Furling boom

[badia420]

Hello!

Father in law just bought a 1999 Swan 56 and is currently updating the hardware and all.

It will race but since he will be sailing always short crewed, or with sailors his age (65) we were thinking about a furling boom mainsail.

What do you think and recommend? brands? systems?

Thank you!

 

[The great unwashed]

Additional question: is it wise to beef up the lower part of the mast if one is using in-boom furling?

 

[mgs]

If it’s got a powered winch for the halyard put a little money into a good lazy jack set up (or Dutchman or stack pack whatever) and go sailing. If it then is a problem to deal with the main consider a furling boom.
 

Leisurefurl is the standard I’ve seen. You need to be paying attention when furling, more so than with a headsail, but they work well. They currently are working with some long lead times. 
 

Schaefer also has a furling boom that’s good, might not look as elegant though.

 If you’re going the carbon boom route all the spar makers seem to have their own version. 

 

[slug zitski]

Hello!

Father in law just bought a 1999 Swan 56 and is currently updating the hardware and all.

It will race but since he will be sailing always short crewed, or with sailors his age (65) we were thinking about a furling boom mainsail.

What do you think and recommend? brands? systems?

Thank you!

Hard to say , I’ve sailed with several brands of roller boom 

speak to a rigger , they will be familiar with the market and booms that are suitable for swan

all roller booms are a pain in the ass

not a good choice for a racer cruiser

roller booms are best for day sailers 

 

[badia420]

Hard to say , I’ve sailed with several brands of roller boom 

speak to a rigger , they will be familiar with the market and booms that are suitable for swan

all roller booms are a pain in the ass

not a good choice for a racer cruiser

roller booms are best for day sailers 

I agree, but we are talking about a swan 56, old design with winches in the mast area, not all redirected to cockpit and amateur and "old" crew.
And also it will be cruised and daysailed shorthanded/solohanded.

Just looking at all options to simplyfy and make easy the handling of the mainsail. Genoas are in an electric reckman furler.

Also how does oen reefs in a furling boom?

 

[mgs]

To reef you just furl the boom. 
 

I have yet to see a furling boom set up with the main halyard still at the mast. If he’s singlehanded is he really going to go forward to raise/reef/lower the main?

A powered winch is highly recommended. 
 

 

[slug zitski]

I agree, but we are talking about a swan 56, old design with winches in the mast area, not all redirected to cockpit and amateur and "old" crew.
And also it will be cruised and daysailed shorthanded/solohanded.

Just looking at all options to simplyfy and make easy the handling of the mainsail. Genoas are in an electric reckman furler.

Also how does oen reefs in a furling boom?

Many different systems 

the pictured boat has fully automatic furling 

captive hydraulic winch in bilge , hydraulic boom roller and a boom vang with level sensor 

press up button , sail up 

press down button , sail down 

expensive 

you should visit a boat show …METs or Düsseldorf and review options 

 

[NZK]

In-boom furling at least allows the use of full length battens so you maintain a decent roach in the main - better than in-mast for actual sail shape.

Maybe contact EMV in Badalona/Palma who are the Swan Global Service agents, they're probably a good starting point for help on what integration is possible.

https://www.emvmarine.com/ 

 

[slug zitski]

In-boom furling at least allows the use of full length battens so you maintain a decent roach in the main - better than in-mast for actual sail shape.

Maybe contact EMV in Badalona/Palma who are the Swan Global Service agents, they're probably a good starting point for help on what integration is possible.

https://www.emvmarine.com/ 

Those full length battens you like are the curse of a roller boom

normally the compression load from the full length batten is transmitted to the mast via a batt car. 
 

Roller booms don’t have batt cars to handle compression  , the batten ends at the luff tape 

The batten compression can tear up your luff tape in  one day 

jibing the main is very hard on the batten end of a roller boom 

 

[Trovão]

In-boom furling at least allows the use of full length battens so you maintain a decent roach in the main - better than in-mast for actual sail shape.

Maybe contact EMV in Badalona/Palma who are the Swan Global Service agents, they're probably a good starting point for help on what integration is possible.

https://www.emvmarine.com/ 

in-mast can have vertical battens that help quite a lot with roach shape...

 

[slug zitski]

in-mast can have vertical battens that help quite a lot with roach shape...

Those vertical battens marketed for inmast furler are also troublesome 

Avoid them if you want durability and ease of use 
 

 

[Kevlar Edge]

Leisurefurl or don’t bother Also keep in mind that you will need to have a new main built to work on the mew system