ashtead
Well-Known Member
I suspect this might depend on condition of system ?
in mast reefing.- is it a problem
- Thread starter barca nova
- Start date
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
Pretty much if it has no vertical battens. You don't want the sail against the spreaders when you reef, so pulling the boom in as if starting a gybe and then easing a bit on the outhaul, then pulling in on the furler, you can take it in say 50cm increments while maintaining course.
ashtead
Well-Known Member
Don’t they all have vertical battens nowadays ? I’m sure the ones offered on Moody (ie from Hanse empire) did but we didn’t opt for them so not sure . Maybe Hanse owners know though?
NormanS
Well-Known Member
The advantage of vertical battens is that they allow some roach. Mine has no battens, but I'm quite happy to accept the potential reduction in sail area.
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
Vertical battens are both a benefit and a disadvantage.
The main furls better without them as when the sail is under load they add resistance while going into the mast slot - the further off the wind the course, the worse it is as the battens have to be pulled across the edge of the slot before going into the mast and the batten pockets + battens are thicker than the sail.
They do however give a bigger sail area (more roach) and a better sail shape.
I moved from no battens to vertical battens and have noticed that it is better to head into the wind if I want to furl more than one batten spacing.
Concerto
Well-Known Member
My experience of a mast furler was on my parent's Moody Eclipse 43. We never had any problems with it in 4 years of ownership.
By comparison, I was alongside a boat of about 30ft some years ago that had a retro fit furler. When he bought a new mainsail he went with a slightly heavier cloth for better sail set. However the sail was now slightly bulkier and he could no longer completely furl it away leaving the last couple of feet always exposed.
By comparison, I was alongside a boat of about 30ft some years ago that had a retro fit furler. When he bought a new mainsail he went with a slightly heavier cloth for better sail set. However the sail was now slightly bulkier and he could no longer completely furl it away leaving the last couple of feet always exposed.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Two schools of thought (at least!). As you see from earlier posts, no battens and Vectra cloth is preferred by some as giving the advantages of a stable shape and no battens. Some mast sections are too small to take battens.
Dutch01527
Well-Known Member
I bought a Contest 41 last year with factory fit in mast furling, vertically battened sail and electric winches. It was not something I was looking for but I wanted the boat so went with it.
I am in two minds whether I love it or fear it. It is fast, convenient and flexible and means that I can handle the sails single handed even in heavy weather. On the other hand, the power of the winches and the need to be very precise on releasing clutches, boom and wind angles means that I am nervous in letting other people who are not used to the system use it.
It is very easy to tear the sail, blow a block, get the sail stuck or much worse hurt someone with the winches. I sometimes stop using the electrics and manually wind the winches if I have inexperienced people on board.
I am in two minds whether I love it or fear it. It is fast, convenient and flexible and means that I can handle the sails single handed even in heavy weather. On the other hand, the power of the winches and the need to be very precise on releasing clutches, boom and wind angles means that I am nervous in letting other people who are not used to the system use it.
It is very easy to tear the sail, blow a block, get the sail stuck or much worse hurt someone with the winches. I sometimes stop using the electrics and manually wind the winches if I have inexperienced people on board.
wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
Useful info here, inc guide and customer feedback.
Most issues are finger trouble/lack of understanding.
Even Beneteau/importing dealer set up our Z Spars furling mast with pre bend at delivery which previous 2 owners must have had to cope with until we had Flash take out.
Furling Masts | Zspars
Most issues are finger trouble/lack of understanding.
Even Beneteau/importing dealer set up our Z Spars furling mast with pre bend at delivery which previous 2 owners must have had to cope with until we had Flash take out.
Furling Masts | Zspars
NormanS
Well-Known Member
I'm no expert, but surely it must be fairly obvious that to have something revolving inside a mast, it has to be as straight as possible.
TSB240
Well-Known Member
Our new to us Beneteau 40cc had Z Spar fitted inmast as original fit.
I can say it has operated perfectly in all conditions once correctly set up. The boat came with a set of unused new sails and no battens.
In mast is perfect for an old man cruising but I do miss the incredible performance I had out of a brand new fully battened main and Genoa on my previous boat.
But the additional 12 foot on the waterline more than makes up the difference!
I don't miss the untidy, unsightly and bulky stack pack and the hassle of packing sail away and doing zips up!
Sailing time is much higher as you only have to tension a haliard to get sailing.
Biggest single mistake previous owner made was fitting an oversized furling line which didn't allow the furling drum to rotate freely when line was released.
A well set up inmast furler can be operated as easily as a well set up roller on a genoa.
Winching furling lines may be needed on bigger rigs but should be avoided if possible.
I can say it has operated perfectly in all conditions once correctly set up. The boat came with a set of unused new sails and no battens.
In mast is perfect for an old man cruising but I do miss the incredible performance I had out of a brand new fully battened main and Genoa on my previous boat.
But the additional 12 foot on the waterline more than makes up the difference!
I don't miss the untidy, unsightly and bulky stack pack and the hassle of packing sail away and doing zips up!
Sailing time is much higher as you only have to tension a haliard to get sailing.
Biggest single mistake previous owner made was fitting an oversized furling line which didn't allow the furling drum to rotate freely when line was released.
A well set up inmast furler can be operated as easily as a well set up roller on a genoa.
Winching furling lines may be needed on bigger rigs but should be avoided if possible.
SaltyC
Well-Known Member
It was my experience that is now difficult to find recent pre loved boats without in mast furling once above 35' ( Now classified as starter boats!?!)
Previous boat at 31' was fully battened main with single line reefing all controls led back, easy to sail, good performance, quick to hoist, reef and drop.
At 37' having decided on the boat I wanted ALL available were in mast.
Having sailed school / charter boats with in mast I had serious reservations re sail shape and performance, I accepted I would need a vertically battened main. Original main despite good quality and little used was a horrible shape, particularly in light winds but improved above F3.
New Vectran full length vertical battens transformed the boats performance and my enjoyment looking at a well setting sail.
Preference?
Under 34' I would stick with fully battened and slab reefing, as I get okder I see the advantages of in mast, however reefing / furling is harder work than letting a halyard go, perhaps in years to come an electric winch?
My major niggle is the preference / need to be on Stbd tack to unfurl / furl due to anti clockwise furl of the mandril.
Previous boat at 31' was fully battened main with single line reefing all controls led back, easy to sail, good performance, quick to hoist, reef and drop.
At 37' having decided on the boat I wanted ALL available were in mast.
Having sailed school / charter boats with in mast I had serious reservations re sail shape and performance, I accepted I would need a vertically battened main. Original main despite good quality and little used was a horrible shape, particularly in light winds but improved above F3.
New Vectran full length vertical battens transformed the boats performance and my enjoyment looking at a well setting sail.
Preference?
Under 34' I would stick with fully battened and slab reefing, as I get okder I see the advantages of in mast, however reefing / furling is harder work than letting a halyard go, perhaps in years to come an electric winch?
My major niggle is the preference / need to be on Stbd tack to unfurl / furl due to anti clockwise furl of the mandril.
Supertramp
Well-Known Member
Much depends on the boat.
On a design where the main is the driving sail (eg Concerto's Fulmar) you will lose pointing and power with in mast. On a ketch rig atop a chunky hull and long keel with a 140% genoa and decent size mizzen its much less critical, I am never going to point closer than around 40 degrees anyway. I set it more like a second jib than a conventional mainsail.
I agree about the starboard tack thing, although its only an issue for me in strong winds when reducing sail and not wanting to tack - it furls fine on either tack or head to wind in normal conditions. Again with a ketch rig, I will furl away some main early to a well reefed size or altogether, adding reductions to headsail and mizzen as needed. The mizzen is slab reefed.
For cruising singlehanded it is really nice to make sails disappear in an instant and concentrate on pilotage.
On a design where the main is the driving sail (eg Concerto's Fulmar) you will lose pointing and power with in mast. On a ketch rig atop a chunky hull and long keel with a 140% genoa and decent size mizzen its much less critical, I am never going to point closer than around 40 degrees anyway. I set it more like a second jib than a conventional mainsail.
I agree about the starboard tack thing, although its only an issue for me in strong winds when reducing sail and not wanting to tack - it furls fine on either tack or head to wind in normal conditions. Again with a ketch rig, I will furl away some main early to a well reefed size or altogether, adding reductions to headsail and mizzen as needed. The mizzen is slab reefed.
For cruising singlehanded it is really nice to make sails disappear in an instant and concentrate on pilotage.