mainsail system

[Aravind]

Hi

So I've decided to go for a schooner model sailboat, and I'm considering making it very easy to sail, so that everyone of the family can handle the basics.

Currently the sailplan includes:
- jib
- mainsail
- mizzen

The mizzen has furling system outside of the mast, probably retro-fitted. What is this system called?
Is it a good idea to do the same for the mainsail? The mizzen and mainsail are about the same size on this boat.

Ty for your suggestions
A

[Aravind]

I now, it's a small picture, but here you can see that the furling system is OUTSIDE of the mast! Some claim this is better, because it causes less problems.

[psk125]

To avoid confusion with terminology in the thread, on a Schooner the sails go jib, foresail, main. (The main is bigger than the foresail, usually.) It looks like your mainsail has the roller-furler installed behind the mast. They're also called External roller-furlers. They provide the ease of roller-furling without the worry that in-mast roller-furlers cause about getting the sail stuck inside the mast for some reason. They're also less expensive than in-mast systems, easier to service, and don't have a slot in the mast that 'whistles' when the boat's anchored and the wind blows across the opening. (Really annoying.) It might make sense to set up the foresail with the same type of roller-furler, though it might not be necessary, depending upon how you sail the boat and how it balances under sail. How big the sail is, and how easily it is for the crew to handle make a difference too. If you keep the foresail up when the wind builds, and furl the main and jib, then putting a r/f on the foresail might move the center of effort of the sail too far forward if the wind keeps building and you need to reef it. Slab reefing of the foresail would not tend to do this as much. If the wind builds and you drop the foresail entirely, and sail with the jib and main (furling each as necessary to keep the boat balanced), then how easy it is to drop and furl the foresail becomes more important. If the family includes small children, then another r/f sail looks like it may be in your future.

[Aravind]

tyvm, roller furler for the foresail it will be

[StuM]

Originally Posted by psk125

To avoid confusion with terminology in the thread, on a Schooner the sails go jib, foresail, main. (The main is bigger than the foresail, usually.)

Or to be more specific, on a two masted schooner, the aft (main) mast is taller than the fore mast (which is why the mainsail is usually bigger )


(If the fore mast is taller than the aft mast, then it's not a schooner, it's a ketch or yawl and then the aft mast is called a mizzen.)


Looking at the illustration in Post#2, is that a furling headsail I see? In which case it appears that we are looking at the fore mast, not the aft mast.

[Aravind]

at the picture you can see an external roller-furler for the main-sail, that has been attached to the outside of the mast

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Aravind

at the picture you can see an external roller-furler for the main-sail, that has been attached to the outside of the mast

WHat's the diagonal in the top left corner?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Aravind

at the picture you can see an external roller-furler for the main-sail, that has been attached to the outside of the mast

It’s hard to tell from that photo…..but I think the furler on your sail is a Hyde stream stay.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Aravind

at the picture you can see an external roller-furler for the main-sail, that has been attached to the outside of the mast

It’s hard to tell from that photo…..but I think the furler on your sail is a Hyde stream stay.