Change furling headsails often?

[Faster]

A couple of seasons ago we added a furler to the current boat. We also ended up with a headsail without a UV cover so we've been in the habit of putting the sail below between trips (not a big deal as we used to do the same with the old hanked sails)
What I didn't like, though, was fiddling with the pin shackles on the drum and the swivel.. it was inevitable that one day some parts would go swimming.

We needed a reef added to the main, so we took the jib in too and had them install a pair of Wickard snap hooks at the head and tack. This allows us to leave the shackles on the furler left tight, and simply snap the jib on and go. This is currently our only headsail, but anyone who changes their sails regularly for the conditions will appreciate the ease of use this allows.

We also managed to gain an inch or two of hoist as we set the hooks into the sail where previously the rings extended an inch or more at either end.





These hooks are not cheap, cost us $50 each but everytime I snap the sail on I appreciate it!

[sailhog]

Looks niiiiiice! The head of my furling head sail is configured in such a way that I wouldn't use a hook, but the tack end of the business looks mighty nice indeed. Changing head sails while underway would be a whole lot simpler. I love seeing stuff like this....

[tdw]

Looks like a fairly sexy headsail as well.

We very rarely changed headsails on Raven ... like a handful of times in six years but may have to do more of that on the new girl. Inner forestay makes tacking awkward and while this is not a concern offshore if we decide to do some harbour sailing or , good lord, the odd race then we need to get rid of the thing.

Hey Hogly, you getting out and sailing some ?

[turbulicity]

Nice setup. I would probably skimp on the hook part and use a bowline though.

[tommays]

I like that one because the shackels on the Profurl R25 are bit of a water magnet

[pdqaltair]

This looks good because the halyard biner is well constrained, but the reader should be aware that they can hook other lines and stays with great ease. A dock mate clipped his topping lift and I saw a fellow clip a spinnaker halyard to his uppers; that one was pretty ugly. I use a biner on the tack of my asymmetrical and I've clipped a lifeline a few times. Down low, it is worth it for the speed, up high, only with great caution and careful installation.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by pdqaltair

This looks good because the halyard biner is well constrained, but the reader should be aware that they can hook other lines and stays with great ease.

Not recommending these types of hooks anywhere that can flail around..... we're talking about tack and head connections to the furler.

Originally Posted by turbulicity

Nice setup. I would probably skimp on the hook part and use a bowline though.

In our case no way we had the space to use any kind of knot (the luff is full foil length).

[funjohnson]

That is a great idea! I purchased a storm jib to go on my furler (I know that I should rig a proper inner forestay for hank on), but after trying it once, figured I need to find a faster way than messing with a shackle on the bow.

Trying not to hijack, but how do you use a prefeeder? I cannot figure out what they help with.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

....Trying not to hijack, but how do you use a prefeeder? I cannot figure out what they help with.

The prefeeder should be on a pennant that allows the feeder to reach halfway between the deck and the entry slot. Slide the sail's lufftape through the feeder and then into the foil. When you hoist the prefeeder creates a smooth, straight path for the luff between the prefeeder and the entry slot avoiding kinks and catches along the way.

Alternatively you'll sometimes see the prefeeder attached to the furler/foil part way up for a similar effect.

When using a feeder the prefeeder height and/or the luff tape length should be such that once hoisted the sail's luff tape is free of the feeder... otherwise you have to work the feeder free when you drop/change the sail.