Jib Furling Question

[NewportNewbie]

I have a 135 on my boat on a furling. I want to put the 155 on. Under windier conditions can I just partially roll the jib up and effectively have a 135 or whatever works best? Or is there a reason that won't work?

[RobGallagher]

Yes, and no. You can roll it up to approximately 135% but it will not remain as effective of an airfoil. In other words, it won't retain the shape as well. I guess it all boils down to how much wind you expect and how much you are willing to give up in performance if you do have to roll it up.

I would guess you would sail faster and more comfortably on the 135 than with the sail rolled up to 135.

Then again, you can't make the 135 bigger

[DRFerron]

The answer depends on who responds and what type of furling system you have.

There is a roller furler system and a reefing furler system. Roller furlers are designed to work with the jib either all the way out or all the way in. Reefing furlers can do just that: reef the jib partially furled and the luff of the sail has a different construction to allow for this to happen smoothly.

I have a roller furler but have been told both that it will shorten the life of my sail if I try to use it partially furled and I have been told that it doesn't matter, nothing will happen if I sail with my jib partially furled.

I prefer to err on the side of caution since sails are really expensive.

[Faster]

Donna's spot on.. most 'furlers' sold nowadays are intended as reefing furlers, but you should try to confirm this as there are many 'old' furlers out there.

There is a loss of efficiency with a partially rolled headsail, but it's really only a serious performance issue if you're beating in a stiff breeze. If you're not racing, and if the furler is appropriate, there should be little downside other than increased wear and tear on the sail (the loads are not supported by the normally reinforced panels at head and tack when rolled)

[MSN2Travelers]

It's all about performance. If you race, then it will make a difference because most RF headsails don't maintain a good shape when partially furled. If you are a cruiser/day sailor, then it won't matter that much.

[tomperanteau]

I have a roller furling, and have had one on my last three boats. We've rolled in a bit when the wind conditions dictated without any adverse effects. If you're just looking to cut back on some sail when the wind picks up, you should be okay rolling it in a bit.

[NewportNewbie]

It's a reefing furler so it should be ok. Had a snag in my 135 so I'll put up my 155 temporarily.