Endless line headsail furlers

Warren Kaplan · Post by **Warren Kaplan** » Apr 7th, '10, 05:51

My furlex headsail furler is getting a little long in the tooth and I may want to replace it. Also, I HATE when the damn thing jams with a line override just when the wind pipes up and I really need to get the sail furled.

I've been intrigued by the endless line, or continuous line headsail furlers (and now for other sails too) for a long time. Mainly because it makes line override jams just a bitter memory. Does anyone have any experience with them? Any comments as to pros and cons vs. traditional single line furlers? Furling line rigging and routing to cockpit? etc.?? Sail modifications?

Thanks

seadog6532 · Post by **seadog6532** » Apr 7th, '10, 06:37

I had a Hood 810LD on my last boat and loved it. I got it used of fa bigger boat because the owner was afraid it would slip while reefed. I sailed with it for 5 years and never had any trouble with it. Just cleat both ends of the line when you reef.

M. R. Bober · Post by **M. R. Bober** » Apr 7th, '10, 07:13

Warren,
We sailed with a neighbor who had the "endless" line type of roller furler until the line parted. He was unable to make a long splice and would have lost the use of his furler for the remainder of his cruise had it not been for a friend with a very long spare line aboard.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (where it was 92F yesterday), VA

rtbates · Post by **rtbates** » Apr 7th, '10, 09:09

Endless line furlers may not be the way to go. EVERY owner that I know would love to ditch his endless line furler. i'VE SAILED A FEW AND DISLIKE THEM ALL.

mgphl52 · Post by **mgphl52** » Apr 7th, '10, 09:57

rtbates wrote:Endless line furlers may not be the way to go. EVERY owner that I know would love to ditch his endless line furler. i'VE SAILED A FEW AND DISLIKE THEM ALL.

We also have a friend who despises his end-less line furler! There is absolutely no way that he can use his jib partially furled and he always comments on how easy our ProFurl system is to use.

The key to avoiding drum wraps is to ensure two things:
a) the nearest lead block is properly positioned so the furler line is perpendicular to the middle of the drum (an absolute must if the drum does not have a "lead-arm");
b) always maintain slight tension on the furler line when unfulring the sail.

If I had to replace a furler, it would definitely be with another ProFurl.

-mike & Toni

Warren Kaplan · Post by **Warren Kaplan** » Apr 7th, '10, 10:58

Good information and thanks for the replies. As far as override wraps, I always keep tension on the line both furling or unfurling. Of course every once in a while a gust of wind hits when I'm doing either one and there has been occasions when the gust was so sudden and powerful that it yanked the furling line out of my hand. Result....many times an override. Not so often when I'm furling the sail as I lead the furling line through a jam cleat which most often prevents the line running free even if I lose my grip. The trouble usually happens if I lose my grip when unfurling the sail.
Don't get me wrong. It doesn't happen very often but even once is a royal PIA.

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Apr 7th, '10, 12:21

Hi Warren,

We replaced our Hood LD continuous line furler in 2008. We could not reef the headsail at all with that unit, it always slipped. Other than that, it was fine.

We now have two new Schaefer units (not continuous line), and we love'em.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

mahalocd36 · Post by **mahalocd36** » Apr 8th, '10, 13:44

Mahalo came with Hood LD furlers on the staysail and yankee. HATED them. Could not wait to throw them overboard at the end of the first season. (Actually, we sold them on ebay

) Couldn't reef - would slip; and probably particular to Mahalo but the lines weren't lead through blocks, just fairleads, and there was a lot of friction in the line. So that part could have been improved - still have the reefing issue though, which to me is part of the point of having a furler.

We replaced them with Profurl and love them. Had one line override/jam once with operator error.

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Apr 8th, '10, 13:49

My old Catalina 30 had Hood continuous line furlers. I actually rather liked them and reefing was never an issue (summer sailing on the chesapeake). But for more serious sailing I would never trust one, I am a die hard Schaefer furler fan now.

With a properly setup furler line override should never be an issue. Since you are good about keeping the line tensioned then I would suspect the entry angle is wrong. So many boats I have seen are setup with the first block going from the furler in a convienent place, not the right place. The angle the line enters the drum is critically important, I would examine that.

pedbed · Post by **pedbed** » Apr 8th, '10, 14:39

In order to have these work properly for reefing the correct cordage must be used. It specifically states in the owners manual the mfg and which product. I believe it is Yale but forget the particular model of cordage.

We have had no problem reefing in 10 + years and thousands of miles of sailing, but the line must be cleated off.

Aside from loosing the bushing at the top of the extrusion at one point I have found our Hood LD system to be very easy to furl-almost effortless.

The only knock on it is that if you have a white sun shield you have to make sure the sail gets furled properly since it can be furled in either direction.

Fair Winds,

Brian
CD 28 #326 "mahalo"
CS 36T "mahalo"

The Cape Dory Board

Endless line headsail furlers

Endless line headsail furlers

put us in the no LD furler camp...

Hood LD