Headsail Furling

The owners of sailboats know that in order for the vessel to perform perfectly under various weather conditions, choosing the right combination of sails is a crucial thing to do. Setting the right sails to fit the specific wind conditions in order for the boat to deliver its optimum performance is without a doubt a rather challenging task. Headsail furling systems are designed to make the job of handling your sails less cumbersome.

A headsail/jib furling system is used for stowing the sail of your boat by means of folding or packing it either partially or fully with the help of a roller furling. The operation principle of the furling system is rather straightforward. The luff of the sail, aka its leading edge, is stiffened by means of attaching it to a length of plastic pipe or by sewing in a stiff material. In this way, the stiff luff allows to spread the force of the furler along the edge of the sail, making it furl along its full length. For the furling process to be possible, the stiffened edge must be attached to an energy source.

Most commonly, furling systems are used for headsails and jibs, though mainsail furlers are also rather widespread. The basic components of a furling system include a specially stiffened jib, a drum with the furling line in it, headfoil and a hoisting system. The stiffened edge of the sail is attached to the furler and the furling line is wound around the drum. The headfoil performs a significant function of providing low friction track for the sail luff line allowing the headsail to be hoisted smoothly. Modern day furling systems are highly dependable and easy to operate even during harsh weather conditions.

Picking the perfectly suitable furling system requires taking into account a few significant factors. These include the type and the size of your boat, furling system operating type as well as its design. Typically large yachts make use of hydraulically operated furlers, sailing yachts over 40 feet in length are equipped with electrically operated systems, while smaller vessels employ basic manually operated units. Apart from the complete furling systems, we also offer an extensive range of furling replacement drums, extrusions, headsail foils, luff support systems, tackers and furling accessories.