CDI Roller Furling on CD27

[Scott Ritchey]

I'm thinking of adding roller furling to my CD27. The Cruising Designs Flexible Furler sounds good and the price is lower than most competing designs. Anybody have any experience with/comments on the CDI furling system?



RitcheyVS@aol.com

[Jon Larson]

I had 15 years good service from my old Hood Furler on PERI. Last year I replaced it with a new Harken furler, and that Harken Furler is terrific It rolls easier than the hood which can be a factor in our tempestuous summer winds on the bay, it reefs and most noticably it has two sail slots and feeds a new sail with ease rather than the battle with the old Hood feeding a new sail into it's single slot with edges.

Scott, do NOT go solely by the price of the unit, collect advice on various units and get the best unit to your judgement and don't allow price to dominate your decision. The furler is too important for that.

That being said, I don't know a thing about CDI furlers, it may well be the best for you, but make that decision based upon the characteristics and recommendations you get and especially the long time experience people have had with various makes of furlers.

Jon Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay.

I'm thinking of adding roller furling to my CD27. The Cruising Designs Flexible Furler sounds good and the price is lower than most competing designs. Anybody have any experience with/comments on the CDI furling system?

jon9@ix.netcom.com

[Neil Gordon]

We have a CDI furler on our CD28. It was highly recommended by our sailmaker and I've had no complaints. The low price comes from its simplicity and design for cruising rather than racing. It's guaranteed for life and requires ZERO maintenance. Practical Sailor rated it highly.

Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
CD28 #167



103355.34@compuserve.com

[Skip]

I'm thinking of adding roller furling to my CD27. The Cruising Designs Flexible Furler sounds good and the price is lower than most competing designs. Anybody have any experience with/comments on the CDI furling system?

I installed a CDI system on a previous 25 foot sloop and was extremely satisfied in terms of convenience of installation, quality of manufacture, ease of use, durability, and of course, cost also. The luff foil is extremely durable and the luff groove is very smooth which facilitates an easy hoist. You should be aware that contrary to most roller furling systems the CDI jib halyard is integral to the headfoil and drum and is cleated at the drum. This prevents halyard wrap around the top swivel as may happen occasionally with masthead mounted halyards for some systems. However if under heavy conditions you change headsails to improve your progress to weather rather than roller reefing your jib, you must be comfortable with being on the foredeck under potentially trying conditions for the entire sail change process.

As my son used to both build and install CDI units I can vouch strongly for the product and the owners, Chuck and Joe, who are both very easy to work with and knowledgeable in marine hardware issues.

On my CD 33 which frequently sails in heavy weather and which sometimes sports a 165 genoa which doesn't reef well I may carry up to three headsails, depending on several factors. For Alosa I opted for a sealed bearing Profurl unit which both bears the load of a large sail well and also is very convenient for sail changes when they are necessary. I am also delighted with the Profurl unit but at a substantially more expensive price than the CDI system.

Skip
CD 33 # 112
Alosa



medeiros@bnl.gov