Replacing a very old but working furler

[Crinan12]

Hi can i have some advice please

I have an old furler (photos attached) which works fine and i have never had any problems with it. I don't know it's age (25 years?) and the only maintenance history i have is that the bearings were replaced in 2017. It is a profurl.

My question is would other members think it would be wise to consider replacing it now it or is that wasteful? Do people generally just use their furlers until they break? I don't know what the norm is.

I ask because my mast is being stepped to do the standing rigging and i got a quote for a furler replacement in case i decided to replace it at the same time as the rigging (cost would be £1500 for a profurl and £2000 for a harken).

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[geem]

Hi can i have some advice please

I have an old furler (photos attached) which works fine and i have never had any problems with it. I don't know it's age (25 years?) and the only maintenance history i have is that the bearings were replaced in 2017. It is a profurl.

My question is would other members think it would be wise to consider replacing it now it or is that wasteful? Do people generally just use their furlers until they break? I don't know what the norm is.

I ask because my mast is being stepped to do the standing rigging and i got a quote for a furler replacement in case i decided to replace it at the same time as the rigging (cost would be £1500 for a profurl and £2000 for a harken).

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Thanks

Keep it. Wait until it breaks unless you are planning to cross the Atlantic

 

[alahol2]

I'd probably keep it but take the opportunity to replace the bearings again. Ditto for the halyard swivel.
If you are getting the standing rigging replaced, don't forget the forestay inside the furler.

 

[Thistle]

On the basis that the furler is probably younger or, at worst, the same age as the boat, perhaps you should ask if it would be wise or wasteful to replace the boat?!

 

[Stemar]

If the bearings are stiff, clean them, Plastic bearings don't want grease, steel ones do. If they're loose, replace them, but they're the bits that wear. The rest should be good until UV gets the drum and it cracks.

When the time comes to replace. it's easier with the mast down, but it should be possible to replace from deck level with the mast in situ. Just tension a halliard to a forward cleat before disconnecting the forestay.

 

[johnalison]

I think your money might be better spent on a new sail.

 

[Crinan12]

On the basis that the furler is probably younger or, at worst, the same age as the boat, perhaps you should ask if it would be wise or wasteful to replace the boat?!

Eh? ?

 

[Crinan12]

Thanks for the advice - will keep it

Just wondered if there was merit in replacing it when mast was down etc.

 

[Thistle]

Eh? ?

Where's the tongue in cheek icon when you want it?

 

[Daydream believer]

I have just gone down the same route. I have fitted new rigging installed & decided that whilst the facnor furler is Ok it is non adjustable & can only work with fixed length forestay. I like playing with the rig because it makes a big difference to performance. So I have experimented with 5 forestays in 20 years. That gets expensive in mast drops. The new furler has adjustment in the furler.
My feeling was that as I will possibly have to sell the boat in a few years time the new owner will probably want to knock off £3K because the rigging & furler is old. So I may as well spend the £3k on myself & have a new furler (profurl) of a larger size than I need along with the new rigging. Then the new owner will have no arguement along those lines for price reduction & I will have had the use for a few years.
I aslo make the point that my furler (unlike yours) will fit tight to the deck fitting. I do not want the sail waving about up in the air. The rigging screw sits above the drum.
The old furler is about to go on ebay if anyone wants a working one up to 12.5 M long . I also have the 10 year old rigging complete & someone with a smaller boat may feel they would have that as well. They would only have to chop one end & fit new fittings for the tops. Rigging screws etc all complete. But it would be for a smaller project boat.( currently 31ft)