Furled Mainsail on a PSC 34'

[mondofromredondo]

Hi All,
I'm considering a furled mainsail. I find I often choose not to sail as I am a lazy sailer and don't like re-flaking my sail and throwing on the old horse blanket. Any thoughts on Boom vs Mast furled? I'm sure this has been discussed but I couldn't find anything that references our Le (something) mast and boom. Just read an article about a guy finish a 5 year circumnavigation who used an external mast furling system. Sure looks nice for a lazy old man....

Regards to all
Keith
PSC 34'
S/V Charity Rose

[BluesHarp]

You may want to consider something like a Mack Pack to put the mainsail away quickly and easily.

[steneck]

You might want to consider the Dutchman flaking system. It involves two heavy monofilament lines through small plastic grommets. When you lower the sail, it is flaked. Just put a cover on it and you are done.

It doesn't get much easier.

Bob Steneck
PSC 34 Alaria
Christmas Cove, Maine

[HUGOSALT]

I do love my Dutchman system, as I often sail solo. When it comes to lowering the main in a hurry I loosen the halyard and don't give the main another thought...
like venetian blinds. Still can have full sail shape and full battens. However ...one must adjust running topping lift upon raising and lowering main and sail cover must come off and go back on, and sail still must be reefed.
Not quite as free and easy as a furling main that works smoothly but it gets close and will never jam at a bad time. Hope this helps. Hugo

[quanyin]

We are having a Leisure Furl installed on or boat. We had a Dutchman, and it was okay, but the boom furler offers several important advantages. I am sure that there are good mast furlers out there, but I cringe when I think of a unit that gets jammed with the sail out in a stiff wind.
With a boom furler, one can still drop the sail and lash it to the boom.
Paul
QuanYin, PS 40

[mondofromredondo]

Thanks to all.
I'm leaning towards Paul's approach. A boom furled main seems like a safer approach given the ability to drop the sail if the furler seizes. Reefing seems like it would be a breeze as well. Being able to avoid the old horse blanket over the boom would be a great option that would get me out there more often for a quick sail around the bouy and back.

Thanks again !
Keith
PSC 34 S/V Charity Rose

[FirstSightPS31]

I'm sure you saw Practical Sailor's review, FWIW. Just in case you did not:

In-Boom Furling: Five Systems