I’m thinking of adding furling jib on my N6.0na. Is it safe to use Harken 435? (That is the one that I have) or should I buy Harken 436. The Harken website suggests that 435 is for catamarans 18 feet and smaller.
Also, I will be flying a spinnaker.
Anybody have any experience with those? I would appreciate any input.
Thanks
Kris
get the higher-load drum.
and if you're distance racing, take the drum off.
I know some folks that used the 435 on the 6.0NA to furl the jib. When I had set out to do it on mine, I had purchased the 436 - just to be sure! If you use the 435 - make sure you have the hi-load bearings installed. I believe they're brown instead of greenish.
Note that while the furler is nice and convenient, unless you do some really creative rigging, you loose the ability to actively adjust the jib luff tension...which is not good for any kind of racing.
I put a 436 on my boat just to be safe and it works great. I am still debating (with myself) on the value of the downhaul on the 6.0. Is it really necessary, and does it do that much? Probably not if you set it pretty close on the beach. Anyone have any comments?
However, the ability to furl the jib really is handy to depower, or else to stop the jib from thrashing when on the beach/launching, and especially [color] when single handing the beast .
Dave
Thank you all for your input. I guess I will sale my Harken 435 set and look for 436.
If you have one let me know.
Kris
I used to use a Ronstan upper swivel and a Hobie 18 style lower drum furler on a tornado. Worked good for many years in many high wind conditions and high rig loads (side stays loaded pretty good and 8:1 mainsheet tension to the max).
I even worked out a sweet jib luff tension that worked through the lower drum. Here are some pics:
In this shot, look to the lower right of the pic on the mainbeam...there is a 3:1 purchase micro cleat...doubles the 2:1 at the drum for 6:1 total.
Mike.