Roller Furler Vs Hanks
Posted by Black_magic_money@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 25 comments
I’m in the process of deciding whether to keep my Hank on sails or switch to a roller furler. I have an islander 36 and do a decent bit of solo sailing with aspirations to sail from Southern California to Puerto Vallarta.
Getting mixed reviews about whether a roller furler is better or worse depending on the wind. Seems like when it gets serious the spinny thing on the furler can get overwhelmed, so people say dropping the hank quickly is better. The furler just looks so easy though.
Curious to see if people prefer the furler over the hanks particularly when it gets windier on multi day trips?
cinemkr@reddit
There is a reason why most ocean cruisers have furlers. That debate is settled. Everyone has now moved onto debating in-mast furling main sails...
ThorsFather@reddit
I regularly sail on a Pogo 30 which has a roller furler up front and an extra removable inner forestay for smaller hanked on sails. I think it is definitely the most versatile setup which offers ease of handling in good conditions and the option to set storm sails for when it gets really up there. I was in the process of fitting something similar to my Contessa 26 before I sold her.
On the Pogo the forestay is tensioned using a winch and a normal stopper on a 2:1 reduction via low friction eyes. On my contessa I was going to use a small backstay tensioner. Both were going to be dyneema forestays so pretty much no added upmast weight.
Westar-35@reddit
Literally just bought an Islander 36, it has a furling headsail. I do intend to build a storm stay for a storm sail, but I think furling is the way to go.
Westar-35@reddit
Literally just bought an Islander 36, it has a furling headsail. I do intend to build a storm stay for a storm sail, but I think furling is the way to go.
george_graves@reddit
Hank on. It's what real sailors use. Everything else is poop.
(just kidding, it's what I have so I am required to say anything else is crap - they both have their pluses and minuses.)
Black_magic_money@reddit (OP)
Do you use sail bags and have reefs in your hanks? Kinda thinking a reef in the Genoa means I don’t really have to pack up a sail and move over till it’s time for the storm setup
george_graves@reddit
No I don't have reefs in my head sails, I just have 3 - I pick one based on the weather. I do sometimes set up a downhaul - I just posted this on another thread. I just have it set up to pull down the halyard in an "emergency". Where I sail you can get wind gusts that light you up, and it's not exactly fun being out there over powered out of nowhere.
overpowered
Black_magic_money@reddit (OP)
For when your hanks need a good hank
ChatahoocheeRiverRat@reddit
My Beneteau F235 came set up for hanks. PITA going forward to get the genoa hanked on, because it gets in the way of casting off the dock lines from the bow cleat. More work setting up to go out, and breaking down at the end. Easier to change sails, though, but that's not something I do with any frequency. (I'm a cruiser, not a racer.)
I added a furler later. Things to keep in mind:
My jib furler is part of an overall setup that lets me shorten sail without leaving the cockpit. I also have Harken single-line reefing kits on both main sail reefing points.
Black_magic_money@reddit (OP)
Do you have lazy jacks on the main?
ChatahoocheeRiverRat@reddit
Sure do. Wonderful.
mckenzie_keith@reddit
The main benefit of the furler is not having to go forward. You do want to make sure you get a reliable one though. Also, it is nice if the sail is specifically designed so you can sail with it when it is partially furled. This is not always the case. Sometimes they call that "roller reefing" as opposed to "roller furling."
I definitely prefer the roller to the hanks, but opinions do vary on this point.
dynamic_fluid@reddit
Unless you’re racing or finding that you often switch a lot between different headsails because you sail in a lot of different conditions than I’d say furler.
There’s a reason most boats you see of that size and greater use a furling headsail.
With the right sail you can reef it quite a lot until the shape becomes unless for anything except downwind.
SphyrnaLightmaker@reddit
Furler. 1,000%.
I sail almost exclusively single-handed, and the ability to roll out, roll in, and reef from the cockpit, in seconds, is a life saver.
It’s actually so much easier than even raising the main (which currently lacks lazy jacks) that 90% of the time I sail Genoa only.
HallowedFire@reddit
Is this for the jib or the main? If for the jib, I would say change to a furling jib, 100%. No reason to have a non-furling jib for a boat your size.
If for the main, this is a much bigger project. You are likely going to need to replace the boom or the mast.
Black_magic_money@reddit (OP)
For the jib (Genoa really). Deciding between putting a reef in the genny and having sail bags or roller furler
BitemarksLeft@reddit
If my furler broke I think it would be a tough call for me to replace. I'd still likely replace as easier short handed, but reefed performance isn't great and I've had multiple wraps etc. I think furler for casual racing and cruising. Hank on and a sail wardrobe for more serious racing.
LessCellist7337@reddit
I would say 99% of the time the furler wins. It’s convenient and mostly easy to use. It’s also good at reducing sail area if you have your headsail built to do so despite it making sail shapes baggy enough to make your pops wonder if Doris down the hall wants to come play Bingo.
However, there is that pesky 1%. When the furler fails, and it will eventually fail in some way, it can be the most cursed at piece of kit you own.
So this “luddite” is going to make the humble argument in favor of the simplest battle hardened solution, the Hank. But don’t take my word for it. Look at the Volvo Ocean 65’s who’s J1 is a Hank on sail.
Some of less discussed advantages of hanks vs roller: -the ease of a sail changes. -less maintenance -no spares needed -easier storm jib rigging -less moving parts = less to break -less weight aloft -less wind age -no unintended deployments(think snapped furling line) -sails are safely stowed if a squall hits while you’re away from the boat -easier to inspect and maintain standing rigging -ITS WAY CHEAPER
Anyway
Your boat, your choice.
Strict-Air2434@reddit
Genoa. Absolutely Main. Absolutely NOT
weezthejooce@reddit
I have an I-36 with furler and enjoy it. The furling line runs through fairleads on the toerail and stanchions to a block shackled at the aft port toerail and secured in a cleat on the coaming in line with the wheel. Just make sure you add a sacrificial sun strip to your jib so the sun doesn't eat it while curled up. The PO of my boat furled it backwards, so the strip wasn't facing out, and it basically ruined the Genoa.
caeru1ean@reddit
Furler. It’s proven technology lol don’t let those Luddite’s scare you off.
Chudpasta@reddit
This. Most furler issues are from mismanagement of lines. Set it up right and enjoy not having to go forward when you shouldnt.
daysailor70@reddit
I have owned a number of sailboats, most with furlers and, particularly when shorthanded, furlers are the only way to go. A properly installed and maintained furling system will work in any weather. All the high performance ocean racers use furlers and it is a huge safety issue to have to go on the foredeck to tackle a job in a blow. I have a 40' yawl now with a harken furler and two reef points on my jib and a 2 speed self tailer next to the helm for the furler line. I can shorten from 135 to 90 from the helm.
jonathanrdt@reddit
Frequent. Solo.
Furler for certain.
Wolfwere88@reddit
Furler all day long
Makes it easy to reduce sail, and if you are out solo it is nice to have one less thing to get you out of the cockpit