Harken vs. Furlex Furlers
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:05 pm
My Furlex furler is wearing out. It is almost 5 years old and I use it often during races and i sail occasionally even in the winter. I had the local Furlex dealer, also a Harken dealer, come by the boat to fix my latest problem. He tightened and realigned the furler, but said that his "fix" would not last and that eventually the parts would have to be replaced. Later I can go into the gruesome details, but with $200 in parts and $400 in labor he could put it back near normal. However, I have always felt that the furler was sluggish and prone to problems, so I asked if there was an alternative.
He recommends Harken, either the Cruising Unit 1 or the MKIV unit 1. the main difference is that the Cruising is a round, single-slot foil and the MKIV has a flat, dual-slot foil, plus better sail shape while furled due to independent swivels both at the head and tack. The difference is about $400, with the total around $3,400 for the MKIV. The best news is NO LUBRICATION REQUIRED!
If you are just cruising and only go out in light to moderate winds, the Furlex probably works fine. For example, i put up the spinnaker when the wind went from 5 knots and 50 degrees true from port to dead to 10 knots and 120 degrees true from starboard. It then backed about 50 degrees and I could not make my next mark with the spinnaker. I had to pull out the genoa and douse the spinnaker in 15 knot winds. on a long upwind leg we were beating into 3-foot waves and 18 knots. I partially reefed the jib, then pulled it out when the wind dropped to 12 knots. All of this was somewhat hindered by a balking furler and once the whole furler drum and case spun 270 degrees counterclockwise when i did not have enough pressure on the furling line. The dealer affirmed that that was not supposed to happen!
Did I mention that the upwind leg was at night crossing a shipping channel?
Has anyone else had problems with the furler binding as the line collected at the top of the spool or the top swivel not allowing a full deployment? I often have to get the last 180 degrees by hand turning the foil and/or playing the furler line in and out trying to get it to fully deploy.
John
He recommends Harken, either the Cruising Unit 1 or the MKIV unit 1. the main difference is that the Cruising is a round, single-slot foil and the MKIV has a flat, dual-slot foil, plus better sail shape while furled due to independent swivels both at the head and tack. The difference is about $400, with the total around $3,400 for the MKIV. The best news is NO LUBRICATION REQUIRED!
If you are just cruising and only go out in light to moderate winds, the Furlex probably works fine. For example, i put up the spinnaker when the wind went from 5 knots and 50 degrees true from port to dead to 10 knots and 120 degrees true from starboard. It then backed about 50 degrees and I could not make my next mark with the spinnaker. I had to pull out the genoa and douse the spinnaker in 15 knot winds. on a long upwind leg we were beating into 3-foot waves and 18 knots. I partially reefed the jib, then pulled it out when the wind dropped to 12 knots. All of this was somewhat hindered by a balking furler and once the whole furler drum and case spun 270 degrees counterclockwise when i did not have enough pressure on the furling line. The dealer affirmed that that was not supposed to happen!
Did I mention that the upwind leg was at night crossing a shipping channel?
Has anyone else had problems with the furler binding as the line collected at the top of the spool or the top swivel not allowing a full deployment? I often have to get the last 180 degrees by hand turning the foil and/or playing the furler line in and out trying to get it to fully deploy.
John