Hanked on v Roller reefing

[surekandoo]

I need to buy at least one new headsail. Currently I have hanked on sails, which are simple, & reliable. The largest is a 115% genoa/yankee.

I'm tempted to change to roller reefing, but am beset by questions....

1. What make/type of system to go for. Sailspar continuous line system is out for cost reasons. Furlex do one with an internal halyard, which looks tempting (less to go wrong). Any suggestions/recommendations here?

2. What size of furling genoa to go for. I sail single handed quite a bit, and although I like to get the best performance I can out of the boat, I don't want to spend most of the time with part of the sail reefed.

3. Should I stick with hanked on sails, and keep my costs down. I could buy a new 115% genoa & a cruising chute for the price of a 130% furling genoa & roller reefing gear.

Boat is a Limbo 6.6 fractional rig. I don't race (at the moment).

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[bruce]

you might consider a basic furler and jib converted to wire luff for every day play and keep hanked sails for racing. same sheet would handle both systems.

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[Evadne]

Like you I have hanked on sails, 3 headsails (smallest almost never used). Unlike you I wouldn't even contemplate changing: knowing you have to change sails when the wind gets up makes you keep an eye on the weather, I have twin forestays which makes changing sails a doddle, the sail is not left on the stay all year round, I drop the foresails every time, not just when the drum jams and its blowing a hooley, the ability of most roller reefing sails to fine tune the sail area is offset by the awful shape they get into. When I'm too old and crotchety to venture to the foredeck, then I'll fit roller furling, and a windlass, but not before.

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[surekandoo]

Dave, you've almost made up my mind for me. I'll most likely stay with hanked on, after all on a 22' fractionally rigged boat, they're don't take a lot of managing. I've managed for 3 years so I'll probably stay as I am.

I'm slightly puzzled by the notion of twin headstays. How do these fit to mast & deck and what stops one interfering with the other, as it were?

Richard

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[Lee_Shaw]

Hi Dave.

I've just bought my first yacht, moving up from a dinghy, and I have just bought a suit of 5 sails for her. To be honest I haven't even thought of having roller reefing as I'm young and able enough to change headsails. Also, I disagree with a one sail fits all mentality and if I had of chosen to go with roller reefing I would therefore have to change headsails and purchase exactly the same amount of sails as I have with hanked on in addition to the roller reefing gear.

I agree that in many cases it would be unseamanlike for skippers to have anything other than roller reefing due to lack of physical ability, boat size etc however I'm not in that catagory and look forward to sail changes and adding to my sail wardrobe.

Keep the faith

Steve

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[bedouin]

It is strange how many people equate using roller-furling gear with only using a single Genoa for all conditions. While there are lots of people who do that it does not have to be that way.

I have a twin groove roller furling system for which I usually carry 3 headsails. I rarely use the sails partly furled but it is useful on occasion and when I'm sailing single handed or short handed the ability to furl the genoa from the cockpit is a great benefit.

I can't really see what advantage hanked on sails offers

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[Lee_Shaw]

Used as you do none i spose, other than less things to go wrong, though rr gear is very reliable. Just that rr gear can be quite expensive and to me it is not worth say £1000 to be able to occasionally furl from the cockpit.

Every case is different - say if the boat already has it fitted.

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