converting from self-tending to roller furling CD28

[andrea on Ambuscade]

I'm thinking about converting my CD 28 from the original self-tending headsail arrangement to a roller furled genny.

Would appreciate comments from others re what size genny they used and their experiences changing to the furled sail.

Methinks I'm getting too old to be the jib girl on the foredeck.

[SeaBelle]

I understand that a 135 is good but it depends on your usual sailing conditions; if you have primarily light winds a 150 may be better.

Has anyone had their jig modified to fit their furler?

[Neil Gordon]

If the working jib is sufficient where you sail, then a smaller genoa might be enough. I still have the jib boom on the foredeck of my 28 (out of tradition, mostly) and it's worked just fine with a partially furled sail reduced to working jib size.

[Bill]

Andrea, three years ago I converted to a roller furler and, at the time, bought a 110 genoa. I bought a new Furlex, which comes with a new forestay. I also have a 130 genoa which I had adapted to the new forestay. I mainly stay with the 110 since speed is not an issue with me and I do solo quite a bit.
The Furlex costs, but it is well worth the price since I was going to
install a new forestay anyway. Bill in Maine

[andrea on Ambuscade]

thanks for the responses.
Neil, I'm not sure I'm clear about what you're doing with your self tending boom Is it being used at all. Does it interfere with tacking using the furler attached sail?

[Neil Gordon]

Neil, I'm not sure I'm clear about what you're doing with your self tending boom Is it being used at all. Does it interfere with tacking using the furler attached sail?

It's not used, but it's there. The sheet is stored and the aft end of the boom itself is lashed to a port side stanchion. It interferes with nothing and as it's just part of the foredeck hardware, it's not really a trip over hazard, either.

[wayne grenier]

You will never-ever-get me to give up the self taking jib on my cd 28-I had my friend from the powerboat next to me out on a sail the other week in very windy conditions and he was amazed that the sail tacked over without handling any lines-the traditional hank on sail system enables you to have a variety of headsails for different conditions-my working jib is cut flat and made out of heavy sailcloth-the genny-lighter and fuller-and the cruising spinnaker is of course-a cruising spinnaker-I also try to "undersail" the boat-choosing to err on the side of having to little sail up rather than too much-its easier to take the working jib down and put up the genny than vice a virsa-and if you have another person with you its not a problem. When I am alone going out for a short sail I almost always use the club footed working jib. Another advantage-it won't jam like a furler can. the other day under reefer main and working jib we kept up with or passed everyone out there-including an ODay 30 with just a main up (this is almost always a mistake) and a Cabo Rico 37 reefed with a working jib (how windy does it have to be before a Cabo Rico 37 has to reef? ) anyway-personally I would not incur the expense and the complexity of a furling system on a 28 boat. When I get an Alberg 37 I'll consider it-my heart goes out to anyone on the east coast and the gulf coast who took this week for vacation-

[Neil Kozlowski]

I agree with Wane G. I had a CD28 for 18+ Years and when the Wx gets nasty, the club foot jib is the best. I now have a CD330 and I have a club footed staysail. Again, when it gets nasty, this is the sail! I also have the roller furling on the headsail, and when the Wx get tough, it isn't so easy to roll the thing up. Now when the Wx is "nice", It is not a difficult task to hank on the larger foresail. Bottom line, I would not alter the boat. The convenience of the roller, in my view does not outweigh the convenience of sailing with the clubfoot in heavy weather.

[Stan W.]

I took the plunge this year and installed a 135 genoa on a Schaefer roller furler.

On the plus side, the sail performs very well when reaching. It tacks through a smidgen less than 90 degrees when fully deployed in a reasonable breeze and drives the boat beautifully. Of course, it is wonderfully easy to deploy and stow. I do a lot of single-handed sailing so it will be a huge benefit not to have to go forward and unhank one sail and then hank on another every time the wind changes speed. So far, however, I have not really used it partially furled and have been reefing the main instead. It also opens up a lot of real estate on the foredeck and it is a pleasure not to have to look at the crappy sail shape inherent in the stock club-jib.

On the minus side, it unquestionably takes more time and requires more work to tack than the club jib. I no longer can take tacking single-handed up a narrow channel in a stiff breeze for granted. If you sail single-handed, you should plan on springing for self-tailing winches. If you and/or your usual crew are not fairly strong, you should plan on springing for two-speed, self-tailing winches. I have been muddling through with the original winches but I wouldn't recommend it to others and it is only a matter of time until I upgrade. Reefing the genoa before the main would help here but, in theory, that would hurt pointing ability. I have been thinking about inboard tracks for the sheet leads and need to do more experimenting in this area.

I was also surprised at the sail's stubborn down-wind performance. With the wind less than about 35 degrees off either side of the stern the sail really wants a whisker pole, another accessory I do not yet have. This was not such an issue with the club jib or the old 150 genny and may be because the new sail is made of heavier cloth.

Overall, I am very happy with the performance and the ease of deployment and stowage (although I think a lot of the improved performance simply comes from the fact that the old genny was way past its prime). The downsides can, for the most part, be addressed with another $2000 worth of boat stuff.