Alan1
Member
I am thinking of buying a beneteau 311 with in mast furling does anyone out there have any experience of these systems good and bad. Is it an extra that I should pay more for?
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
In mast furling
- Thread starter Alan1
- Start date
Talbot
Active member
this would be in-mast reefing (furling means you only use the system for stowing the sail away neatly). Some people hate these systems cause they can jam, but 99% of the jams are because the system is not lined up properly. I have a behind mast system which is an add-on, but would have liked to have found the money to buy an in-mast. If you single hand at all, you would find the system a great help, and you will no longer put off reefing until far too late, purely cause it is so quick and easy. Stowing sails as you finish sdailing for the day is just a quick pull on a couple of lines.
Some people dont like the loose footed sail, and say that you cant get any shape in it. Mine has vertical batterns that are full length, and this makes a big difference to sail shape. It also gives you a good repeatable reefing point!
<hr width=100% size=1>
Some people dont like the loose footed sail, and say that you cant get any shape in it. Mine has vertical batterns that are full length, and this makes a big difference to sail shape. It also gives you a good repeatable reefing point!
<hr width=100% size=1>
rrees
New member
Have one on my 351 My wife would not sail without one makes life so easy.
I can sit down and have a drink watching the world go by while see does all the hard work.
The key thing with them is once you have mastered the technique they are great
We are cruisers so loss of preformace is no big deal for us
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>
I can sit down and have a drink watching the world go by while see does all the hard work.
The key thing with them is once you have mastered the technique they are great
We are cruisers so loss of preformace is no big deal for us
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>
rrees
New member
Have one on my 351 My wife would not sail without one makes life so easy.
I can sit down and have a drink watching the world go by while see does all the hard work.
The key thing with them is once you have mastered the technique they are great
We are cruisers so loss of preformace is no big deal for us but have sailed from Greece to France in her with some good stats.
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>
I can sit down and have a drink watching the world go by while see does all the hard work.
The key thing with them is once you have mastered the technique they are great
We are cruisers so loss of preformace is no big deal for us but have sailed from Greece to France in her with some good stats.
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>
TonyS
Member
Have it on my Bavaria 36. Its the best decision I ever made. All the sceptics who have since sailed with me wish they also had it. You can take the main in and out with every gust if you wanted, it is so quick and easy. No going to windward to furl the sail, except in a blow. No going on the cabin roof to gather the sail.
People who race tell me it is also an advantage in strong winds as you can set the optimum amount of sail for the conditions, not one reef or two.
If you want to go faster, loss of 2 sq m of sail then buy a folding prop.
Tony
<hr width=100% size=1>Tony
People who race tell me it is also an advantage in strong winds as you can set the optimum amount of sail for the conditions, not one reef or two.
If you want to go faster, loss of 2 sq m of sail then buy a folding prop.
Tony
<hr width=100% size=1>Tony
DickB
Member
I have one on my B42 and it is excellent. Never jams and makes life very easy.
<hr width=100% size=1>Dick
<hr width=100% size=1>Dick
david_e
Active member
To answer your question; it is I understand an extra, not sure of the price when new, a quick call to a Ben dealer will let you know. My pontoon neighbour has one and as mentioned it needs setting up well; not for me though, I prefer the power and upwind performance from a fully battened main which drops into a stack bag just as easily.
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
david_e
Active member
To answer your question; it is I understand an extra, not sure of the price when new, a quick call to a Ben dealer will let you know. My pontoon neighbour has one and as mentioned it needs setting up well; not for me though, I prefer the power and upwind performance from a fully battened main which drops into a stack bag just as easily.
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
Ric
Well-known member
In-mast reefing was fitted to the 311 as standard, so it is not really an "extra" on that particular boat. However, cruising boats of a similar size usually charge about 1000 squid to have in-mast furling.
In-mast furling is a bit like choosing an automatic gearbox on a car. You pay extra to lose a bit of performance - but gain a lot in comfort and ease of use.
It really comes into its own on cruising boats above 12m, where hauling the huge mainsail up the mast is hard work, and tends to put people off sailing short distances or reefing appropriately.
However, it is by no means redundant on a boat the size of the 311. It makes sail-handling a real doddle, you can reef in a couple of secs from the cockpit, you can reef infinitely (whereas slabbers only have two or three choices), and even on a small boat you find yourself popping out the sail for even a short sail as it is so easy.
Drawbacks are that you can't get quite such a nice shape and you lose a little bit of sail area because you can't get a rounded trailing edge. However, the vertically battened sails address these two disadvantages - I have it on my boat and can get a nice shape and the sail area is the same as a conventional main. You have to make sure the mast is straight when you reef or furl, so you need to let off any backstay tensioner if you have one.
<hr width=100% size=1>
In-mast furling is a bit like choosing an automatic gearbox on a car. You pay extra to lose a bit of performance - but gain a lot in comfort and ease of use.
It really comes into its own on cruising boats above 12m, where hauling the huge mainsail up the mast is hard work, and tends to put people off sailing short distances or reefing appropriately.
However, it is by no means redundant on a boat the size of the 311. It makes sail-handling a real doddle, you can reef in a couple of secs from the cockpit, you can reef infinitely (whereas slabbers only have two or three choices), and even on a small boat you find yourself popping out the sail for even a short sail as it is so easy.
Drawbacks are that you can't get quite such a nice shape and you lose a little bit of sail area because you can't get a rounded trailing edge. However, the vertically battened sails address these two disadvantages - I have it on my boat and can get a nice shape and the sail area is the same as a conventional main. You have to make sure the mast is straight when you reef or furl, so you need to let off any backstay tensioner if you have one.
<hr width=100% size=1>
charles_reed
Active member
Fully battened main
and you have the added advantage of exercising the shoulders when lifting the main at the beginning of every sail ;-)
<hr width=100% size=1>
and you have the added advantage of exercising the shoulders when lifting the main at the beginning of every sail ;-)
<hr width=100% size=1>
charles_reed
Active member
It depends
On your approach to sailing.
If you want to minimise effort and don't mind sacrificing performance and handling then in-mast reefing is for you.
The horror stories of it failing in a gale, fully deployed, really only applied to the early versions and/or badly maintained ones.
IMHO for such a small boat as the 311, which has a fractional rig, I'd suggest the in-mast reefing is a disadvantage.
Probably an equal handicap would be the standard Elvstrom sails.
<hr width=100% size=1>
On your approach to sailing.
If you want to minimise effort and don't mind sacrificing performance and handling then in-mast reefing is for you.
The horror stories of it failing in a gale, fully deployed, really only applied to the early versions and/or badly maintained ones.
IMHO for such a small boat as the 311, which has a fractional rig, I'd suggest the in-mast reefing is a disadvantage.
Probably an equal handicap would be the standard Elvstrom sails.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Sunnyseeker
New member
I think it would depend on your expected use...
Disadvantages are you put weight up the mast, especially as it gets rough and windy. It can jam half furled so you cant drop the sail? or if furling lines break then it unrolls? They have all the disadvantages/advantages of furling headsails.
My last boat had single line reefing fully battened and stack pack. I could reef single handed from the cockpit, weight was kept low. If anything broke it could still be dropped in a hurry. The sail retained a very good shape whatever the conditions, third reef was flat as a board. Sail wear and chaffing was very limited.
If I sailed a boat with in mast system I would want a tri sail ready that could be put up easily, seperate track on mast and bagged at the mast base. Same as having a seperate forestay for a storm jib when you have roller headsail furling.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Disadvantages are you put weight up the mast, especially as it gets rough and windy. It can jam half furled so you cant drop the sail? or if furling lines break then it unrolls? They have all the disadvantages/advantages of furling headsails.
My last boat had single line reefing fully battened and stack pack. I could reef single handed from the cockpit, weight was kept low. If anything broke it could still be dropped in a hurry. The sail retained a very good shape whatever the conditions, third reef was flat as a board. Sail wear and chaffing was very limited.
If I sailed a boat with in mast system I would want a tri sail ready that could be put up easily, seperate track on mast and bagged at the mast base. Same as having a seperate forestay for a storm jib when you have roller headsail furling.
<hr width=100% size=1>
robp
Active member
Re: It depends
<<Probably an equal handicap would be the standard Elvstrom sails.>> Or Technique Voile. Agreed.
<hr width=100% size=1>
<<Probably an equal handicap would be the standard Elvstrom sails.>> Or Technique Voile. Agreed.
<hr width=100% size=1>
