How to install a genoa furler on a boat?
The genoa furler is an integral part of the rigging of modern sailboats. It allows the genoa to be rolled up and unrolled easily to adapt to weather conditions. If you have purchased a brand new or used sail furler, you will need to mount it on your sailboat before hoisting your genoa on it. Do you have everything you need for the assembly of a genoa furler? Find out in this article how to install a genoa furler on your boat. But first, we present a list of the material to have before you start. Then, we will detail how to assemble a genoa furler. You will also be entitled to some advice to avoid any inconvenience during the operation and maneuvers.
Contents of the page
What do you need to install a genoa furler?
If you have just purchased a still packed genoa furler then you will need to assemble it since it will be in separate parts. But there is nothing complicated. Whether it's a Harken sail furler, a Furlex reel, a Facnor reel, a Profurl hose reel or a Plastimo hose reel, you will need the same material. You just need to equip yourself with your:
- big pliers (to cut the forestay)
- small hammer
- decameter
- rat tail
- metal saw
- caliper
Depending on your level of proficiency, assembling the parts of a new sail furler can take you between 15 and 30 minutes. As for the assembly of the reel on the sailboat, it takes about 10 minutes. In addition, installing the genoa on the furler and hoisting the sail takes little more than 15 minutes. In all, if you must install a genoa furler new, you will need about 1 hour of time.
Which line to use for the installation of a genoa furler?
As for the rope, be aware that for the furling line, you will need a rope 1,5 times the length of the boat. If your boat is for example 14 meters, the rope must measure 21 m and its diameter must be 6 mm (or 8mm for a better grip if your drum is large enough).
For the genoa halyard, the calculation to be carried out to know the length of rope required is as follows:
L = 3 x Mast height
On the other hand, the diameter of the halyard varies according to the length of your sailboat:
| Sailboat length in meters | Halyard diameter genoa |
| 6 to 8 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 |
| 10 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 |
| 12 | 12 |
| 14 | 12 |
| 16 | 14 |
| 18 | 14 |
| 24 | 16 |
Regarding the genoa sheets, it is the rope that will be used to border and shock the sail. There are two of them, one for port and one for starboard. Too long a rope makes maneuvering difficult and too short a rope is also dangerous. Thus, you must provide a rope of one length equal to 1,5 times the length of your boat. Also pay close attention to the weight of the listening. If it is too heavy, the performance of the sailboat will be negatively influenced. You can refer to the table below to find the genoa sheet diameter that suits the size of your sailboat:
| Sailboat length in meters | Genoa sheet diameter |
| 6 to 8 | 10 |
| 9 | 12 |
| 10 | 14 |
| 11 | 14 |
| 12 | 14 |
| 14 | 14 |
| 16 | 14 |
| 18 | 14 |
| 24 | 16 |
Below is a list of polyester ropes of different diameters that you can use for your halyard, line and even your genoa sheets:
- Braid Ø 4mm
- Braid Ø 5mm
- Braid Ø 6mm
- Braid Ø 10mm
- Braid Ø 12mm
- Braid Ø 14mm
- Braid Ø 16mm
- Braid Ø 18mm
- Braid Ø 20mm
The different steps to mount your genoa on a sail furler
Assembly of a genoa furler
Here are the main steps for install a genoa furler :
- Pass the forestay through the different profiles and centering tubes
- Place the eclipses that will allow to join the different parts
- Fit the genoa swivel
- Position the sail feeder
- Install the drum
- Cut thefurling forestay with the pliers
- Adjust the end of the forestay with your hand
- Fix the joint which will allow to fix thesail furler in the chain. This joint is still called turnbuckle
The genoa furler is ready to be installed on the sailboat.
How to install a genoa furler on your boat?
After assembly of a genoa furler, it must now be installed on the boat. Here again, the process is not complicated. But it will take more than one person to do this. A crew member will have to climb on the mast of the sailboat in order to keep the forestay in a vertical position. Then, all you have to do is fix the preinstalled turnbuckle to the chain plate and you're done. With the turnbuckle, you can control the forestay tension.
How to furl a genoa on a sail furler?
After having mounted the sail furler on the boat, you can now take out your genoa to strap it in the groove and install it in the reel. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1
First start by installing the sheet: it is the rope that will allow you to maneuver the sail. The listening is fixed on the point of listening which is located at the back. Tie a chair knot here.
Step 2
Tie the line that goes down to the throat at the halyard point and then secure the tack point to the shackle.
Step 3
Engage the rope in the port groove to begin the process. It will now be necessary to guide the sail by hoisting it.
Step 4
Two actions will be simultaneous:
- guide the hoist
- hoist the sail
For this, it is more practical to have two teammates. While one pulls on the halyard from the cockpit to hoist the genoa, the other team member guides the rope while being at the front of the boat. In addition, you can use an instrument called " rope guide". The latter is fixed at the level of the port throat and allows the sail to be easily hoisted from the cockpit without any other crew member being at the front of the boat.
So you hoist the genoa so that it is stationed around the forestay.
Step 5
To unfurl the genoa, pull on the sheet while letting the furling line run.
Step 6
To furl the genoa, smooth out the sheet while you pull on the line to spin the furling drum.
Some tips to avoid traps when installing the genoa furler
Before hoisting the genoa, remember to fold it correctly. This will make it easier for you.
At the clew, do not forget to tie a chair knot because it provides more stability.
WARNINGS : The furling line should never be wrapped around the winch because it must be free to spin.
However, when letting the sheet or line slip, always try to keep a slight tension on the lines. This will prevent you from the risk of overtaking and consequently the blocking the sail furler.
Also make sure that the first idler pulley is correctly positioned. Otherwise, there could be a bad winding on the drum.
How to maintain your genoa furler after installing it?
Once you have installed your genoa furler, you have to learn how to clean it. The maintenance of the reel is similar for all brands (whether Harken, Facnor, Profurl, Furlex or Plastimo). It usually consists of cleaning the device with fresh water. During the winter, the ideal would be to remove the sail. Before putting it back on, we recommend that you clean the dust accumulated on the groove of the profile with a jet of water. You can also put a little marine grease on the luff of the sail. Regardless of the brand of your genoa furler, this equipment is designed to last for many years. Moreover you can find used reels in very good condition for much less than new ones on Amazon, Ebay et CDiscount.
Find out more about sail furlers for boats:
How do I adjust the genoa furler?
