New headsail furler - "must be bullet proof" - Profurl or Harken ?

Endless splice instructions...

My in-mast furling needs an endless splice in the line. You can download instructions from the Selden website. Having done about 6 endless splices, I can confirm that it's not easy to get a good result, but they say practice makes perfect!
 
Re: New headsail furler - \"must be bullet proof\" - Profurl or Harken ?

Fully agree about Furlex. We have destroyed two of them, last time on summer cruise three years ago. IMHO the equipment is far too complex and fragile. We replaced it with a Facnor, original equipment on many French production boats. It doesn't do anything clever, such as winding the centre of the luff in advance of the tack and head, but we haven't noticed a significant performance difference. Instead, it's built like a brick outhouse and has proved to be totally reliable. What swung it for us is that it was much cheaper than Uk equipment. See the range on http://www.facnor.com/uk/default.asp Ours is the cruising version. We bought ours at Bleu Marine in Dunkerque, who were very helpful.
 
Re: New headsail furler - \"must be bullet proof\" - Profurl or Harken ?

We have an 17 year old Harken with wich we're very satisfied. Has always worked faultlessly, the only maintenance being a good rinse after every outing and twice a year a squirt of WD 40. If I had to replace it (not for many years I hope), I would certainly choose Harken again
 
Re: New headsail furler - \"must be bullet proof\" - Profurl or Harken ?

Got a Harken on my Tradewind 35, superbly engineered!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: New headsail furler - \"must be bullet proof\" - Profurl or Harken ?

Interested in your post as we have a Furlex 300 which we are very happy with. Seems well engineered (compared to the Rotostay which it replaced).

Harken, Profurl and Furlex were all in our shortlist when we changed. We decided in the end on price and spares availability.

Also interested as I had never heard a bad word against Furlex until this thread!
 
Re: SailSpar

Agree with the comments about Sailspar, super system, easy to fit and maintain, (had one for 15years) If you keep the manual, you will find fairly comprehensive instructions as to how to complete the endless line splice... if not they will alway's send you a copy!....HTH Tony.
 
Re: SailSpar

Never had a Harken unit, but have had Profurl. Profurl units are very solid, and I particularly like that you can install and remove the extrusion with the forestay up.

Equally like strength of extrusions, attachment method and bearings. Its rock solid - one section was bent at over 90 degrees following dismasting, and due to lack of spares, we straightened using a series of wooden blocks - that extrusion is still on the boat 8 years on!

You do need to ensure the grease seals are washed regularly (or they rust, and then the bearings fail). I successfully replaced bearings in mine, but then ended up replacing both upper and lower units with "factory rebuilt" units at about 25% of price of a new system - this followed a dismasting where the insurer wanted them replaced.
 
Re: SailSpar

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Looks like more forumites have the Profurl than Harken, although no adverse comments on either.
Which hasn't made my choice any easier !!

Ref the Sailspar, I had one on a Monsun 31 and I loved the endless rope system, particularly the fact that I could furl AND unfurl the sail with the control line, which was nice in light winds and easy to unwind if the halyard wrapped.
Unfortunately that was the goog news, the poor thing was the fact that it sometimes jammed, and I never did work out whether it was halyard wrap or something worse.

Tx again for your repies
Homa
 
Re: New headsail furler - \"must be bullet proof\" - Profurl or Harken ?

And us Rival owners know a thing or two /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: New headsail furler - \"must be bullet proof\" - Profurl or Harken ?

despite a fair degree of prejudice about french engineering (based on french cars) I was impressed by my Profurl and wouldnt hesistate to buy another
 
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