Would I regret buying an old boat with in mast furling?

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NealB

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I've seen a 1987 built boat that we both really like.

The only downside, to me, is that she has a Hood in mast furling system in a Boyce mast.

I have very little experience of in-mast furlers, just two, one week, charters (one a Bavaria 42, the other a Sun Odyssey 42).

My main concerns are:

- loss of performance due to lack of roach and lack of shape (I assume the sail needs to be cut pretty well flat).

- risk of the system jamming, with the sail unfurled, in a rising wind and sea.

- increased wear and tear on the sail, where it enters/ exits the mast. Do such sails have a shorter life expectancy?

- the mainsail is of 2006 vintage. It was too windy to unfurl it when we saw her ashore a few days ago, but the part of the clew that was visible looks weathered. Presumably, an old, baggy, sail is more likely to give jams?

I realise I'm likely to get a number of strong opinions either way .... please be civil!
 
Only experienced one such system during a delivery trip of my mates new boat earlier this year and as far as I'm concerned the damn things are the work of satan!

Clearly some people get on with them but by the time he's done fiddling trying to get everything in the right place so the sail will furl away I can have my slab reefed main down, tied and with the cover on and if anything goes awry with the furler (and it seems to with monotonous regularity) be in the pub blowing the froth of the first pint before he's even got his sail away
 
We were faced with just this decision when we found our Halmatic 30 8 years ago. Except it was an older boat 1980, and had the original sails.

I was very unsure but as an older sailor coming to cruising for the first time the ease of furling from the cockpit appealed. I got quotes for a complete rig replacement from Z-Spars and for the necessary new slab reefing Main. Having the potential sums needed to hand we then decided to go ahead, see how it went for the rest of the season- it was August - and if it looked disastrous get the rig replaced in the winter.

In the event we liked the system after some teething troubles, but it was obvious that the old baggy main was hopeless and sure to jam sooner or later. So new sails instead of new rig that winter and all was well until late in 2014 we did eventually have a jam after a period of increasing stiffness. Fortunately it was at home and Unfurling with the sail only a little way out that it finally stuck. We did need a complete overhaul of the reefing system and new bearings for the luff spar and it has been OK since.

So I would suggest if you otherwise like the boat and are aware of the possible costs, go for it, but do get a new main.
 
In mast furling like any other bit of equipment needs to be maintained and you need to learn how to use it. Do both and it is no more prone to jamming than any other set up. I would not have anything else now. I'll have my sail furled away long before someone with slab reefing or a stack pack and won't even leave the cockpit. Most clews are weathered and hopefully have a sacrificial covering as they remain exposed to the elements and aren't generally an indicator of the condition of the rest of the sail.
 
I suspect that you will only get entrenched polarised opinions on here.
"It's the best thing ever" or "absolute rubbish, should be banned"
Personally, I hated mine, but it was a behind the mast add on so it could be removed. We stuck with it for 2 years but jambs and lack of efficient shape made us bin it. Never regretted that improvement.
Might be well advised to have a word with Dave Nicholls the Burnham rigger, you will probably get a fairly unbiased opinion.
Boycie built good sticks but at nearly 30 years old it's probably due for a proper overhaul.
 
Another boat owner in my marina loved his retro fit in mast furler. Then he changed his mainsail for a slightly heavier weight cloth, but it would no longer completely furl away. Just take this as a lesson if buying a new mainsail.
 
There was an article in YM a month or 2 ago from Barrie Neilson off the correct way to use furling sails, basic things but most things are when you know the correct way of using something.
 
I wouldn't have in mast furling for two reasons one is a boat we were sailing in Antigu Sailing Week had it and it jammed. Also to furl it it has to be almost flat so lacks power compared to the traditional curved sail as we found with Antigua boat.
 
It is axiomatic that the euphoria consequent on the purchase of a boat is followed quite quickly by a period of regret. The only variables are the depth and length of this regret. How much is attributable to in mast furling is anybody's guess.
 
Bought a 1983/4 boat we liked but she also had in mast furling. Decided to give it a whirl(!) and after a few snarl ups we got it set up right, bought a new mainsail and have kept the in mast. Above about 38 ft stack packs become more difficult to stow because the booms are too high to reach off the deck without steps. Not easy as you grow older.
 
Depends a lot on
(A) the type of boat - eg whether a sporty type boat or a bit more of a plodder
(B) age and fitness of crew
Likely to impact significantly on windward performance - but help a lot if find a large mainsail a pain, even with a stack pack.
 
ChrisRayner said:
It is axiomatic that the euphoria consequent on the purchase of a boat is followed quite quickly by a period of regret. .
Click to expand...

Nope, I don't get that either

Bought the first boat, never regretted it and still don't

Bought the second boat, ditto

In the process of buying the third (and probably last) and I can't see any good reason why I should regret that either (famous last words!)
 
NealB said:
I've seen a 1987 built boat that we both really like.

The only downside, to me, is that she has a Hood in mast furling system in a Boyce mast.

I have very little experience of in-mast furlers, just two, one week, charters (one a Bavaria 42, the other a Sun Odyssey 42).

My main concerns are:

- loss of performance due to lack of roach and lack of shape (I assume the sail needs to be cut pretty well flat).

- risk of the system jamming, with the sail unfurled, in a rising wind and sea.

- increased wear and tear on the sail, where it enters/ exits the mast. Do such sails have a shorter life expectancy?

- the mainsail is of 2006 vintage. It was too windy to unfurl it when we saw her ashore a few days ago, but the part of the clew that was visible looks weathered. Presumably, an old, baggy, sail is more likely to give jams?

I realise I'm likely to get a number of strong opinions either way .... please be civil!
Click to expand...

Done a couple of thousand miles on a 42-footer with in-mast: worked beautifully. Did lose power compared with the alternative battened mainsail that could be set on a second track beside the in-mast slot, but for shorthanded cruising the in-mast was very useful.

In my view in-mast gets a tick once you can't reach the boom safely to do up a stackpack at sea. So depends both on boat size and operator size!
 
My thoughts (with a 50 foot boat).

1. Changing to fully vertical battened main made a huge difference. The sail sets much better and therefore performs better,
2. A main made of the "right" sail cloth that isnt tired makes a huge difference. The cloth is slippery and furls much better,
3. Make sure it is properly rigged (plenty of threads on that). Again a huge difference,
4. Always keep a little tension on the outhaul when you furl - all but eliminates jams,
5. Take as much pressure off the sail when you furl.

Mine is brilliant. No problems having taken these points on board. From a safety point of view it has huge benefits. Keeps crew in the cockpit and off the deck.

Finally if it does jam or breaks have a plan. If it breaks partially furled it could be a problem but inevitably if you can get the thing unwound its not too much of a problem dropping it to the deck - well as much as any sail the size of mine at any rate. :-)
 
I've had in-mast systems for the last 3 boats - over 30 years. Never had a jam; never had a problem. Regular maintenance is essential, as is replacing the sail if it gets "baggy". But for single- or short-handed operation, it's unbeatable, and considerably safer than some options.
 
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