Roller reefing main for the 26X

[Cris]

I'd like to revive this thread that died about a year ago.

During spring '08 Mike I. posted "...most of the calls are from 26X owners. First guy with an X to buy one, will be our test boat with free upgrades till we get it right! Needs to be a local boat because if this is like any other mod some original thinking will be wrong!" His response to my e-m to him a few days ago was only "not working on that yet."

I've been interested in a boom furler for many years for the X and will R&D at some point myself if necessary. Any relevant info would be appreciated, including pics/posts from M owners who have one on their boat.

[delevi]

Cris,

In my humble opinion, the boom furler you're describing doesn't seem sturdy enough. The video that Mike shot in rough seas was on a boat without the unit. I asked in the previous thread about how well it would hold up in strong winds and got no reply. Sorry Mike. Don't mean any offense. Just my observation, and I certainly have no first hand experience with this unit. A viable alternative may be an external mast furler made by CDI. Their products, though a bit spartan are still at a reasonably good quality, especially when you consider the price point.. approximately half of the boom furler you're looking at. There are a few downsides, of course. 1. Smaller sail area. 2. No battens. It might be possible to use vertical battens but I'm not sure. 3. I have no idea how this would work when stepping the mast. there is probably a way, but I'm sure it will add considerably to rigging time. 4. You will need a new mainsail or alter your existing sail. Too many compromises in my opinon, but if convenience, ease of use, and unlimited reefing are high priorities for you, it may be worth a look.

[Wa2paa]

Just some interesting observations, from My on going project to bring a "Reefer Boom" to My
Odin 820 aka "Big Mac".
Deac the Owner of an Odin 820, has been sailing with a Roller Reefing Boom for aprox 6 Years now, I guess He may be able to give the best insight, as to how this concept works for all situations. I have consulted with him.. on the rigging of My current project boat for Florida.
Still in the works for Winter of 2009.

Please find a view of different angles of the "European" version of a roller furling systsem for a boom. Note: Full Horizontal Battens, Special Cut Sail.... And a solid boom vang is a must have requirement. Typical Popular price systems about $3,000.00

Please have a look, and enjoy a Labor of Love.. for a Senior Citizen who is getting too darn old to Hoist the Mainsail
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wa2paa/set ... 698377765/
Regards & Good Luck
Captain Jack

[mikelinmon]

That Odin RF main is the "Schaffer" I think. It costs about $10,000 including mainsail, a bit much for small boats. They do have a good idea in the luff extension on the mast! I thoughr t about that and concluded without testing; the reefed situation would preclude a soft luff between the sail and the mast. But it looks OK in the photos shown above. Will rethink this now. Maybe just a ramp or short luff extension for the bottom 2 feet of the main will do. This will make the RF mainsail much better.
As for the CDI RF mainsail; no way on our boat. The luff loads will break the mast! Have you ever seen someone hoist a mainsail without feeding it into the sailtrack. It will bend the mast way out of shape even with no load on it. If you mount a "small" mainsail on a tree trunk of a mast, it might be OK. But on a fractional mast it will bend it too much. A mast needs the mainsail luff supporting it. The masts are designed for support from the luff of the mainsail. Not just our mast, any mast.
About putting the Inmon Yachts RF on a 26X; problem is the boom is not at right angles to the mast. The sail will creep out onto the mast as you roll it up, then be in the wrong place for hoisting it. Havn't fixed this yet, maybe can't.
Mike Inmon

[dennisneal]

We have a third-generation, Inmon Roller Reefing Mainsail mechanism installed on our boat and we are entirely happy with it. It uses most of the original factory hardware. I believe that it is in no way less substantial than a "standard" MacGregor boom mechanism.

I think the reason why the previously mentioned video does not feature this item is that the video shows Mike Inmon's "Demonstrator" boat, which does not have many "optional" features.

I would not hesitate to use it in rather forceful winds. This does not mean that I will ever venture out into the gale force winds featured in the factory video. I'll leave those waters to better sailors, like Mike.

[mikelinmon]

Thanks so much Dennis for that endorsement. Right you are about the boat in the gale, it was the boat we used in the Lido Isle Boat Show, actually taken from the show just before opening! Brought back dirty with salt and displayed. One customer remarked about my housekeeping,'"should clean up a boat for a boat show". I will sail with the RF mainsail next storm!
Mike INmon

[bubba]

Mike Linmon last year you said that the main sail roller furrler would not withstand winds in that 35 to 45 mph range, there must have been some upgrades to make it stronger ??

[bubba]

Mike Linmon last year you said that the main sail roller furrler would not withstand winds in that 35 to 45 mph range, there must have been some upgrades to make it stronger ??

[deacm]

I can't speak to the relative 'sturdiness' of the mast on a Mac vs my Odin 820, but as Jack previously replied, I have had my roller furling main for 6 seasons and absolutely loved it. Easy to install........easy to hoist.....love the full battens.......I believe it was manufactured in Europe where the boat was produced as well as the sail that came with it. When I transited the full length of the Erie Canal it fit neatly on the bow pulpit and lashed to a stanchion farther aft. Then when I put the mast up on Lake Champlain it went on in just a few minutes with the mainsail already inside. I leave the head of the sail just slightly started into the mast luff and therefore can raise/reef the main from the cockpit. I don't think I suffer any in boat speed with the full roach sail as my 7.2 knots on Lake Champlain can attest. At the time I bought it (2004) the boom, sail and vang sold for retail $4000.......probably the best option I bought for the boat.......well, maybe those stern rail seats come in first

[mikelinmon]

What I said/meant was; (Inmon Yachts RF) never tested in high winds and not yet recomended for that. We are in southern CA. We just don't get strong winds. I have reefed only once in past few years, you saw the video. I wouldn't get the roller reefing mainsail other than the Schaffer if I lived in the North Atlantic. It does very well reefing and rolling up so far as tested.
The RF on the Odin looks to be Schaffer, a very good unit for about $10,000. It is not the CDI for about $400, which would not work on the Mac or any fractional rig I know of. Actually the Schaffer looks good! Does look too heavy but I'm glad it costs so much.
Mike Inmon

[Ric K]

Mike,

Why not streighten out the mast on the X by modifying the rigging, creating a 90 degree angle with the boom. It seems to me that if you put longer adjusters on the shrouds you could acheive this. Is the angle between the luff and foot on the mainsail not 90 degrees ?

Ric

[delevi]

I know of one boat with the CDI mainsail unit. It was installed by Arena Yachts. I personally saw the boat (on the trailer) with sail furled, and met the owner. He was quite happy with it, and it held up fine on SF Bay. He had the mod done because he has a bad back and can't go up on deck to deal with reefing, nor did he want to deal with the muscle involved in operating reefing lines. I believe the unit retails around $1K. Honestly, it looked a bit goofy to me, and Mike, I do agree that not having the sail's luff supported by the mast is a risky proposition, especially in heavy air. Seems to work for this guy though, however, I don't think he had too many miles on it. As I recall, he also didn't have battens, lost about 20% sail area and never takes his mast down. Way too many negatives IMHO.

Leon

[bubba]

I guess we will stick to our 3 reef quick reefing system with single lines on the boom adjustiable from within the cockpit and no climbing on the deck. Our system will get you to our moorning or trailor in gale force breezes without over healing our Mac M.

Mike what is the strongest breezes that your main sail roller furrler regularly works good in ??? 10, 20, 30 ,40 mph ?? Mainly because we would like one on our M.

How tight do you set your boom vang when using the roller furrler ??

[mikelinmon]

Hi,

Best to release the mainsheet and vang when reefing, turn into wind, the whole bit. I'd do that for any reefing system known, no matter what is claimed, all of that will make it better.
Mike INmon