Furling genoa?

[Highndry]

I keep my boat at Rutland and for two years it's been on a trailer for day launches. I intend joining the sailing club next year and keeping her on a swinging mooring - only 15 minutes from home.
At the moment the main foresail is a hank on variety but to make the most of being able to be sailing 'at the drop of a warp' I'm wondering if I should be changing the fore for a furling system.
Views? What's it likely to cost me for a system suitable for a 20' Hunter Medina? Would I be best with a new sail or having existing (good condition) fore sail adapted?

 

[VicS]

The smallest Plastimo reefing spar , which is suitable for boats up to 20ft is £260. The next size up in the range is significantly more.

The sail will need modification and UV protection strip added. If its in good condition its reasonable to modify the existing sail. Otherwise only really sensible to buy a new one purpose made.

Maybe a furling system rather than a reefing system would be the way to go

 

[ningcompoop]

How big's your foresail, if that's not too personal a question? (And your luff, for that matter!) The Plastimo 406s is good for up to 12 sq. m, but you'll need an extension set if your luff is over about 6.4m, and thats another £80...
The cheapest furler for anything over dinghy-size is the Barton one, afaik, about £100 for drum and top swivel if you shop around, but only rated up to 9.2 sq m. You might be able to use your existing foresail with this if you have a wire luff, but you'd need to have a protection strip sewn on (not too expensive?) if you're planning to leave the furled sail attached.

After these two, the prices double, at least.

John

 

[William_H]

Well on fiurling reefing jibs I go against the majority and would argue against the furler. In our club of about 30 regularl racing boats only 4 that I can think of have furlers. With the aid of a furler they always find themselves way back in the fleet. The furling jib especially when partially furled is hopeless at windward sailing . To sail to windward is what really matters to me. Further there have been 3 cases I have seen nearby where wind has damged the furled jib. In one case bringing the mast down. I heard the crash from home. That was ona sweet little 18fter. In the other 2 cases the wind wrecked the jib.
I find for usual day sailing I can reasonably predict the wind and if I make a mistake we can change the jib failry quickly. So on my trailer sailer I carry 4 jibs. All hank on and after 34 years have no intention of fitting a furler. Just get into the club sailing first olewill

 

[onesea]

I would not bother:

I grew up with hank on, taught and chartered with roller furling. First boat 19' foot hank on, second boat 24' roller furling, this boat 35' Tuffluff foil no intention of going to roller furling.

My boats are predominantly day sailed and with this boat getting a sail on deck single handed is not easy...

Think how often you sail with the No2 or No 3. Every time you do you can knock a fair bit off your speed up wind with the Roller furling 1/2 knot+ would not be a bad guess IMHO.

It should take seconds to whip sail up forward hatch and hank on. If there is 2 of you one does that whilst he other takes the boom cover off..