Articles in Sailing tips

October 2, 2026 | 7 min read

Sock or Top-Down Furler? The Sail Cut Decides, Not the Boat

A flat Code 0 rolls up without drama. A deep-cut cruising asymmetric fights the same furler every time. Here's how sail shape, not budget or boat size, decides between a sock and a top-down furler.

Endless Furling Line: Why Your Code 0 Drum Needs a Loop, Not a Single Line

Sailing tips

September 30, 2026 | 7 min read

Endless Furling Line: Why Your Code 0 Drum Needs a Loop, Not a Single Line

Code 0 and gennaker furling line ships as a closed loop with a confusing "2x" length spec. Here's why the loop exists, how to measure it correctly, and which diameter fits your drum.

Two Furlers, One Bow: Why Your Code 0 Needs a Sprit and Your Genoa Furler Doesn't

Sailing tips

September 25, 2026 | 7 min read

Two Furlers, One Bow: Why Your Code 0 Needs a Sprit and Your Genoa Furler Doesn't

Sized your code 0 furler and ready to order? Check the bow first. Most stem fittings have no room for a second furler, and the fix usually isn't the drum, it's a sprit.

Move Your Genoa Car When You Furl, or the Sail Fights You

Sailing tips

September 23, 2026 | 6 min read

Move Your Genoa Car When You Furl, or the Sail Fights You

Rolling away part of a genoa moves the clew, but most sailors leave the sheet car exactly where it was. Here's why that causes the heel and weather helm you're blaming on the furl, and how to reposition the lead for each reef stage.

Genoa Furler Maintenance: Why Furlex, Harken, Profurl and Facnor Need Different Care

Sailing tips

September 18, 2026 | 7 min read

Genoa Furler Maintenance: Why Furlex, Harken, Profurl and Facnor Need Different Care

Furlex needs annual greasing, Harken's Torlon bearings need none, Profurl is sealed for ten years, and Facnor's "maintenance-free" claim doesn't always hold up after a few seasons. What each brand actually requires.

Unstepping the Mast With a Furler Attached: What to Disconnect and What to Leave Alone

Sailing tips

September 16, 2026 | 6 min read

Unstepping the Mast With a Furler Attached: What to Disconnect and What to Leave Alone

Pulling the rig with a genoa or Code 0 furler on the forestay is not just unhooking a turnbuckle. Here is the order that keeps you from losing bearings, bending foil or shortening your forestay for nothing.

Furlex 104S, 204S, 304S or 404S: Which Seldén Furler Size Fits Your Boat?

Sailing tips

September 11, 2026 | 6 min read

Furlex 104S, 204S, 304S or 404S: Which Seldén Furler Size Fits Your Boat?

Seldén sizes the Furlex range by forestay diameter and load, not boat length. Here's how the 104S to 404S range breaks down, where through-deck is limited to two sizes, and what electric actually adds.

Can You Reef a Code 0 Like a Genoa? What Happens When You Try

Sailing tips

September 9, 2026 | 7 min read

Can You Reef a Code 0 Like a Genoa? What Happens When You Try

A gust hits and the instinct is to reef the Code 0 like a genoa. On most systems that backfires. Here's why, and how to get a clean partial furl if you have to.

Furling a Staysail on a Cutter Rig: What Actually Goes Wrong

Sailing tips

September 5, 2026 | 7 min read

Furling a Staysail on a Cutter Rig: What Actually Goes Wrong

Retrofitting a furler to a cutter's inner stay causes problems the manuals don't cover: stay clearance, anchor conflicts, halyard wrap and tacking fouling. Here's what actually happens, with real numbers from cutter owners.