As we have little experience in the matter of furlers, we would
appreciate some advice.
We are thinking about getting a furler to avoid having to go forward to
reef/take down a jib or set storm sail under adverse conditions. But we
have seen some warnings about furlers jamming or otherwise failing under
extreme weather conditions. We have to take these reports both
seriously and skeptically.
Our major concern is that the reported failures have occurred when the
furler was most needed, and crew had to go forward to bring down the
jib, actually cutting it away in one case. But some of the reports are
old, and there has been much progress in the technology in the last 20
years.
Beside design and manufacturing issues, there are also questions about
correct installation, maintenance, and usage.
Do any on this list have personal experience (pro or con) with a jib
furler of any manufacture on a Potter 15 in seriously inclement weather,
or direct knowledge of successes or failures under adverse conditions?
Thank you for any help on the subject.
-- Robert Skinner, Rockville, MD 20850 '87 Potter 15 HMS #1618 "Little Dipper" robert@140.com