Hi Tom, You can find everything you need to know about my A-frame at ezmastlift.com. I bought the heavy duty model, which is very reasonably priced. Each system is built to order, but it only takes a couple of days. The only minor challenge is finding, cutting, and threading the Intermediate Electrical Conduit (IEC), which I couldn't find in any retail outlet. If you decide to go that way I'll tell you how I did it. Once it's together, it works just like the site says. I'm very happy with it. Good luck, Rick M17 #633 Lynne L On Monday, September 15, 2014, Thomas Buzzi <thomaspbuzzi@gmail.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','thomaspbuzzi@gmail.com');>> wrote:
Hello Rick, I didn't pay too much attention to the A-frame rigs that showed up on this site last year since I have always just raised the M17 mast using muscle power but now that I am seriously considering getting a roller furler on the forestay I think some sort of A frame would be worth installing. Care to have a try at explaining how your's is set up? Another fellow named Tom on this site used a couple of ropes but I am not able to picture doing that. His idea sounds good though. Appreciate the help. Just had my centerboard sand blasted this morning. I thought I had it clean enough and I just had the blasting done to see how much more would come off the board. Wow! It was clean as a whistle and uniform gray. Never saw cast iron look that way. Then, of course, I dashed home to seal the board with some Interlux 2000. My present hobby is fixing up an old sail boat. Soon my hobby will be sailing an old sailboat.[?] Tom B
On Sun, Sep 14, 2014 at 6:54 PM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Tom,
I keep my M17 on a trailer at the marina, so I don't often raise or lower the mast. The furler foil does add weight to the rig, and I found it harder to handle when just muscling the mast up and down. I also take the jib off when raiding and lowering the mast, which is a minor pain with a CDI furler. I now use an A-frame for raising and lowering, so the added weight of the foil isn't really an issue any more. The safety and convenience of a furler when sailing far outweigh any minor inconveniences on the trailer.
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Sunday, September 14, 2014, Thomas Buzzi <thomaspbuzzi@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Rick, Do you trailer your 17 or keep it at a dock? I have considered a roller on the jib on my 17 but wonder how it would be to handle stepping and unstepping the mast with a boat that I trail. Had a roller on my 28'Cape Dory long ago and they are nice!
Regards, Tom B
On Sun, Sep 14, 2014 at 7:55 AM, Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com <javascript:;>> wrote:
Robbin,
I went to roller furling on my M17 years ago and never regretted it, and I race all the time. The secret is a luff pad (from Elliot-Pattison) on the genoa that allows the sail to retain shape when partially rolled.
I saw that Deale was featured in the Real Estate section of the Washington Post yesterday. Do you live in Deale?
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Sun, Sep 14, 2014 at 8:41 AM, Robbin Roddewig < robbin.roddewig@verizon.net <javascript:;>> wrote:
Hi Bruce, I had been using hank on for years on my M-23 and recently put a new set of sails on and upgraded to roller furling after an instructor that did lessons on our boat for my wife and I said that roller furling would be a big improvement in safety. My 23 has narrow side decks (as all do I think) and no life lines. So going forward was a challenge and I figured if I lost some racing performance with the furler sail it would not hurt me too much! Although crewing on other boats I see quite a few racing boats (including the Bennateau I am on) that have furlers. What I have found is that since I dock the boat I only have to deal with the extra hardware (or the riggers do) twice a year and it makes going sailing much faster. I am out on the water quicker without having to mess with the head sail and having a beverage faster at the dock when coming back in. You just pull on lines to unfurl and furl and reducing sail is a breeze (pun unintended).
So I have been very happy with the roller furler. Your mileage may vary.
Thanks Robbin M-23 "Pinch Me" out of Deale MD
On 9/14/2014 12:58 AM, Bruce Ward wrote:
anyone have a comment on their experience with roller furling on their M23? my Ole'Body does not work so well with going forward single handed to hank on a smaller jib when the wind pipes up. I'd appreciate hearing here or off list . Thanks,
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