[c350ia] A question about in mast furling...

[Mike Dwyer]

I did sail my Cat 350 with both in mast and full batten mains.

Part of my deal on buying hull 149 is the dealer would replace the in mast
furling that came with the boat with a full batten main mast. I had 4 weeks
with the in mast and now 4 years with the full batten main.

No question the full batten main sails better, about 20% more sail area and
a better controlled shape. Based on wind conditions, I would say a .2-.5KT
difference in typical 10-15 knot winds I get on Lake Ontario.

Of course it is more difficult to manage, I am standing on the cockpit table
every time I put the sail up and take it down to adjust the Dutchman system
and put on the sail cover. The in mast furling was easy to use and seemed to
work well as long as you were pointing upwind when you wound it up.

I am happy with my decision (plus the free under deck autopilot I got in
exchange for the $3000 in mast furling price at the time)

Mike
C350 #149

Mike Dwyer
Day 585-475-2698
Home 585-787-9686 
-----Original Message-----
From: c350ia-admin@catalina350.net [mailto:c350ia-admin@catalina350.net] On
Behalf Of Andy Sumberg
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 11:28 PM
To: 'Al Szymanski'; c350ia@catalina350.net
Subject: RE: [c350ia] A question about in mast furling...

All,
I've enjoyed all the discussion about how well the in-mast furling
system works. Call me old fashion, I like the shape (and performance) of
the regular main. To be honest, I've never sailed a 350 with in-mast
furling so it is hard to compare. I figure when I can no longer raise
the main by hand I'll install an electric winch.  Reefing with the
regular main seems to be more work, but can still be done from the
cockpit. I do have to go forward to attach/detach the halyard and put
on/take off the sail cover. I don't have to go forward while under way.

Andy Sumberg
#231 "Portland"
 


-----Original Message-----
From: c350ia-admin@catalina350.net [mailto:c350ia-admin@catalina350.net]
On Behalf Of Ilene Brandon
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 9:16 PM
To: 'Al Szymanski'; c350ia@catalina350.net
Subject: RE: [c350ia] A question about in mast furling...


Hi Al,

We will never buy a boat without one.  I was the resistant one.  We also
have an electric coach top winch, makes life easy.

Fair winds,

Ron & Ilene Brandon
Cat 350 #139 Ilene


-----Original Message-----
From: c350ia-admin@catalina350.net [mailto:c350ia-admin@catalina350.net]
On Behalf Of Al Szymanski
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 7:21 PM
To: c350ia@catalina350.net
Subject: [c350ia] A question about in mast furling...

Well... time is drawing near. We have accepted an offer on the house,  
thus will be purchasing our dream - a Catalina 350. There's one in  
Seattle right now and with one exception is the boat for us. The  
exception is the in mast furling system. My wife and I have shied  
away from that arrangement for mostly simplicity reasons - thinking  
that the system is "just one more thing to break". Heck.. my current  
vessel has a hank on jib and I use a sextant !  So.. we'd be very  
interested in everyone's observations on the system - I do recall a  
recent post of one that jammed up and would not allow the sail to be  
furled.
Standing by,

Al Szymanski
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