Recommendations for a prefeeder

M

Miker

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Re my earlier post, I've trawled the WEB and found a Harken prefeeder for £11.45 and a Wichard for £47.47.
I'd welcome advice on the merits of both and any others.
I do not race and am looking for something to aid hoisting my furling genoa while in the marina.
 
Have you got links to them?

Otherwise I'd probably bet on the cheap one, the more expensive ones tend to have other features that are good for racing like being able to open and shut it to enable fast loading in less than ideal (i.e not flat) conditions.
 
Thought it would be that witchard! It's a great bit of kit, but total overkill for hoisting a genoa before heading out.

I'd go for the harken, and also invest in a can of silcone spray. That way you make sure it won't stick as you hoist.
 
Thanks everyone. I came across the Spinlock prefeeder on the WEB but was puzzled over how it is fastened. The picture showed two cords, one going up the sail and one at the bottom. What does the top cord fasten onto?
I shall certainly also invest in some sail lubricant.
 
Spinlock works for me with a single cord, stopper knot at the top of the tube, bottom tied off near the bottom of the forestay.

Normally it lies loose. When needed, the luff tape is fed through it and into the foil, and tension put on the halyard before hoisting. This lifts the feeder off the deck to position near the forestay entry (the pre-feeder height is determined by the length of the cord tying it off). When the sail has been hoisted, the feeder falls back to the deck again. It can be left there if more hoists are anticipated or put below for safe keeping.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Spinlock works for me with a single cord, stopper knot at the top of the tube, bottom tied off near the bottom of the forestay.

Normally it lies loose. When needed, the luff tape is fed through it and into the foil, and tension put on the halyard before hoisting. This lifts the feeder off the deck to position near the forestay entry (the pre-feeder height is determined by the length of the cord tying it off). When the sail has been hoisted, the feeder falls back to the deck again. It can be left there if more hoists are anticipated or put below for safe keeping.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty much what we do on the J that I sometimes race. Thing to remember with a furling gear (which the J has) is that the string needs to be short enough not to allow the prefeeder to fall into the drum. This results in a huge tangle with the furling line and bad times.
 
Thanks for the advice about not entangling it in the cord around the drum.
I must admit that I'm drawn towards the Wichard although, as you say, it would be an overkill. It is a pity that the only person who buys me useful Xmas oresents is me.
 
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