No experience with Profurl, but a considerable amount with Leisure-Furl, primarily on a few Trintellas... Please forgive my ignorance of any possible significant distinctions between the two systems...
L-F is a pretty slick setup, no question... Had some problems with the earliest versions made in NZ, but once Forespar took control, they got things pretty well sorted out... Other than problems with the motorized version (as opposed to using
winches to operate), haven't had any issues in the past 5-6 years, they've been flawless... On boats approaching 46-50' or thereabouts, I think they're the way to go... On a
rig as powered-up as that on the Seguin 52 pictured below, they're the only way I'd want to go...
Not sure why one would say it's necessary to position someone at the gooseneck, but it can definitely be a prudent practice, especially when lowering... Many folks think you never have to go forward with these systems, but there is that locking pin that must be dealt with, so someone will have to go to the mast on occasion...
As mentioned, the angle of the boom is critical, and I think a hydraulic vang is the way to go to obtain and hold the angle with the required precision... Best setup I ever saw, was a simple batten/measuring stick fixed to the vang that - when aligned with a mark on the ram - would assure the desired angle exactly...
Primary downside IMO is the sheer weight of the boom, damn things are HEAVY (Carbon fiber would be nice, but very pricey, of course) Jibing those things on a larger boat in a blow can be hair-raising, and one had better
rig a bulletproof preventer for a L-F boom or equivalent, an accidental jibe with a boom as massive as they can be could be catastrophic......
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