Harken ESP or Furlex?

[jwilson]

I have options of Harken ESP or Selden Furlex as replacement for a complete 15 year old (lots spent on it in that time) Facnor roller reefing gear on a 35 ft cruising yacht. Similar-ish prices. I don't want Facnor again, or Profurl which like Facnor has sealed unreplaceable bearings, and is now owned by the same company. Any users of either Harken ESP or recentish Furlex with problems.

 

[doug748]

I don't think I recall any serious problems being reported with Harken gear, It's normally just the cost that people question. No doubt I will have to eat my words : -}

I have had the same Harken furler for 25 years and it has functioned perfectly. Till this winter I have scarcely looked at it, it has just worked. Last Nov I took it down to replace the forestay and anticipated problems, in fact it came apart with zero trouble and needed no replacement parts at all.

There is certain stuff that performs so well that you would never entertain buying anything different. FWIW Harken furling gear is on that list for me.

.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

I'm like a stuck record but if you're cruising have a have a look at the Sailspar kit, built like a tank and Barry Perrins (The Old Sea Dog) on YouTube has gone halfway round the world with his (plus whatever the boat did before he bought it.

Cheaper to!

 

[Boathook]

Very happy with the furlex on my boat. Must of been fitted for over 20 years and still working on a cruising boat. Just put a bit of grease on the bearings each spring as in the instruction manual and use.

 

[ashtead]

We have 2 furlex -5 years old and no problems but have you considered Schaefer furlers which I told are worth a look

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Any chance you might know a rigger locally ? Unbiased opinions could be useful.

On the advice of a local rigger I went for Harken . I don't own the boat any more but had about 10 years
trouble free service.

 

[neil1967]

Recently installed a furlex on our Oyster 406 - very happy with it. One minor Cost consideration is that the furlex comes with a new forestay, whereas for the harken you will need to pay more for a new forestay (if you need a new one).

 

[jwilson]

Any chance you might know a rigger locally ? Unbiased opinions could be useful.

On the advice of a local rigger I went for Harken . I don't own the boat any more but had about 10 years
trouble free service.

One recommends Furlex, one says both are good. Neither likes existing Facnor.

 

[Koeketiene]

Have experience of both Furlex and Harken.
If it were me, I'd go for the Harken.
Was trouble free on my previous boat for over 10 years (when I sold her on).

 

[Dantp]

When we changed ours we looked at all the options. The advice we received was that the the harken mkIV unit was bomb proof and very good but that the ESP was not of the same quality, built lighter and to a price. (Big price difference though and the mkIV was out of budget).
We didn't like the enclosed drum on the furlex as it looked like a furling rope tangle would be impossible to get to. (It only has to happen once at the wrong time). I also seem to remember the maintenance instructions read. Rinse with fresh water at the end of the sail (not so handy living full time in the hook with no water maker).
We would have chosen this over the ESP.

Subsequently we bought a profurl. The sealed bearings on the old (30 year old) one were still good but the foil broke and we couldn't find a spare section, very annoying.
5000 miles later it's going strong, However we have since heard the old profurls were better than the new ones so...
Maybe some of that is helpful at least additional info for choosing between your shortlist.

 

[Corbert-Beacon]

My yard wants to sell me a Profurl C350 @ GBP1,948. Buying new standing rigging anyway. No experience of this make. Beneteau Oceanis 381. Advice?