I would like to know the Pro's & Con's of having a yacht fitted with an in mast furling mainsail.
They seem popular but something about them just doesn't seem right. Would like to hear of people's thoughts & experiances with them.
Cheers
I sailed on a Salar 40 a while back with one fitted it seems to work really well the yacht had done a reasonable amount of sailing hours it sailed over to Japan a few times Was on it when a gale came through around Wilson Prom the Slipper just wonder her in like opening a beer
Mast furlers get a bad rap largely because if they jam or fail in some way, you can't drop rag. In heavy conditions that can be dangerous. If a boom furler fails, no biggy, you can still pull it down manually. Personally I don't think it's much to worry about if you maintain them. You can't control for EVERY variable on a boat :)
This article from an experienced sailor sums it up. www.sailboat-cruising.com/in-mast-furling.html I have spoken to a number of owners with in mast furlers and all have sad they have never experienced any problems. With respect to roller furlers on the boom, I had a roller furler on the boom and changed it to a conventional boom and sail because it was always at least a two person task and with one person having to go to the mast to wind the boom, and was too fiddly.
