Replacement furling gear

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Spuddy

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My old chum Bern and I were looking at his Furlex C type today. If the problems are terminal then need to consider what to replace with. What does the team think of the various brands ?
 
if it will fit a 12.5 meter 8mm forestay i think you should lash it and get a new one....

And if you cant tell me what bin you throw it in that would be helpful


Rob
 
I see your Saga is "on its last legs" so looking for economic upgrades ? C series now out of production so dunno if parts available. Bern wants to know about options to replace quickly, if necessary because he has a jaunt planned for soon.
 
I need new sails and would love roller reefing but i havnt got the £1500 for a half decent one and i cant see the point in fitting a cheapo one.
So i will probably go for hank on and have them changed when i have the money for the reefing gear.

I can sail without reefing gear i cant sail without sails /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Rob
 
Go for another Furlex.
3 years ago I was seduced by the cheaper price of rotastay but it was not very good value. During the first season I returned to the maker because the roller reefing was extreemly stiff it required winching of the sail both in and out.
at the end of the first season the whole assembly was replaced by rotastay and the result was not much better than the one it replaced. I struggled on with this for 2 more seasons with no further help from rotastay. so I have now scraped it and fitted Furlex which was what I had originally and had given 20 years problem free service.
So i recommend that you buy a furler with quality, Furlex.
 
I've had good experiences with Plastimo, both on the previous and present boat. They can be removed fairly easily (provided you don't use the supplied ss pop rivets - newer ones have screws I think) to change the forestay or repair damage, whereas I understand that some other makes have to be cut off.
 
Have been much impressed with the recent replacement of a Plastimo RF system by an Alado? I believe of Brazillian manufacture, marketed in the States and available for about £250 delivered , tax paid etc. Well engineered and exceedingly easy to put together! when checking for self, was quoted $950 for 20m @10mm, bit of a sickner 'cos just paid 2k for equivalent UK manufactured product...worth a look?
 
Check your bolt rope size. My old but serviceable Colnbrook was written off at the end of last season.

The Genny was only a few months old & the bolt rope was too big for some makes so settled on a Rotostay. Also, with the boat off the water & being local(ish) the Rotostay guys pitched up & measured everything, then fitted the new one. Boat's off the water still but we'll see how it works (& hopefully fits) in a few weeks.
 
I cannot rate it against others (no experience), but I have a Harken MkIII on my boat. At least ten years old, trouble free and came apart fairly easily to fit the new forestay this year.
Rob.
 
I'd go for an 'open' type drum. Profurl being one of the best but cheaper but still reliable versions also available such as Facnor. Expeienced a good deal of problems with Furlex over the years with problems emminating from behing the shiny chrome covers....
 
I've had all kinds of Furlex on 3 different boats - all were more or less pants.

Did a customer survey - asked anyone and everyone with something other than a Furlex if they would recommend the gear they had installed.
The only brand to get 100% positive feedback was Harken.

So, next winter we're getting a Harken.
 
I'm still using my old Colnbrook furling gear..I reckon its about 30 years old now!..So simple that ..'spose thats why it keeps going.

I had to ream out the lower (main) bearing last years as it had swollen up..but now its fine !

Regds Nick
 
If I was replacing now I would go for Spin tech. They have a nice stainless steel drum and dont rely on grub screws (which become loose and fall out) to keep foils together. You have to order them form USA but with the weak dollar that could be an added bonus.
 
Had a look at the Alado site, looks well made, lots instructions on fitting, lifetime warranty to original purchaser, could be a good buy.
 
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