Genoa furling gear

[Minerva]

so storm Amy has given me the wonderful opportunity to buy a new Genoa and what looks like a new furling gear to wrap it around.

Boat is a 34ft mast head crushing boat. Is there any real difference between the big companies; Selden (what we’ve got now), Pro Furl - the anodised green looks the business or Plastimo.

What should I be looking for - obviously want a euro based company so the likes of Harken are a hard no.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Sorry, it's not obvious why you would exclude Harken? Harken manufacture in Italy and while a US company, it is very much a European manufacturing and supply company with a massive presence in the EU and UK.

Considerations
1. Greaseless system. I would recommend one with Torlon bearings that just need a wash with fresh water occasionally from the hose.
2. Twin luff groove or single luff groove? If you race you may want twin luff grooves, if you sail long distance you may want twin luff grooves for twin head sails. Otherwise a single luff groove is lower cost for a hoist and forget roller reefing genoa.
3. Removable drum so that the system can be used with individual sails. Not all drums are removable, but if twin luff grooves probably will.
4. Powered or hand furled, on a 34' boat probably hand furled, but why not powered?
5. Availability and experience of installation by local rigger.

I changed from a Selden to a Harken, very pleased with the price and quality, also ease of use, 41' boat, UK based.

All the ones you quote will do the job.

 

[Tranona]

You are probably on the limit of the largest Plastimo as it only goes up to 7mm stay. I have just fitted one in the outer stay of my GH31 for a light winds genoa. It is nicely made and seems to work well. Big selling point though is price being about 1/3 of the cost of a Furlex 204 or Harken. I have had 3 204s on different boats and no problems. Harken are quite popular in our club particularly with the more sporty boats such as the Elans.

 

[Minerva]

Sorry, it's not obvious why you would exclude Harken? Harken manufacture in Italy and while a US company, it is very much a European manufacturing and supply company with a massive presence in the EU and UK.

Considerations
1. Greaseless system. I would recommend one with Torlon bearings that just need a wash with fresh water occasionally from the hose.
2. Twin luff groove or single luff groove? If you race you may want twin luff grooves, if you sail long distance you may want twin luff grooves for twin head sails. Otherwise a single luff groove is lower cost for a hoist and forget roller reefing genoa.
3. Removable drum so that the system can be used with individual sails. Not all drums are removable, but if twin luff grooves probably will.
4. Powered or hand furled, on a 34' boat probably hand furled, but why not powered?
5. Availability and experience of installation by local rigger.

I changed from a Selden to a Harken, very pleased with the price and quality, also ease of use, 41' boat, UK based.

All the ones you quote will do the job.

This isn’t a thread for politics - I’d much rather spend money consciously and local where possible.

Probably looking for Twin groove - that’s what I have just now although never used the second one.

I can’t see myself racing the boat, so a split drum to hoist a fancy pants laminate sail wouldn’t add extra utility in my case

Almost certainly hand powered. It would be good to have a feature to lock off the drum so it wasn’t solely relying on the furling line when moored for any significant period of time.

I think I’d be OK fitting myself - watching YouTube it doesn’t look too difficult to accomplish…

 

[Minerva]

You are probably on the limit of the largest Plastimo as it only goes up to 7mm stay. I have just fitted one in the outer stay of my GH31 for a light winds genoa. It is nicely made and seems to work well. Big selling point though is price being about 1/3 of the cost of a Furlex 204 or Harken. I have had 3 204s on different boats and no problems. Harken are quite popular in our club particularly with the more sporty boats such as the Elans.

Thanks - plastimo, my experience of them is on their much smaller day boat sized gear and whilst good I seem to remember the rail/groove the sail went up being plastic and wearing with every hoist. I assume that bigger stuff was more reliant.

We have Selden just now and it’s been grand - but the vigorous shaking in a gale for 36 hours has made it look worse for wear!

Any other brands to look for? I was just having a look through the jimmy green marine website last night at what they sold.

I assume all brands will be more or less competent at the task in hand.

 

[Roberto]

Pro Furl - the anodised green looks the business

I have a ProFurl and very pleased with it, ok you are buying new but servicing can be done by oneself: replace lip seals, roller bearing and circlips they are all industrial fittings at industrial prices (not proprietary), and you re good to go for 20 more years. Other makes can be a lot more difficult. Should you choose it, by all means use Duralac/TefGel/whatever on the big external bolts, those visible on the body of the metal drum.

 

[Minerva]

I have a ProFurl and very pleased with it, ok you are buying new but servicing can be done by oneself: replace lip seals, roller bearing and circlips they are all industrial fittings at industrial prices (not proprietary), and you re good to go for 20 more years. Other makes can be a lot more difficult. Should you choose it, by all means use Duralac/TefGel/whatever on the big external bolts, those visible on the body of the metal drum.

That’s good to know - thank you.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have a Profurl & paid extra for the adjustable centre so I could alter mast rake. This did not make the foot of the sail any higher as it was an internal option within the drum.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks - plastimo, my experience of them is on their much smaller day boat sized gear and whilst good I seem to remember the rail/groove the sail went up being plastic and wearing with every hoist. I assume that bigger stuff was more reliant.

We have Selden just now and it’s been grand - but the vigorous shaking in a gale for 36 hours has made it look worse for wear!

Any other brands to look for? I was just having a look through the jimmy green marine website last night at what they sold.

I assume all brands will be more or less competent at the task in hand.

The luff groove is plastic, but not sure that is a real issue in terms of wear unless you change sails frequently. However the liner is both cheap and easy to replace. The entry feeder though is a bit mickey mouse being quite flexible and easy for the luff to pull out if not carefully fed in. I resolved that by buying a Harken pre feeder which worked well. My installation is odd, though as the sail has to go over the pulpit and then down. Photo shows the set up. I chose the Plastimo mainly in cost grounds because the boat does not really justify another £2k to get a Furlex and the sail is only for light weather use as most sailing is using the staysail. Not sure they make a twin groove version now.

In your situation I would choose another Furlex as it is still probably the best value

 

[Frogmogman]

I have a facnor flat deck furler on my Sun Odyssey 349, which is the best systemI’ve ever used. It has an elliptical twin groove head foil. The system uses a webbing tape rather than rope which has two advantages. The diameter of the drum is greater than that of a traditional furler, giving increased mechanical advantage, and also avoids rope getting tangled up in the drum. The system seems low friction and always easy to operate by hand.

The other advantage is you get an extra 8” of luff length, so you can have headssils cut with the foot closer to the deck.

Not a cheap bit of kit, but worth every penny IMO.