Nah, just lots of assumptions required to address your question, given the lack of information initially offered...
On another note:
Jon: Is that an in the boom furler on your Chance? If so, when did you put it on, which brand did you chose and how do you like it?
Cheers,
Ron
Hi Ron,
Unfortunately, that's not my boat, but I'm flattered that mine might have been confused by that beauty...
That was a Valiant 42 I was taking down to Antigua a couple of years ago. It was the fall that the NARC got thrashed by TS Sean. We were planning on going direct to Antigua, but when Herb began to voice some concerns about the possible development of another tropical low, we chose to divert to St Georges. I had my brother and his oldest son along for the ride, and we had a wonderful 3 1/2 days on Bermuda, probably the highlight of that trip... Turned out to be one of those instances where "Riding the Curve" by heading due E out of the Chesapeake really paid off, by keeping Bermuda close at hand... (Sadly, that turned out to be Herb's last season of forecasting, I know you are familiar with that sorry story)
That boat had a Leisure-Furl... I've run a fair number of boats by now with L-F booms, I think it's a superb system overall, though I can't recommend their motor-driven unit. Far better to stick with the halyard/downhaul led to winches, instead. L-F had some teething problems early on, but they have things well sorted out by now, and are pretty bulletproof as long as the boom is precisely adjusted, and the operator(s) understand how to use the system. I suspect most of the problems that arise with L-F today, are a result of operator error, most likely Electric Winch Abuse...
And that is very often the consequence of the halyard and downhaul winches being placed under a dodger which can make it very difficult to watch the sail being hoisted or lowered - few things drive me crazier, than being unable to properly sight the main when doing this, yet it's amazing how common that problem is...
If I were ever to move up to something in the 40+ foot range, at this point in my life, I'd want to go with a Leisure-Furl. The only downside (aside from the substantial cost), is the massive weight of the boom... You do NOT ever want to have an accidental jibe in heavy air with one of these things, the forces could be massive, and the results catastrophic. They must be prevented religiously, and I'd definitely want a Boom Brake as well, and yet I've never seen one so equipped...
One other possible benefit of such systems, in my observation I think they can likely extend the life of your main - particularly a laminated sail - by eliminating the long-term damage to the sail that results from flaking... My North 3DL main is by now completely shot, being held together by reams of sail repair tape, primarily as a result of repeatedly being folded/creased... I've gotten excellent service from this sail, but it will definitely be the last laminated sail I will ever own
Every boat I've run with a L-F, the main was in superb condition... (Of course, some of those boats had likely seen VERY light use over time) This Cabo Rico 42, the sails were at least 5-6 years old, and yet the laminated main looked essentially new. Definitely would not have been the case, had the sail been living on a conventional boom, flaked...