Furling gennaker UV

[pawelg]

I’m working on setting up a furling downwind sail for my Bavaria 46, and I’m looking for some practical advice from fellow cruisers.

My goal is a cruising gennaker (Code H type) on a roller furler, suitable for single-handed handling (family boat, so ease of use matters). Ideally, I’d like to keep it permanently mounted – ready to unfurl and go, without dragging the sail bag in and out of the cabin.

I’ve read mixed things about whether UV protection can be applied to nylon gennakers, so that they can be left furled on deck. Some say it’s possible with a UV tape or lightweight Sunbrella on the leech/foot – others argue nylon simply degrades too fast in sunlight, even with protection.

Has anyone here actually done this – kept a nylon gennaker permanently rigged on a top-down furler with UV edges? Did it hold up well over time?

I’m also considering the Selden CX45 furler, but Seldén themselves advised me that a 1:2 halyard might not hold reliably under Code 0-type loads. That’s another concern – I’d be using a gennaker for true downwind/light air work, not a high-load reacher.

What I’m aiming for:

• UV-protected furling cruising gennaker
• Single-handed operation
• Fixed-mount on dolphin bow (1.2m) with Selden GX/CX
• Ideally bottom-up furler for tighter roll and less flogging

Any experience with this type of setup? Pros/cons? Is UV striping really enough for nylon sails? Or should I give up on leaving it mounted and accept the bag routine?

 

[rotrax]

Not your setup entirely but I fitted a 'Solent' rig with a second forestay and furler. Pete Sanders built a huge Code Zero for it after careful measuring.

Our boat is a heavy - 17 ton loaded- motorsailer. If you did not have 12 knots plus true wind it was not worth putting the sails up.

The new sail was fantastic in the right conditions. It could be outhauled with the power winch Starboard side, Outhauled from the Port side with a manual Lewmar 45 evo. Furling was by the power winch.

We did 6kts SOG in Belfast Lough with 6 kts true wind. Before, we would have been drifting with the tide.

For your situation, I believe a second furler with a light wind code zero might suit. Even if it meant a short stubby bowsprit being added.

There has been no deteriation of the sail for 3 seasons. It is installed April to November, stored through the winter.

 

[pawelg]

Bav46 it’s not so light .. 13 ton only
For a bowsprit I’m looking for the one from batsystem PM140

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We have a zip on cover that goes up on a spinnaker halyard. It is an extra job to do, before and after sailing, but less hassle than undoing it all and dragging it below.

 

[pawelg]

We have a zip on cover that goes up on a spinnaker halyard. It is an extra job to do, before and after sailing, but less hassle than undoing it all and dragging it below.

that's interesting approach. Can you share some photo?

 

[Tranona]

You may want tp consider this crusadersails.com/sail/super-zero/ as an alternative.

I had a furler on my Bavaria 33 and would put it on if the passage seemed to have opportunities for flying it, rather than just putting it up when needed. The sock idea is worth considering.

You don't say where you are located, but the best approach is to discuss your requirements with a local sailmaker. I am in Poole and mine was made to my requirements by Kemps but could just as easily have been Crusader.

 

[ashtead]

You don’t say your location but if in south I would also speak to Peter sanders for sail plus furler choices -there are really 4 players for furlers I suspect and prices vary. We had a bespoke spar created to fly the chute from via JTR in Gosport . Re the summer permanent rigging I would be more worried at wind damage ie unexpected unfurls when berthed) as opposed to uv but a sock might cover this risk. Ours lives quite happily in its sailbag until longer sails arise. Have just used Kemps for new uv strips on headsails and would compare their offering with Sanders. Clearly to reduce costs you might get far east made sails below shows bowsprit

 

[pawelg]

You may want tp consider this crusadersails.com/sail/super-zero/ as an alternative.

I had a furler on my Bavaria 33 and would put it on if the passage seemed to have opportunities for flying it, rather than just putting it up when needed. The sock idea is worth considering.

You don't say where you are located, but the best approach is to discuss your requirements with a local sailmaker. I am in Poole and mine was made to my requirements by Kemps but could just as easily have been Crusader.

Appreciate the heads-up about Super Zero and the poole-based options. I’ll definitely check them out for comparisons.

You don’t say your location but if in south I would also speak to Peter sanders for sail plus furler choices -there are really 4 players for furlers I suspect and prices vary. We had a bespoke spar created to fly the chute from via JTR in Gosport . Re the summer permanent rigging I would be more worried at wind damage ie unexpected unfurls when berthed) as opposed to uv but a sock might cover this risk. Ours lives quite happily in its sailbag until longer sails arise. Have just used Kemps for new uv strips on headsails and would compare their offering with Sanders. Clearly to reduce costs you might get far east made sails below shows bowsprit

I'm sailing mainly the North and Baltic Sea. Good point on wind damage risk at berth – that might actually be more critical than UV degradatio. A sock could help, but I’m still debating whether the convenience of leaving it mounted outweighs that risk.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

that's interesting approach. Can you share some photo?

I don’t really have any to hand. But it’s just a strip of acrylic canvas with a long zip, hoist point on top, and lacing points so you can tighten it up from the bottom once hoisted. I’ll take some when I’m next there, Saturday most likely.

You do the zip up as it hoists, easiest as a 2 man job. But I can do it on my own by grabbing the halyard at the deck organiser, and taking it to the foredeck with me.

 

[PTB]

Hi , like Tranona, unless the weather is looking definitely unsuitable, we hoist the code 0 on its furler at the start of every passage. Its been surprising how many times it gets used and how much fun it is . Dont think I'd bother keep rigging it mid passage. We usually, but not always, bag it after a passage, partly for uv protection but mainly because the 2 grands worth of furler is so knickable ... 2 snap shackles and its off ! Really easy to bag as its already furled.