Manual furling boom

[coupedesign]

I designed some boats with hydraulic system, that are not easy to use. Anyone know something about the manual system?

[TeddyDiver]

There are some manual gear in >~100 year old gaffers.. simple robust and reliable.. maybe worth of some R&D. Tried to google but didn't find pictures. In Tom Cunliffe's book Hand Reef and Steer there's one picture and a chapter atleast..

[coupedesign]

Do you know "johnmast" mechanism.
My fear is" what happen when system fail?"
I'm going to install in a sailboat for a 65 owner so if he will have problem with the furling mechanism, feeder makes harder the falling of the sail.
Don't you think could be safer a mast trak with roller car?

[TeddyDiver]

Not my specialty, sorry.. I'm quite skeptic what comes to furling gear "into" anything. Maybe someone with real experience will show up.
Regards Teddy

[gonzo]

I have used worm drive furlers in several boats. They work great and the maintenance is minimal. The sail has to be cut properly or it won't furl right.

[coupedesign]

Well, marten make an eliptical mendrel where you may roll up a 3DL north.
However in manual use you never have probem? Do you think will be safe enough for an old user?

[gonzo]

Yes I think it is safe. The good thing about a boom furler, is that you can always roll or unroll the main manually if the drive breaks or jams.

[Steve W]

What size boat/sail are we talking about.I am building a system for my 26ft boat which will be similar to what is used on the Corsair trimarans which have a shaft through the mast with a crank on the front,no gears and just a regular bolt rope luff.I have a thread going on sailing anarchy multihulls forum asking questions of actual corsair owners which you may find useful.I am going to use a bolt rope but i will enter the bolt rope a long way up through a prefeeder. I have installed a profurl in boom system for a customer before but it is very complicated and expensive and achieved the same goal.
Steve.

[gonzo]

The through mast with a u-joint is the Herreshoff system from about 1930. It is simple