[Rhodes22-list] Ballast ?

[Mary Lou Troy]

Who knew? I certainly didn't know these were available for small 
boats. I've only seen them on big boats where the size of the boom 
l(to accommodate the rolled up main) looks all out of proportion.

In case anyone is interested, here's a link to the equipment
http://www.profurl.com/fiche-A|PROFURL|MK0R-0204010000000000-theme-UK.html

and
http://www.profurlamerica.com/us/reefing-furling-systems/bomes.htm

The installation manual on the UK site gives you more detail.

A couple of thoughts after a quick look at it.

This might be of interest to owners of older Rhodes with standard 
masts or to someone who wanted a new R22 with a battened main. Don't 
know if it's more expensive than the IMF option.

It requires a rigid vang, installation of which may interfere with 
the ability to raise the pop-top. Can't tell if it accommodates 
end-boom sheeting.

It appears you would lose the ability to raiser or lower the boom at 
the gooseneck - the first reef for those of us with IMF. And of 
course this allows us to put the boom in the upper position to open 
the poptop. It's also handy to be able to put the boom in the higher 
position at anchor for easier movement around the cockpit. If I were 
going with a system like this I would want the boom high enough to 
clear the bimini and the raised pop-top.

There is a comment in the installation manual about keeping the boom 
horizontal to avoid damage to the gooseneck. Not sure if that was 
just during the installation - it may be a permanent issue in which 
case it might require some disassembly for trailering.

In any event, it looks like an ingenious piece of equipment. 
Certainly more complicated than the IMF but it would allow a fully 
battened mainsail.

If anyone has read this far and is still interested in knowing more, 
there's a detailed 2011 review available online from Practical Sailor.
http://www.practical-sailor.com/marine/boom-furling-systems-7036-1.html

Thanks for spurring the research.

Mary Lou


At 05:06 PM 1/25/2012, you wrote:
>Profurl fits most boats from 5 to 18 meters and cradles the furled sail.
>
>On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 1:20 PM, Mary Lou Troy <mtroy at atlanticbb.net> wrote:
>
> > At 03:53 PM 1/25/2012, Rusty wrote:
> > >Perhaps so, IMF puts performance limitations on the main because it
> > >requires a flatter sail with with a smaller roach and no horizontal
> > >battens.
> > >
> > >I've always wondered why Stan didn't go with boom-furling, which allows a
> > >normal sail shape and battens (correct vang / boom angle is critical).
> >
> > You are right about the performance limitations of the IMF main. Some
> > sail area on the leech is regained with the relatively new single
> > vertical batten sail. With the loosefooted main, you can regain some
> > of the curve of a standard main but not the placement you would get
> > if it was designed in. I would suggest playing with the outhaul in
> > various wind conditions (flatter in higher winds, more curve in
> > lighter winds, flatter upwind, more curve off the wind)
> >
> > I'm not sure I've ever seen boom furling (except for the abysmal sort
> > where you roll the sail around the boom) on a small boat. I'm pretty
> > sure that when Stan developed the IMF, it was much more reliable than
> > any boom furling available. Heck, at the time, it was probably much
> > more reliable that the in-mast furling on many larger boats.
> >
> > Best,
> > Mary Lou
> > 1991 R22 Fretless
> > Rock Hall, MD
> >
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