Tough headsail furling system for 38' yacht - recs, please?

Which headsail furl gear?

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alex23299

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My Nemo system is collapsing =- screws giving up in the foil and the drum - after 10 years of heavy use on the West Coast of Scotland on an Ohlson 38'.
Any recommendations? - Furlex or ProFurl are top of the list at the mo. I need something long-lasting and good for heavy weather use. And of course price is an issue.
Thanks!
 
we are currently specifying adding a second furler to effect a slutter rig. The rigger has advised that Harken and Furlex are the choice systems with Harken outlasting Furlex in his experience. We're going with Furlex so as to match the existing stemhead (outer) furler. I've always thought that Schaeffer look well built and easily accessible from a user perspective.
 
Couple of things I like about the Furlex gear.
1. There are no screws along the foil to secure the connection plate between each foil.
I have had experience where the screws on another brand have worked their way out just enough to prevent the upper swivel from travelling down and thus prevent the sail from being dropped. The only solution is to have someone go up the mast and be pulled out across to the forestay to tighten up the offending screw.
2. With no screws the connecting plates are pushed outwards by an internal sleeve around the entrire length of the forestay. This has the advantage of keeping the forestay away from the foil extrusion. Most furling gear only have bushes where the foils connect to each other.

Some downsides to Furlex:
Some people don't like having an enclosed furling drum. If the furling line gets entangled inside it can be a hassle to sort out. (Caused by the headsail coming out at full speed with no tension on the furling line.)
Warranty is 5 years.
Furlex gear comes with a new forestay. This is because the top connector is tapered. OK if you need a new forestay. But if you don't it seems a waste.

I would seriously consider a Profurl C420 or Admiral Furling System. I have no experience of the other ones mentioned.
Profurl because it's been excellent for 7 years and despite recent failure there were no issues with a warranty claim (10 years).
Bear in mind 7 years of use on our boat is probably equivalent to a lifetime for most people.
 
I installed a Facnor FD230 last year (used one season).

Installed it my self - much easier to install and disassemble than the old Furlex.

The webbing used for furling eliminates the problem with overriding turns on the drum.

Boat is Beneteau First 38 (masthead)
 
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Not Furlex. The entire torque load is taken through a bit of plastic and a couple of torx machine screws direct into the foil. Torx screws fall out, allowing the foil to drop into the drum and jam, at the same time the foil parted just below the upper swivel, Had to go aloft to drop the headsail and repair whilst 1000 miles out in the Atlantic. Unit replaced by Selden USA under warranty. The same problem happened again.

My solution whilst awaiting warranty work was to pin the foil together with grub screws and replace the torx screws with regular machine screws that could be tapped into the foil. Replaced under warranty only for the same thing to happen again. Was heading for its third incarnation but I sold the boat.

Current boat has a 26 year old Hood Seafurl 2. Works perfectly.

If buying new I'd probably go for Harken. Never heard a bad word about their gear.
 
Robih said:
we are currently specifying adding a second furler to effect a slutter rig. The rigger has advised that Harken and Furlex are the choice systems with Harken outlasting Furlex in his experience. We're going with Furlex so as to match the existing stemhead (outer) furler. I've always thought that Schaeffer look well built and easily accessible from a user perspective.
Click to expand...

We use SCHAEFFER on our 36' ketch a very solid piece of equipment would recommend it
 
alex23299 said:
Thanks - Have you experience of it? On what sort of boat?
Click to expand...

SD165 (but you can go higher for your boat) on a Beneteau Oceanis 361. 11 years old, so far touch wood, works fine. Only maintenance is washing with fresh water. No ball bearings at the drum.
I think SD is now replaced by LX but don't know the difference. Have a look at the Facnor website. There's more options there.
 
I think Harken is a great option but for the price - about £1k more for a 38' boat than Profurl or Furlex.

michael_w said:
Not Furlex. The entire torque load is taken through a bit of plastic and a couple of torx machine screws direct into the foil. Torx screws fall out, allowing the foil to drop into the drum and jam, at the same time the foil parted just below the upper swivel, Had to go aloft to drop the headsail and repair whilst 1000 miles out in the Atlantic. Unit replaced by Selden USA under warranty. The same problem happened again.

My solution whilst awaiting warranty work was to pin the foil together with grub screws and replace the torx screws with regular machine screws that could be tapped into the foil. Replaced under warranty only for the same thing to happen again. Was heading for its third incarnation but I sold the boat.

Current boat has a 26 year old Hood Seafurl 2. Works perfectly.

If buying new I'd probably go for Harken. Never heard a bad word about their gear.
Click to expand...
 
I've mentioned this before but we had to replace our furling gear in the Cariibbean and I asked a number of riggers which furling gear they had to repair least. All of them said Furlex and it was noteworthy that one of them also sold Harken.
 
I've used Furlex on several boats and fitted a Furlex to ours. Its five years old and has worked pretty well perfectly ever since. (I am trying to remember any problems and I can't...) The other furling gear I was recommended to look at when we were in the market was Harken.

If you are interested, the recommendations were from Andy of Allspars in Plymouth who is a very reputable and successful rigger.
 
We have an Ohlson 38, also on the West Coast. We have a Profurl, 13 years and going strong. We have altered the rig to cutter and so there is an inner forestay which has a 20 year old Harken, also going strong. No experience of Furlex.
 
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