Experiences with continous line furlers?

[Jak Mang]

On a recent offshore passage on a friend's boat we had the roller furler control line chafe through twice. I believe this was due to a block breaking on a previous leg and having been replaced in a different position, though it might have been because of some overrides on a sloppy furl combined with strong wind. The chafe seemed to have been from the line on the drum.

Having all that canvas out there in rising winds made me a bit nervous. It takes a while sitting on the bow to make the 50 or so turns of a new line on the drum while getting plastered by waves. If there had been a bowsprit it might not have been doable.

I am in the market to replace my hanked on jib with a furler. I was wondering if the continuous line systems would help to alleviate these issues. I'm not sure if an intermediate reef position is maintained by tension on line or some mechanism in the body of the "drum".

Thanks,
-jak

[Ian McColgin]

I've never even heard of a furling line chafing through. I'd suspect something a bit odder than just moving one of the blocks - more like how the line enters the drum, perhaps binding against some flashing at a certain point. That boat's owner should certainly examine the furler and operation in great detail.

Anyway, continuous line: The ones I've experience with work a bit like a self-tailing winch with the line passing around what amounts to a circular jam cleat. It always takes more force to utilize and means two lines along the deck, albeit no need to coil anything when the jib's rolled up. The ones I've used were less satisfactory to me than conventional roll-up spool drums.

But it's just personal and anecdotal with me. There may be objective info out there. Perhaps the fact that there are more drum types and drums are used by the more reliable brands is a hint.

G'luck

[Jak Mang]

You are correct. It was the first block that was moved a few inches and changed the angle of entry of the line on the drum. Uneven wraps caused by gusts during furling also looked like they could have the same effects.

Perhaps this is rare and not to be worried about. It is tough on a shorthanded crew and is something that I would like to avoid ever experiencing again. The newer continuous line models are purported to be built for long distance ocean races.

-jak

[SV_Chamelea]

I'm sure you'll carefully study your purchase options, but here's something to be wary of. IIRC, many of those continuous line furlers are only that ... not recommended for reefing.

[Ian McColgin]

On roller reefing: Jibs are three dimensional and cannot set correctly just roller reefed around the foil or (old Merriman style) luff wire. I don't know if it's still on the market or how well it worked - comments from Brion I hope - but there was a unit that somehow had differentially moving foil sections to roll up more of the middle. The system I've used and works well has foam strips sewn in the luff to accomplish the same. Both systems really need reef tack and peak marks (patches better I think) so you reef to the designed place.

I'm really old-fashioned in that I much preferr hanked on sails in a hard chance. You've not really faced death until you've wrestled a big genny into or out of the foil in a Near Gale.