Roller reefing

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Cspirit

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The Harken roller reefing on our Westerly Corsair is nearing the end of its useful life - 25 years plus, so I can't complain. So, we need a new one. Should we go for Harken again - I would welcome any experiences of the available brands. The boat is in Greece, so it will probably be more expensive to buy there, but so that I can get some sense of costs, does anyone have any idea of recent supply/fit costs for a 35ft sloop? Thanks in advance.
 
The Harken gear in my opinion is the best furling gear on the market although probably the most expensive. Another good gear is the Furlex from Selden. Both can be supplied by many outlets and also spares are stocked by many companies.
Someone like Fox's Marina in Ipswich could quote you for both and deliver.
Not connected to either company but fitted many Harken and Furlex gears.
 
I fitted a new Selden Furlex to my 11.5m Benneteau in Preveza, Greece. Looked at all the options and to be honest there was nothing much in it price wise but I'd heard good things about Furlex.

Purchased the unit ( 200s ) in the UK. Just on £2k. It got to Greece in the back of my own van along with a lot of boat kit. ( Transport 121 would have charged me around £100 to ship it door to door.)

It took about a day to fit it myself with the help of a local expat capable of doing the 'top' work ( Undo old stay and attach new one - video camera inspection for my satisfaction and then mount the halyard guides ). Removing the old furler and forestay. Assembling the new unit. Cutting the new forestay and then raising the unit. Fiddling about retensioning the rig, getting the placement of the halyard guide and testing it all out.

I had to get a new luff rope added to my genoa - JSails in Preveza did it in a matter of 2 hours - €50.

The unit has been in use over the past 3 months in up to F7 and some 'fresh' conditions. Very happy with it!
 
Worn roller reefing gear

Cspirit said:
The Harken roller reefing on our Westerly Corsair is nearing the end of its useful life - 25 years plus, so I can't complain. So, we need a new one. Should we go for Harken again - I would welcome any experiences of the available brands. The boat is in Greece, so it will probably be more expensive to buy there, but so that I can get some sense of costs, does anyone have any idea of recent supply/fit costs for a 35ft sloop? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

That is a sweeping statement. Roller reefing consists of a number of components some may wear others not so. Can you describe what is worn? Can it be fixed or replaced? Basically you have a thrust bearing at the top which might wear or become stiff. Often the bearings or balls can be replaced. You have the foil which I can' t imagine is worn then you have the drum and bearing again the bearing may be worn.
You would be far better off to consider repairs than a blanket replacement. olewill
 
After 25 years the internal nylon bearings on my foil had collapsed and worn out. The top fitting on the foil had worn a hole to twice it's original diameter. Disasembly was nigh on impossible because all the stainless screws had been tightened into the aluminium foils section. No spares were available from Goiot. No option but to replace.
 
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