ARIEL SCUTTER ref Admeasure/Tonnage

[commanderpete]

Can't have too many headsails

[ebb]

G   A   W   W   W   D  !
C'pete....Or eyes on top of the mast :rolleyes:

 
Mike,
The gear was, they say, designed for large singlehanders and multihulls.  And the gear is hard black anodized aluminum, "impregnated with teflon."

No user reviews on the net.  So how does this stuff stack up against good ole no maintenance bronze?  Long term?   The guys I know who are attempting to market the 35 year old Path-finder are switching to Torlon bearings, like Harken and others.  They're busy getting ready for the Newport show.

The plate on the end of 338's sprit would have extra 'in-line' holes for the swivel (like the stemhead fitting).   Good idea.   And since there isn't any sail in the 338 inventory that would suit,  I'd have a genaker made up without hanks.  Correct?  Would it have a wire luff?  Bill keeps his jib in a long Goretex tube  - is that what we're looking at here too?  I come from the egyptian cotton era when sails were dried on the club lawn and then stuffed into lawndry bags.

Roll up head sails on a tiny cruiser could present a problem.  Can't get soft dacron cruising sails any more?  Hmmmmm

Would you recommend this H1900 furler for any Ariel?

[Mike Goodwin]

The 1900 is more than you need , which is good .
Yes you want a wire luff .
Whether you use it or not is your call , but looks like it will do the job .
The biggest problem I see with the Path-finder model , is the sail has to be deployed to remove from the stay , never fun in a blow on the end of a bowsprit .

[ebb]

Thanks Mike, appreciate yer input and observation on the Path-finder.
Sheeese, now I gotta find ondeck stowage for the headsails!

[frank durant]

Hi Ebb...jib bags look good AND keep the sun off as well as the lockers clear. May want them off in a real blow , but at that time ya don't mind a little mess in the v-berth

[ebb]

I got the one that Bacon Sailmakers had  on sale on the net.  Couldn't pass it up, and it is possible to take the drum apart.  Maybe even replace the bearings?  In case something is wrong with this one that won't show up until it's under load.

I asked 'Madigan' about wire luffs, he said wire had about a foot diameter when 'folding'.  Spectra line has also been used for these genaker luffs which would mean even tighter stuffing into the bag. Suppose wire is much prefered for inherent  stiffness.

What sold me was that the genaker is put up or taken down rolled up, under control.
Second,  the furling gear is removable, no foil extrusions, or customizing.
Third,  the rigged forestay can itself be used to fly a hanked-on jib.
Or staysail if you insist on sailing without a sprit.