Hi Doug, As Tom mentioned I installed an older CDI FF2 on our M17 this past summer and will try and answer your questions. My wife and I owned a M15 for many years so I'm familiar with the 15's rigging setup.
Does the turnbuckle have to be adjusted every time you trailer?
No, the turnbuckle does not need to be adjusted every time you trailer. In fact, it would be difficult to do as the furler drum covers the turnbuckle. To create the proper forestay tension, on the 17 I use a backstay tensioner to tighten the forestay. I slack the tension on the backstay, which eases the tension on the forestay, allowing me to pin the toggle which protrudes from the FF2's drum to the deck plate. On the 15, you would need some mechanical advantage to slack the forestay in order to pin the drum to the deck. On our 15 we used our jib halyard to put forward tension on the mast and put some slack in the forestay; made it much easier to attach and un-attaching the forestay, I think could work just as well with a furler.
Does the forestay have to come off every time you trailer?
No, I don't remove the forestay when trailering. I think it would be a big hassle to remove the furler when trailering. With the CDI FF2 there is a 2" wide plastic luff extrusion that slides over the forestay for 95% of the forestay length. The furler drum attaches to the bottom of plastic luff, and is held in place by the forestay turnbuckle, at the base of the forestay. When trailering the head sail is furled around the luff extrusion which makes for a semi-rigid forestay bundle (head sail wrapped around plastic extrusion which encloses the forestay). This semi-rigid bundle will lay on top the mast while trailering without removing it. If you did remove it, it would be awkward to store (think of trying to store a 20ft long piece of 2" PVC pipe). The sail/luff bundle is longer than the mast on the 17, and extends beyond the end of the mast by apx. 18". With the 15 being fractional rigged you could disconnect the upper end of the forestay and slide the forestay/sail/luff bundle up the mast so it doesn't extend beyond the end of the mast for trailering. There is a downloadable .pdf file from the CDI web site. The .pdf file does a pretty good job of showing how thing work and fit together.
If not what do you do with drum end?
The drum stays attached, just hangs over the end of the mast on our 17 while trailering. Since adding the FF2 and 150 furling Genoa to our 17 this past summer, I'm personally convinced that a furler is one of our best addition to our 17. It does make the mast heavier when raising, as you raise not only the mast but the furler and sail also. And, you need to add a toggle to the top of your forestay to allow the forestay to flex without putting stress on a compression fitting. The CDI FF2 does require a turnbuckle at the drum end of the forestay. The turnbuckle is integral to how the FF2 fits together. I shopped many furling units before settling on the CDI FF2. I think the CDI offers some advantages over other comparable units, it also happens to be the least expensive. CDI offers a ball bearing upgrade, but the used FF2 I purchase had the nylon bushing. Had I bought new I would have probably opted for the ball bearing upgrade ($60). But since using the nylon bushing I find it fully adequate and see no need for the upgrade. Best Wishes to Everyone for a Great 2008, Sincerely, Randy Graves M17 #410 ________________________________________ From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tom Smith [openboatt@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 9:17 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: CDI furler experience Although they all sail M17s, Randy, Larry and Gary all use roller furling and trail their boats. I'm sure one of them can address your question Doug. I don't believe there's a turnbuckle used in at least Larry and Randy setups, but I'm just guessing. Having owned and sailed an M15 for some years, I hear what you're getting at. I left Chukar's rig fairly loose too, but I think an M15 with furling would require more rig tension. I believe there are quick-release turnbuckles available (from Johnson maybe?) that could be used with the sidestays that would solve the problem. t On Dec 31, 2007 8:56 AM, Doug Kelch <doug_kelch@yahoo.com> wrote:
Can anyone share the process for using the CDI furler on a trailerable boat?
The CDI furler seems to require a turnbuckle as part of the forestay. I have an M15 with the "floppy" rig and no turnbuckle. Does the turnbuckle have to be adjusted every time you trailer?
Does the forestay have to come off every time you trailer?
If not what do you do with drum end?
Thanks
Doug Kelch M15 #310 "Seas the Day"
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