Crikey wrote:Rob, I noticed your roller furling main. Can you give some details about the installation and its performance. Got any pictures from a side angle?
Ross
Best i could find for the moment. Sorry about the ugly thing in the middle

I haven't uploaded our vacation pictures yet where I probably have a better shot of the system.

This one shows a little more
I had the installation done by our club shipwright who said it was pretty straightforward. The cost of the unit was about $1800 but that does not cover the new custom sail that set me back closer to $2000 extra.
For performance I seriously did not find a significant difference, but then again, I am not a racer. As for convenience, it has been huge. With a child often aboard (now 5 years old), it is great not to have to leave the cockpit and reefing is a really easy. I find that I now always use both sails where in the past I might have only unfurled the genoa - so performance in that respect has improved dramatically. Lowering the mast requires a little prudence not to gouge the hatch with that very solid drum. It's important to turn the mast. I have seen another system on this site that attaches to the actual mast and the sail rolls inside of it. Not sure about the weight difference. My first choice was Mike Inmon's in-boom roller but, at the time, he was not set up to send out a kit. He was just selling them as an option on new boats. It is bound to be better for the Mac as the added weight is far lower than my system and removing the boom with a furled sail for trailoring must be much easier. My boat sits in a marina slip all season so that is not usually an issue for me.
It depends on your crew,competence and transport whether it is worth it or not but for me I would never go back to a standard rig with no furler. I am happy I went for it.
Rob