Some musings on single handed sailing and reminiscences of t

[Bruce Bett]

I have never done much single-handed sailing. I am in the happy position of having a family that loves the sport almost as much as I do. None the less I have enjoyed recent postings of single handed tips of the day. I know that conventional wisdom says that roller furling jibs should be used and that all lines should be run aft. I have always questioned the wisdom (and safety) of this approach. My reservations are two fold. I feel that you're going to have to go up on that fore deck sooner or later no matter how you run your lines. If you're up there in adverse conditions it would be better if you had lots of experience working on the deck. Besides those roller furlers look to me like they'll jam!

An incident occurred last fall, which is of no significance except that it confirmed my suspicions about roller furling making me insufferably conceited. I had invited a coworker and her boyfriend for a Sunday afternoon sail aboard Sostenuto (cd25 #496). They reciprocated by inviting my wife and I for an evening sail aboard C-Lark, a Cape Dory 27 owned by ASI, a Detroit area community sail group. This was in early October so the sun was getting low by the time we reached Jefferson Beach Marine on Lake St. Clair. We reached along the shore past the Ford estate, and toward the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, under reefed main. We had the rolled furled jenny fully extended. When we came about we were somewhat closer to the wind and Larry decided to take in some jib to reduce heel. It jammed. We did manage to muscle it free with the winch. It was a delightful sail. A big red harvest moon came up over the lake, and the big ore boats slipped silently through the channel…

Oh well I've got to go shovel snow now. What do you single handers think?

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto CD25 #496



bbett@macomb.cc.mi.us

[john churchill]

i hate to admit it, but i think you may be right about roller furlers. i have one on my cd26 and feel that it is a convenience for daysailing, but sail changes are more difficult (i do not like the shape of a reefed genny). i am not looking forward to the day that i must go on the foredeck, drop the working jib which will not be attached to the stay and bag it, then feed the storm jib into the groove. i have a harken furler that has never given me one bit of trouble. i think that on my next boat i will have a cutter rig with a bowsprit, the genny on a furler as a light air sail and the staysail hanked on as the primary sail area change/storm staysail arrangement. what do others with cutters think of this idea?

[Warren Moore]

I have never done much single-handed sailing. I am in the happy position of having a family that loves the sport almost as much as I do. None the less I have enjoyed recent postings of single handed tips of the day. I know that conventional wisdom says that roller furling jibs should be used and that all lines should be run aft. I have always questioned the wisdom (and safety) of this approach. My reservations are two fold. I feel that you're going to have to go up on that fore deck sooner or later no matter how you run your lines. If you're up there in adverse conditions it would be better if you had lots of experience working on the deck. Besides those roller furlers look to me like they'll jam!

An incident occurred last fall, which is of no significance except that it confirmed my suspicions about roller furling making me insufferably conceited. I had invited a coworker and her boyfriend for a Sunday afternoon sail aboard Sostenuto (cd25 #496). They reciprocated by inviting my wife and I for an evening sail aboard C-Lark, a Cape Dory 27 owned by ASI, a Detroit area community sail group. This was in early October so the sun was getting low by the time we reached Jefferson Beach Marine on Lake St. Clair. We reached along the shore past the Ford estate, and toward the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, under reefed main. We had the rolled furled jenny fully extended. When we came about we were somewhat closer to the wind and Larry decided to take in some jib to reduce heel. It jammed. We did manage to muscle it free with the winch. It was a delightful sail. A big red harvest moon came up over the lake, and the big ore boats slipped silently through the channel…

Oh well I've got to go shovel snow now. What do you single handers think?

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto CD25 #496

Bruce,
I've been using a furler for over 15 years, they're well worth it. Like all equipment, they are not 100% foolproof. When they do jam it is usually caused by the furling line overriding itself on the spool. If you keep some tension on the line both letting it out and taking it in you rarely have an override. Also you should be careful muscling it free with a winch, this can cause serious damage to the furler itself. As for going foward, we all get that experience from dropping the hook, picking up mooring and docking lines in all kinds of weather. If it's really bad, let the sheets run free and motor home (not the greatest for the sails)but it gets you there safe.
I think a better case for not having a furler is the better windward performance you with a hanked on sail.
Either way it sure beats shovelling snow, think spring, think sailing.
Warren Moore
c/v Crisscross CD28



wmoore@peconic.net

[Sam]

Don't think a 'working' staysail would give you enough drive in any but the strongest wind. would be interesting to have a survey of furling problems vs brand. I can understand that some 'cheap' (actually less expensive!) furlers might have a problem, but wonder if the same is true of the 'top of the line' ones like Harken and Profurl? At least one Harken owner says he has not had a problem. Any one had a Harken or Profurl and had problems?

[RON B]

Don't think a 'working' staysail would give you enough drive in any but the strongest wind. would be interesting to have a survey of furling problems vs brand. I can understand that some 'cheap' (actually less expensive!) furlers might have a problem, but wonder if the same is true of the 'top of the line' ones like Harken and Profurl? At least one Harken owner says he has not had a problem. Any one had a Harken or Profurl and had problems?

Having sailed both hankon and furlers for many years, there is no question in my mind, the new furlers are the only way to go.A little care however is needed to avoid problems. Furling lines should never run free, but should be lightly tensioned to avoid a rap.In heavy air relieve strain on the jib by falling off and in some cases get the jib blanketed by the main , and furling is a cinch.Trying to take in sail with wind in the sail is unnessary strain, however, the new units will handle it.
The newed furlers have smooth anodizing inside the grove and the sail tape slides slick. It is much easier to change than hankon. The older units were a bear to change because of the friction in the slide--impossible off shore in a blow. With the standard double groove a change without loosing power is simple. Changing sails is so easy, we eliminated sun covers, never leave a sail rolled up, and suit up each day to suit conditions,
I installed a HarkenOO on my Sea Sprite 23[Alberg] a year ago and have torture tested it offshore, and, it is bullet proof. i'm sure any of the othe quality brands would do the same. Harken just had a small enough unit. The total cost installed was under $800.
Hankon is a nice traditional touch, but I'll stay in the cockpit and pull strings thanks. Good sailing Ron B LHP FL



RDBRASS@AOL.COM

[Neil Gordon]

>>I can understand that some 'cheap' (actually less expensive!) furlers might have a problem, ...<<

I've used a CDI furler for two seasons with no problems at all. What makes it inexpensive is its basic design and lack of certain features most of us don't use anyway, like twin tracks. It's guaranteed for life, btw, and requires zero maint.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Jerry Hetherington]

I installed a CDI furler with a 160 Genny on my CD 27 three years ago and never had a problem. When singlehanding (most of the time) I usually use just the Genny.

Jerry Hetherington
S/V Annie's Reiver



jjhetherington@chesapeake.net

[Ed Haley]

I have a Harken Furler on my CD28 and it has given me three years of trouble-free usage. I have my 130 sail on the furler and rarely do I have to do a sail change. When I do have to change sails, even with the twin groove, I long for the hanked on sails. But that's not enough to make me wish to go back to hanked on sails.

The only thing I have to watch out for is making sure the jib halyard is tensioned before furling in heavy winds. If the halyard is loose, there is a tendency for the jib halyard to wrap the headstay at the masthead. For masthead rigs halyard wraps could be prevented with the installation of a halyard restrainer.



eghaley@dreamscape.com

[Carl Jones]

i hate to admit it, but i think you may be right about roller furlers. i have one on my cd26 and feel that it is a convenience for daysailing, but sail changes are more difficult (i do not like the shape of a reefed genny). i am not looking forward to the day that i must go on the foredeck, drop the working jib which will not be attached to the stay and bag it, then feed the storm jib into the groove. i have a harken furler that has never given me one bit of trouble. i think that on my next boat i will have a cutter rig with a bowsprit, the genny on a furler as a light air sail and the staysail hanked on as the primary sail area change/storm staysail arrangement. what do others with cutters think of this idea?

This is the arrangement I have on my CD30 cutter, except that I have the yankee jib on the furler. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread! I had a sloop before, so have had the experience of changing headsails by myself. It is not anything you can't do, but with this rig it is no longer necessary. When the wind gets up, you just furl up the yankee, and away you go with the main and staysail. It's a single-hander's delight. Plus, you would have to experience it to really appreciate how much better the boat balances and handles when the center of effort is brought in closer to the middle of the boat. And now everything is self-tacking. All you have to do is turn the wheel!!
I don't know what the combined area of the yankee and staysail are, but since the yankee is overlapping, it is more than 100%. Probably around 125%. It is more than enough except in very light wind. I've passed larger boats on a beam reach that had 150's up with this arrangement. Obviously, I love it.
Carl Jones
Spanish Eyes



GreatCells@aol.com

[Tom Coons]

Don't think a 'working' staysail would give you enough drive in any but the strongest wind. would be interesting to have a survey of furling problems vs brand. I can understand that some 'cheap' (actually less expensive!) furlers might have a problem, but wonder if the same is true of the 'top of the line' ones like Harken and Profurl? At least one Harken owner says he has not had a problem. Any one had a Harken or Profurl and had problems?

I have had a Harken roller furling unit on my 140% genoa for eight years. I have never done any maintenance and have never had a single problem -- once I learned how to use it. One carries sail longer with it because it is so easy to take in -- especially at night in rough seas when you wouldn't want to go forward and wrestle a big sail in.



TacCambria@thegrid.net