mojito87
New Member
Anyone recommend where to purchase a replacement (reasonably priced) jib reefing system for an 11.5 metre boat with a 14/14.5 metre luff. Priced a Furlex and got a fright. We are based in Oban.
Jib Reefing system
- Thread starter mojito87
- Start date
Tranona
Well-Known Member
All systems suitable for that size boat are similar price to the Furlex - or more expensive. There is no "cheap" alternative.
There is a good choice of different designs on the market, so do your research on what is available - it is a very competitive market, and make your decision based on what you believe is the best value for you. You do not have to buy locally, although there are advantages in that, particularly if you want help fitting it.
mojito87
New Member
Just starting to search. Thanks for your positive comments. If anyone has any supplier recommendations it will give us a good start. Many thanks!
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
I have a Facnor. A lot of Hanse owners claim they are not the best & one or two may have changed. They are - or have been- fitted standard on smaller boats. I have never had any problem with mine & most owners seem to have been Ok. I believe it is because they may be the cheapest furler. My furler has a 11.5 Luff but the 34ft boats have longer luffs to match yours
The only problem I have is that it is non adjustable forestay length but some models are adjustable. However it does sit close to the deck & some have a section( rather like a cake slice) that can be removed to allow a deck fastened non furling genoa for racing. Not sure what model but it is shown on my instruction manual. One should allow for a mast aligner for the halyard to prevent twisting of the halyard when furling
The only problem I have is that it is non adjustable forestay length but some models are adjustable. However it does sit close to the deck & some have a section( rather like a cake slice) that can be removed to allow a deck fastened non furling genoa for racing. Not sure what model but it is shown on my instruction manual. One should allow for a mast aligner for the halyard to prevent twisting of the halyard when furling
bitbaltic
Well-Known Member
And I am one of those Hanse owners who has replaced a Facnor becase they are not only awful, they are downright dangerous. The top swivel problem (explanation for the OP not you Sam as I know you know all about it) - after about 5-10 years service the swivel stops turning properly, the halyard wraps around the foil- unstranded a brand new forestay on our boat during our first season with it, and we had handled the furler very carefully as the system was obviously stiff. If the fault were to develop on a longish voyage involving highish winds I would think it possible it could bring down an otherwise fine condition rig. One or two Facnor owners have claimed to be able to do something about it by dismantling the swivel (Facnor say it is non-derviceable), or spraying various lubricants about, or claiming huge improvements with small changes in halyard tension, and various other things that do not feel like complete solutions to the problem.
Whether the newer Facnors have overcome this issue I can't say, but I personally would not have peace of mind making any decent passages with one. (On the other hand Sam has done lots of extended cruising with his, so it is horses for courses).
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
I have never understood how a forestay can unstrand if it is held at each end from rotation but perhaps it has something to do with the direction of rotation of the furler when furling. My UV strip is on the stbd side of the sail. Which side was yours?
I did stress above that a mast aligner is needed & that may well apply whatever type of furler one has
As Bitbaltic has explained, his did not last long, but mine is Ok after 13 years of hard use & has only needed a replacement rivet in the bottom section of the foil
In that time my mast has been dropped 5 times for rig survey & general mast service etc Each time my rigger has checked & cleaned the furler.
I have had 3 new forestays. 2 due to kinks caused by the yard & one when I had complete new rigging at 8 years because the boat had been hammered hard since new with high mileage.
So I feel that the furler has performed OK
I did stress above that a mast aligner is needed & that may well apply whatever type of furler one has
As Bitbaltic has explained, his did not last long, but mine is Ok after 13 years of hard use & has only needed a replacement rivet in the bottom section of the foil
In that time my mast has been dropped 5 times for rig survey & general mast service etc Each time my rigger has checked & cleaned the furler.
I have had 3 new forestays. 2 due to kinks caused by the yard & one when I had complete new rigging at 8 years because the boat had been hammered hard since new with high mileage.
So I feel that the furler has performed OK
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Tranona
Well-Known Member
Furlex is arguably the most popular because it is fitted to a significant proportion of new boats, has been in production for many years (with of course updates), works well, lasts well and is competitively priced. I have had 2 boats with it and no complaints. Hopefully others will be along with their own experiences.
In my experience much of the success in operation is down to good furling line hardware. The Harken system I fitted to my current boat is a revelation compared with the basic gear most people fit. However as is often the case good gear is not cheap!
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rotrax
Well-Known Member
I fitted a Harken Cruiser twin foil system on a previous boat. Searched long and hard, found an ebay supplier £1000.00 cheaper than the best price in the Solent.
Purchased it, when it arrived it had come direct from Harken's UK HQ in Lymington!
Jerry the Rigger installed it, making a new forestay, for a very good price.
Our last two boats have had Harken Cruiser furling gear-pretty bullet proof in my experience.
Purchased it, when it arrived it had come direct from Harken's UK HQ in Lymington!
Jerry the Rigger installed it, making a new forestay, for a very good price.
Our last two boats have had Harken Cruiser furling gear-pretty bullet proof in my experience.
bitbaltic
Well-Known Member
It's true that a halyard deflector of some sort does help the situation. A pal has a facnor with the top swivel problem just developing last season- he has fitted a deflector and feels this has improved the issue- my feeling is it is only delaying the inevitable as the swivel deteriorates but will need replacing sooner or later. Certainly a delflector should minimize halyard wrap and perhaps prevent catastrophic failure. But much does depend on how the halyard leaves the mast and the configuration of the parts. There can be less room on a masthead rig to get a good deflection angle because of spin halyards, sheaves and whatnot all emerging together. Easier on a fractional rig (like both of ours) where the halyard and foil are seperate from everything else. So 9it might be useful to know what sort of rig the OP has.
Don't know which side my UV strip is on fo sure, but I suspect it's starboard like yours. (looks like it in my profile pic anyway lol!)
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
Nothing to do with furling direction, all to do with the dreaded halyard wrap.
This happens if the angle between halyard and forestay is to small (when swivel is at the top) and/or to much slack in the halyard.
What happens his this, the foil rotates and and the top swivel rotate with it due to the initial friction in the swivel the halyard is dragged around the forestay. The halyard tension is supposed to keep the outer part of he swivel stationary while the sail and inner part of the swivel rotates with the foil.
If the angle between forestay us to small or there is slack in halyard or the swivel bearings are damaged (or a combination or these) you will get the halyard wrapped around the forestay in the initial turns during reefing, when the halyard get tight and furling continues you will start twisting the wire at the top close to top terminal.
This is a picture of a halyard wrap, I spotted this while in harbor and notified the skipper and helped him unwrap, this could have damaged the forestay.
This is how a damaged stay looks, should be replaced immediately as it has lost its strength.
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
I had a Facnor top sviwel go stiff.
Took it of and got it dismantled, this is what I found the seeger rings used inside the unit to keep the bearings in place had started rusting and rust and water had deposited on the bearing surfaces and created a sandpaper like structure on the bearing surface (the bearing surface was not rusted).
The "sandpaper" increased friction and did also wear down the surface on the "plastic" balls in the bearing.
With hindsight I should have reacted when I hosed down the swivel with fresh water in the spring (as recommended by Facnor) had brown water running out of the swivel - it was probably a combination of rust and dust from the girding of the bearing balls.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
I would beg to differ on that one
If the rotation during furling was such that it was trying to tighten the lay of the wire rather than undo the lay of the wire then the issue of unstranded wire in the photo would not arise. That is why I asked what side the UV strip was fitted as that indicates what way the sail furls.
That is assuming that the unfurling action puts far less strain on the system, as opposed to furling, which i think is a fair assumption
Of course direction of rotation does not stop halyard wrap & on that I would agree
PuffTheMagicDragon
Well-Known Member
Having installed a new Plastimo on my first boat with a lid (Vivacity 20), a new Facnor on the Centaur that came next and now having an old Goiot on my Centurion (1973!) I would say that the major causes of grief are:
(1) Too much tension on the Genoa halyard and not enough tension on the backstay.
(2) Doughnut halyard diverter on the profile. I much prefer a bull's eye on the face of the mast, roughly half-way between the sheave and the swivel.
(3) Excessive lubrication of the bearing balls. Grit and traffic film get to it and accumulate until the result is a thick sticky mess that resembles Tarmac. I had this problem when I bought the Centurion; the drum would not even turn! It took a couple of hours to clear with repeated applications of a kitchen degreaser and copious quantities of hot water to rinse out the muck. That was five years ago and no problems so far. Whenever I wash the deck at the pontoon I religiously include the lower drum of the furler.
(1) Too much tension on the Genoa halyard and not enough tension on the backstay.
(2) Doughnut halyard diverter on the profile. I much prefer a bull's eye on the face of the mast, roughly half-way between the sheave and the swivel.
(3) Excessive lubrication of the bearing balls. Grit and traffic film get to it and accumulate until the result is a thick sticky mess that resembles Tarmac. I had this problem when I bought the Centurion; the drum would not even turn! It took a couple of hours to clear with repeated applications of a kitchen degreaser and copious quantities of hot water to rinse out the muck. That was five years ago and no problems so far. Whenever I wash the deck at the pontoon I religiously include the lower drum of the furler.
merlin3688
Well-Known Member
In my opinion the Furlex is the best gear for this size of boat, well made, easy to fit, spares are always available due to a good dealer location, most parts are numbered making identification easy and also come with the halyard diverter which needs to be fitted to the mast, no connection with Furlex but fitted many!
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
Sailspar... Brilliant continuous line system, and when I replaced Gladys' mast a few years back, the SS was about £900, Harken equivalent was over £1500
mojito87
New Member
We have a masthead rig but the spinnaker halyard is set down a metre or so lower and the main and topping lift come out of the rear of the mast so things are separated. There is plenty of room to put in a deflector is required. We shall certainly be asking the rigger if it is necessary. Thank you for all your assistance.
PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
There is someone on ebay who advertises a very simple and reasonably priced furling system. From memory it's called Alado - just found it on ebay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALADO-Rol...880291?hash=item2cbc219c23:g:vLYAAOSw4f5YCOpE
A friend of ours has a similar system on his boat in Scotland but not sure if it's Alado, and certainly works fine.
Also google Alado - lots of info available.
A friend of ours has a similar system on his boat in Scotland but not sure if it's Alado, and certainly works fine.
Also google Alado - lots of info available.
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Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Something wrong here
The spinnaker halyard should not come out a metre below the forestay. That would possibly be the pole topping lift. The spinnaker halyard has to come out above the forestay.
The mast aligner will sit above the top roller of the reefing furler & below where the halyard enters the mast. Just because there is a metre down to the other "halyard" point does not mean you have loads of room
bitbaltic
Well-Known Member
+1 beat me to it
. Also suspect what the OP thinks is his spin halyard is his pole lift. Would definitely recommend he goes to a rigger who can be sure what he is looking at.NormanS
Well-Known Member
About four years ago we bit the bullet and fitted a Furlex 308, supplied by Mast and Rigging Services at Kip. Certainly not cheap, but no complaints. (11 metre boat near Oban).
