Submitted on August 28, 2003 by Bill Crowder

Question: I currently have an in mast furling main on a 40' Catalina. Obviously w/o battens. I opted for that sail plan for the ease of handling when shorthanded. The ease of setting and dousing is as anticipated but with a little more experience and a few adventures trying to reef the thing in rising winds (BETTER reef well ahead of time w/this sail) and lots of reading, I am convinced of the benefits of a battened main. But the handling ease of the furling main remains very attractive. Ergo the in boom option.

How well does this system work generally w/the battened main? What batten arrangement seems to work best. What to look for in reefing and tying in a reef. What should I avoid, and lastly which brands can you recommend?

Bill Crowder
"Windjammer"

Answer: Dear Bill, there are a number of spar manufacturers making solid, functional in-boom furling systems today. Unfortunately, it is not an inexpensive proposition to retrofit a boat like your Catalina that started out as an in-mast furling rig. You would need to replace both your mast and your boom. Another consideration would be to replace your mainsail with a vertical batten in-mast furling mainsail. The benefit would be a sail that has a better profile for more performance to windward and off the wind. The sail will also have a marginally better reefed shape but it will not make any differance in how easily your furler works.

All in boom furling mainsails are made with full length battens. The boom manufacturers typically have very specific requirements for the location and construction of the batten systems.

A more conventional setup with a fully battened mainsail, luff track system and lazy jacks is also worth a look. While not as flashy as an in-mast or in-boom furling system, it is reliable, easy to use and results in arguably the best reefed sail shape of the three systems.

Regards,
Dan Neri

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