Facnor Code/Asymmetrical Furler

GeorgeB · #1 11-08-2007

O.K., Giu, what can you tell me about the Facnor continuous line furler? I’m getting quotes on a Code Zero and a Code One sail and I’d like to hear more about the furler. I’m hearing contrary things about them out here in California like they tend to jam against the top part of the headsail furler (I’m thinking that the fix is to lengthen the spinnaker crane by an inch or two. Is your boat rigged for one or two spinnaker halyards?

Giulietta · #2 11-08-2007

Personally, to me its the best thing I have ever spent money on it.

Mine is set for 2 Halyards. Has 2 tracks and can run with Genoa too. It has a section that comes off to measure stay tension!!!! for real!!!!

It has a continuous line that furls either way, and the roller, which is like a thin large sheave binds into a "clutch" of teflon, so no accidental openings can occur.

As long as one of the loop ends is cleated, it goes anywhere.

I never ever heard anything bad about them, at all. Many friends are using them now and even some of the cruisers have them now too. They're simple light and efficient as hell. I am really happy to see all the World racers that come to my marina with the same roller.

During construction of my boat I saw and studied many brands. landed with facnor, because they made specially for my boat, and sent a rep to make sure we were OK with it.

It furls and unfurls easy, but you need to point into the wind with wionds above 25 knots. Opens and closes in 2 seconds.

I don't really see how they can jam up there, its a rotary disk inside another rotary disk, the inside turns, not the outside...so how can they jam up there?? I believe that's typical marina "badmouthing"..I highly recommend it.

The only problem I see, or saw, was it costs almost 3 times more. Because they customise it, and needs care and precise installation.

If you need more answers, please don't hesitate. You will need 2 cleats to lock the lines in the cockpit.

Giulietta · #3 11-08-2007

This is where my roller cleats are

Giulietta · #4 11-08-2007

Here the same, but bigger

Giulietta · #5 11-08-2007

And here the section that comes off to measure stay tension..that's a good idea in my book

JohnRPollard · #6 11-09-2007

Giulietta,

Nice hardware. Do you have to crank the furling line on a winch, or can it be done simply by hand? Thanks.

Giulietta · #7 11-09-2007

Nope...no cranking...look at the photo of the red lines by the ST60, the cleat position...its impossible to winch.

The system is so smooth, even Fred rolls and unrolls the genoa.

The only problem AND YOU NEED PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, is if in hard winds you release both lines and pull the genoa sheet, it unrolls so fast that the lines will burn your hands

sailingdog · #8 11-09-2007

That's why they invented sailing gloves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giulietta

Nope...no cranking...look at the photo of the red lines by the ST60, the cleat position...its impossible to winch.

The system is so smooth, even Fred rolls and unrolls the genoa.

The only problem AND YOU NEED PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, is if in hard winds you release both lines and pull the genoa sheet, it unrolls so fast that the lines will burn your hands

telekitr · #9 11-09-2007

Hi Gui, I am redoing my Passport 40 and am working out the details of the headsail system. My thoughts are to use the existing Harken RF unit to house the 90% jib, use my staysail which is hank on, as my powerful sail with brisk winds and adding a Facnor unit which might be removable...to carry my 135% to use in the light stuff. If I had an unlimited budget I would likely convert the existing Harken over to Facnor also but the is very iffy. I have used Facnor system on a Trans-Atlantic sail on an Open 60 and liked it very much. The simplicity is very appealing. What do you think of my idea of removing the 135 and its furler to keep the boat unclutered when its not needed? I see that you are a fan of removing things that are not needed. Do I detect that your anchor roller is removeable??

Giulietta · #10 11-09-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by telekitr

Hi Gui, I am redoing my Passport 40 and am working out the details of the headsail system. My thoughts are to use the existing Harken RF unit to house the 90% jib, use my staysail which is hank on, as my powerful sail with brisk winds and adding a Fracnor unit which might be removable...to carry my 135% to use in the light stuff. If I had an unlimited budget I would likely convert the existing Harken over to Fracnor also but the is very iffy. I have used Fracnor system on a Trans-Atlantic sail on an Open 60 and liked it very much. The simplicity is very appealing. What do you think of my idea of removing the 135 and its furler to keep the boat unclutered when its not needed? I see that you are a fan of removing things that are not needed. Do I detect that your anchor roller is removeable??

Mine is a solid slide (I don't know the name) system with two slots. It is not a removable one because of this. They do however make a removable one that is widely used on the VO's and it does not have the solid slide. You can see it in the Cat above. Its basically the same system, and does not have a solid luff slide.

I opted for the solid slide track, because I want to race 9 months and cruise the other 4, so I needed a system that would allow both sails without having to move the stay.

The racing sail is hank on too, as it has battens and can't be rolled, and slides on the slide. The code zero is ideal because its way low in the deck still alowing a very low genoa foot.

And high enough for a rolling genoa when crusing.

I think your idea of the removable is good, as it will be less cluttered. Many boats now alow one of them to be removed.

Yes, the anchopr roller is removable, and is (depending on the races) substituted by a CF bow sprit for the Assy sail.

The anchor, battery and windlass are also gone. back in June...