers last year, bought Furlex 200 (with new standing rigging), want the system to work all the time regardless of the weather and size of sail. Nice kit, but expensive, more so than those listed above.

Jeff.

 

[HaraldS]

Your list should probably include the NEMO gear, I think it's called Wonderfurl.
It's more than the Plastimo, but a lot less than the Furlex tec. and very solid. You safe some money, because you can keep your original forestay.
My brother has it now for several years and is extremely pleased. I have Furlex, two of them and would give them a medium rating.
Do take a look at NEMO.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taniwani.de>http://www.taniwani.de</A>

 

[vyv_cox]

I fitted a Plastimo unit to a GK29 more than 10 years ago. I never had a moment's problem with it in the 4 years that I owned the boat and as far as I know it is still working perfectly.

 

[jleaworthy]

With a small sail such as yours the more expensive gears are imho over the top. I would personally never go for a continuous line system. If you lose tension on the reefing line you can't reef the sail - that can be desparate. I fitted a Plastimo to a Corribee almost seven years ago and it's given no trouble at all, working perfectly under hard conditions. All I would suggest is that on your size boat you will be able to fit a slightly shorter reefing line than on a longer boat with a bigger sail and therefore will be able to fit one of a slightly larger diameter. This will give you not only greater strength but also better chafe resistance and a better grip when hauling in.

 

[dickh]

I fitted a Plastimo 406 several years ago to a Vivacity 20 - never had any trouble with it. I think the expensive ones will be ott for your boat. I have a Sailspar on mine and am quite happy with it but it does have an endless line system.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[charles_reed]

At the risk of appearing pedagogic I hope you're buying reefing NOT furling gear.
The difference is important - furling gear is designed to stow a sail when at rest, reefing gear to reduce the sail area as you proceed.
The former is considerably cheaper than the latter.

From informal evidence I suspect you get what you pay for - you'll not find the Plastimo gear on any seriously sailed boats and the first you mention which is in the mid-range for quality is the Rotostay gear.

In all cases I'd go for the next size up from the model for your boat, which I guess has a 6mm forestay. (ie go to the Rotostay E407)
Rotostay will provide you with a purpose-made replacement forestay, the others will not and the performance difference will be notable.

I would suggest looking at the Hood or Furlex systems as benchmarks, and to hoard your pennies until having done so.

One reason for going to the next size up is to delay the pain and cost of forestay replacement, you have to split and replace the foil, which is arduous, inconvenient and expensive.
The second is having sufficiently powerful gearing to be able to reef in a blow, when you most need the facility.

 

[charles_reed]

Re: Rotostay

To give them their due, Rotostay do now provide you with the cyano-acrylate to prevent the spar sections from loosening from one another. It's still best to go for the big cross section one.
All the cheaper manufacturers have similar problems and it is the foil section and number and types of bearings that make all the difference to service performance.

The original two-way Rotostays were quite good pieces of kit (bar the problems with the foil).
The later ones are, I'm afraid, designed down to a price.

 

[charles_reed]

Actually an American manufacturer - from Sausalito CA - but quite good mid-range gear comparable to the Furlex.

 

[Avalon]

Go with the Plastimo and save yourself some money. I have used Plastimo 406 gears over many years on a Hurley 20 and Pandora 22 and they have never given any trouble.

I have a Rotostay on my Excalibur and the spar has twice come apart causing inconvenience and sail damage. The Plastimo spar is pop riveted rather than screwed together.



Phaon Reid, S/Y Avalon of Arne
www.sailingontheweb.com

 

[MADFISH]

I Have plastimo on my Hunter Horizon 26. Works just fine. Never any problems.