From: kellerd@ilex.lle.rochester.edu (David E. Keller)
Subject: Re: reefing headsails, why not roller furling?
Reply-To: kellerd@ilex.lle.rochester.edu (David E. Keller)
Organization: UofR Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 92 20:33:47 GMT

In article <Brwqs4.Cq7@helios.physics.utoronto.ca>, stefan@helios.physics.utoronto.ca (Stefan Mochnacki) writes:
> 
> lubenow@scivax.stsci.edu writes:
> 
> >   Why not roller furling?  The answer is all of the above.  I'm used to 
> > hanked-on headsails.  Several of my friends have roller furling, and they 
> > seem to have not-so-good light air performance, as their sail is only a 130
> > or so, and no heavy air performance (too big, so they roll it up and start
> > the engine.) 
>   .
>   .
>   .   (lotsa good stuff deleted)
>   .
>   .
> 
> >   This rig allows me to set any sail, from drifters to genuine storm canvas, 
> > with complete control of the shape.  And when roller furling goes wrong, it
> > goes wildly wrong, something I almost certainly would NOT be able to deal with
> > single-handed.  The mechanisms are too complicated to fix either under way or 
> > (probably) even back at the dock. 
> 
> 
> Well, a boat which I may well  buy in the next few weeks
> is a C&C 30 which has an interesting setup: a 100% "working" jib is mounted
> on a furler on its own wire and halyard, about 6-12 inches  below and 
> parallel to the forestay. This is supposed to be easily lowered and 
> coiled if one wants to hank on a standard foresail (the standard #1 and #3 
> are almost unused; the current owner never used them).
> 
> I'd be interested to hear comments about:
> 
> 	(a) the pros and cons of such a set up, as opposed to a "permanent"
>             furling setup on the forestay, or reefing (as above),
> 
> and     (b) the C&C 30 Mk I as a boat (this one is a 1974; there are
>             others in the 1973 - 78 age range which I could buy). 
> 
> 					- Stefan Mochnacki
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Stefan W. Mochnacki          INTERNET - stefan@centaur.astro.utoronto.ca
> Astronomy, U. of Toronto     UUCP - {uunet,pyramid}!utai!helios.physics!stefan
> Ph. (416) 884-9562           BITNET - mochnacki@utorphys.bitnet 
> FAX (416) 884-2672	     LOCATION - David Dunlap Observatory 

I own (and love) a '74 C&C 30.  I do not have the extra headstay. I would think
this rig would give you a lot of extra sail options when cruising, and a little
extra windage for racing (if there is such a thing?).

My boat has roller furling with a three year old 150 on for the most part.
I can't relate to all this talk of "wildly wrong" problems of roller furling.
They really are very simple mechanisms and I have never encountered any serious
problems.  It may be just dumb luck, but if so, I sure hope all those BOCE 
racers with their multi-million dollar machines start heeding the wisdom of
rec.boats posters.  They race around the world searching for the worst weather
and biggest winds as single-handers and are foolish enough to all use rollers.

Yes, I can't get all the sag out of my headstay.  Yes, in light winds the
heavy cloth and foam luff cause me to switch to my #2 for better shape when
racing.  But we are talking breeze under 3 knots apparent.

I owned a 24 before this boat with hank-on jibs.  The downhaul works good to 
get the sail down without going forward but does not secure the mid-section of
the sail to the deck for you.  And you still have to go forward and work on the
low side of the boat to change sails.

With roller furling you can be less conservative as to how much sail you leave
out.  When it REALLY starts to blow you just give it a roll!  No muss, no fuss.
All from the comfort of your cockpit.  There is a reason they want so much for
roller furling gear.  It is worth it.

(No, I do not work for Harken)

Dave

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