Furling gennaker

[OldBawley]

Would like to buy a gennaker. Furling, with anti torsion rope.
We sail a old heavy yacht, downwind sailing in light winds is zero.
The boat has a bowsprit with a furling jib at the end, I could build a new spar, extending some 0,7 meter past the jibstay to take the gennaker furler. Maybe an outhaul to bring the furling thingy to the end of the bowsprit.
We have a spinnaker, used it twice in 15 years. Singlehanded putting the thing up is difficult, if not impossible.
Met some equally old sailors, sailing an similar old heavy log, they are ecstatic about there new France made sail.
Is there a sail maker in Greece capable of making a one off gennaker or should I contact the French firm and send my own measurements ?

 

[1bobt]

Hello
There is a guy that`s in Poros Jonathan he sails a boat Cornelius? as a training boat short guy with beard (thousands of them I know) half American he was the Director of Hood sails Greece.Very Knowledgeable, Ask him he, is very approachable.

I will be in Poros middle of next month.

cheers bobt

 

[OldBawley]

Thanks, I have to be in Poros 7° July, I will ask around for Jonathan.
Wonder if it is the same guy that runs KakitsiSails.

 

[1bobt]

Thanks, I have to be in Poros 7° July, I will ask around for Jonathan.
Wonder if it is the same guy that runs KakitsiSails.

Don`t know Kakitsisails
The boat he run is an extended Sun Kiss about 54foot Burgundy name on aft ends...Teaches American`s on holiday Sails from Poros. Parked side too outside Oasis

 

[OldBawley]

After some price research I can´t stop wondering why a 580 gram plastic construction the size of a small birds nest has to cost 2200 €.
I looked at a few top down spinnaker furlers ( Karver – Spinex ) and am amazed with the prices.
OK, I have been living next to the real world the last 14 years and I do understand that some research has to be paid but these prices are besurk.
Many winters ago I build a stainless steel Wykeham- Martin furler myself for the price of 4 ball-bearings. Rest of the material was free so max cost 40 €. Had a storm jib with a steel wire sawn into the sail. Worked ok, but was not top down furling. The gear was not fool proof so when finances allowed I bought an off the shelf furler for the jib.
If I can get my hands on one of those things and have good look at it I can build one myself. I have Torlon balls for the bearings, recuperated from some Harken traveller cars.
One for my list of winter projects.