jib boom vs. roller furling

[JD-MDR]

I'm hoping to get some response on my next project. My jib boom needs to be fixed and the pedestal needs modifing and the sail is in tatters. I am wondering if I should just disregard that system and install a roller furling, Self tacking is nice but so is roller furling. My previous boat had a really old roller that had to be either all the way out or in . It wouldn't work reefed at all. I understand the newer ones are roller reefing as well. I think the benefits of roller furling and roller reefing would outweigh the self tacking jib. The only thing I don't like is that I can't( i think) just drop the roller system and put up a hank-on in case something goes wrong. I suppose if I have a brand new system That would be unlikely. The third photo show how I put a spacer on the pedestal to raise the boom to clear the windlass. Maybe a block of wood under the pedestal would be good?

[Chrisa006]

I would talk with a rigging company. I have seen club footed jibs with furling. I have also seen the furler secured behind the forestay which would allow you to use a hank-on jib in an emergency, though not sure you could tack it between the two.

[Jim Walsh]

There is no need to rid yourself of your self-tacking capability unless you choose to. I have roller reefing/furling gear on both my headsail and my staysail which is club-footed. You can see from the attached photo how to rig a reefing/furling headsail so as to retain the self tacking ability inherent in the club.
Roller reefing/furling gear is so robust and reliable at this stage of its development that it is routinely used on blue water vessels. Even if the furling drum were to disintegrate you would still have a luff foil and the ability to raise and lower whatever headsails the weather dictated for use.

[JD-MDR]

Thanks Jim. I haven't seen this on any ketch rig. Will there be any difference. I saw on a members really nice ketch, that was for sale a couple months ago for $10,000, only had the one forestay and got rid of the club. I know I can talk to riggers but I'm not ready to spend for a year probably and don't want to waste their time.

[Jim Walsh]

Thanks Jim. I haven't seen this on any ketch rig. Will there be any difference.

Your headsail is no different than my staysail. My cutter rig just has an additional headsail.

[JD-MDR]

I found the ketch I was talking about "Northern Cross" . Posted Feb. 2017 for sale. I guess I was wondering why they took off the club jib and put a furler on the forestay. I'm just wondering if that's better before I spend on rebuilding my boom,pedestal and clubsail.

[Jim Walsh]

I found the ketch I was talking about "Northern Cross" . Posted Feb. 2017 for sale. I guess I was wondering why they took off the club jib and put a furler on the forestay. I'm just wondering if that's better before I spend on rebuilding my boom,pedestal and clubsail.

The manner in which we rig our vessels is a testament to our individual experiences, preferences, and end uses. There is no right or wrong, only what is best for you.

[John Stone]

JD-MDR
I agree with Jim Walsh. There is no one way to rig our boats. We each get to think about what works best for us and then configure our layout to our own needs. And there is nothing that says we can't change back later if such action serves us best.

Having said that, I eliminated the club footed boom and pedestal. I have sheets that run to fairleads on the side deck and then to small winches on the forward end of the coamings. Some folks elect to have leads on the cabin top. I can tell you this. Tacking a stays'l is about the simplest thing in the world. Even on my CD36 it happens almost instantly. So, for me, there is no advantage to the club footed boom. Also, the stays'l has better shape when not on a boom.

I don't have a furler either, just hanks. I have a dyneema forestay. Eliminating the club boom frees up the entire foredeck when working forward. I have also recently designed, built and installed a simple quick release for the forestay which allows me to quickly and easily release the forestay and stays'l bag and pull the whole mess to the base of the mast or side deck. That way I can short tack up a narrow channel without any hassles or concerns or struggles with the Jib getting hung up on the forestay.

[JD-MDR]

I guess I will try to keep things stock. It took me a while to navigate thru the rigrite website. I can see why so many are frustrated with their customer self-service. I took my boom to the boatyard and told them to verify the part no. I came up with. They can put the boom back together. That way I can get to know them if I want them to finish my chain plates next year. The pedestal need to be raised 1.75" so instead of a spacer on the top like I have in the photo, probably a block under base would be good. I'm not gonna buy a different pedestal the next size they have at rigrite is almost double the height, 9" . I also told the sailmaker here, (Ulman) to come down to measure the three sails and give me a quote. I don't know anything about That brand. I hope they are good. My previous boat I bought Doyle, Mostly for name recognition(my last name also). My sails won't last long they tear almost every time the wind blows. One good thing is its teaching me to be careful. Oh I'm probably going to sail down with CDSOA member Arch007 from San Francisco to LA. We met for dinner and he hopes to depart 11/2. It's a fun sail NW winds all the way