Head Sail Furling recommendation required

[squidge]

Hi, I am in need of replacing the headsail furling system on our Estuary One Design, 18ft day boat. As ever funds are limited so been looking at the Plastimo 406 but not sure of its quality. We regularly step and unstep the mast for towing & winter storage so it needs to be forgiving with a little flex in the foil but robust to withstand abuse.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lakesailor]

If you merely want to furl and unfurl, not reef, then a Barton furler at about £70 for the drum and top swivel is a far better bet.
I had one on my 17ft Seahawk and it was way less trouble than a Plastimo and much quicker.
You do need a headsail with a wire luff. No big deal to install.
Dropping is simply a question of letting go the halyard.


I furl the headsail at 3 minutes 50 seconds. Blink and you miss it.

​

 

[VicS]

I'd think a spar like a Plastimo if you want to use it for reefing otherwise just furling gear as a LS says.

Plastimo may not be the bees knees but plenty about functioning satisfactorily and not as flimsy as some.

Plastimo stuff still available ?? Parent company in receivership I believe.

Two types of Plastimo depending on whether to be fitted on to existing forestay c/w bottle screw or to be fitted to a new forestay without bottle screw

 

[alisdair4]

Reefing Recommendations

I had a Plastimo system on my last boat (Fox Terrier 22). It was easy to install, and pretty robust. LIke all of these systems, you do have to be careful not to bend the the foil when lowering or erecting the mast - apart from that, a good bit of kit.

 

[ProDave]

I fitted the Barton furling gear to my little boat after seeing it in action on Lakies boat, and it does the job just fine. Cheap and simple to fit and effective.

 

[Chrusty 1]

+1 for the Barton gear, I'd go for the bigger bottom drum though, as far as I know, the top swivel is the same for the 70mm? and the 90mm? drum. Make sure you fit the top swivel the right way up though, fit it the wrong way up and it will catch water.

 

[ProDave]

+1 for the larger drum. there's only just enough capacity on that for the head sail on my little boat. The smaller drum would only suit a TINY headsail (or fishing line for the furling cord)

 

[Razorfish]

+1 for the Plastimo if you need to go down that road. OK not as shiney as Harken et al but I found it very serviceable.

Although, given the size of boat I'd be seriously looking at the Barton gear.

Andy