Is Hank-on BETTER than Furling? | Sailing Wisdom

[@kfujillama9548]

Good points. I prefer hank on but, I am a dinosaur. Had roller furling and got rid of it because of the painful nature of maintenance and broken parts....

[@suiterd62]

If you receive this, please reply. I have a Hunter26 with roller furling and hate it. My previous boat was a MacGregor 22 with hank on. Hank on is easy to work with and does not break. I sail the Great Lakes on my Hunter 26. These are really fresh water seas. I want to convert the roller furling to to hank on. Any advice, please? Thanks.

[@kfujillama9548]

@@suiterd62 got it. I sold my boat after I finished most of it.

[@rmcnabb]

Great advice. I just bought a boat and am having the furler removed and the genoa recut for hanks. The sailmaker even had a stash of bronze piston hanks that he let me have for a song. Like new sail, far fewer headaches. Thanks for a sailing channel that is no BS, just straight talk and good avice.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Thank you very much and I’m glad you will have a headache free sail!

[@swamprobin3291]

I had hanked on sails for ~5 years, and have had rolling furling for ~8. Like most sailors, most of my sailing is coastal, and I almost always sail alone. I love roller furling! I generally agree with the points in this video, but hanked on sails were a lot of work. I kept my sails in the v berth, and I was constantly dragging sails out on deck and changing them as conditions changed. I would see boats sailing under jib/genoa alone, and wondered why anyone would sail with such an unbalanced sail plan that couldn't point. Now I know. Roller furling is SO easy. I can just sit in the cockpit, and roll out the sail. In ten years, I have had trouble furling my headsail twice. Once on my boat, and once on a charter in the BVI. In both cases, it was due to furling in high winds. Herbie is right about this, and it was a hassle. But that's twice in ten years, and I have saved many, many hours of sail changes in that time. I have had no other problems with roller furling. Like anything else, it's a trade off.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Thanks for your years of insight! The sail changes were a hassle which is why we keep ours hanked on with a foredeck bag that protects them from the sun. We added a reef so instead of changing sails, we could just move the sheets. It’s still a huge hassle, and so much more work than a roller, but we don’t have to switch out sails and bags and hanks... It is all a compromise 👍

[@fabienh3943]

@@RiggingDoctor Hi there. That's a comment I do not understand: imagine you want to keep a Solent and a Bigger Genoa "standby" on deck in a bag. I guess you need two different forestays to enable that if you keep them both hanked, even when waiting, on deck? What's the best option in the end: two forestays like on Imocas with two hank on sails attached and waiting to get risen? Or one forestay and a second foresail in a bag ready to replace the first sail? Many thanks! Great video.

[@Sixbears]

Coastal sailor here. I've had boats with both systems. I was always concerned about maintaining the roller system. My current boat is hank on. It was harder to sail single handed -until someone told me about downhauls. Duh. Now I run a downhaul all the way back to the cockpit and life is good and easy. It was such a cheap and easy fix.

[@RiggingDoctor]

When the sailmaker test fitted our jib, he thought the downhaul was a waste of time and effort. The wind picked up while the sail was up and the pressure on it would let it drop. Then it started flapping around the deck making it dangerous (even in the slip) to go forward and pull it down. The look on his face when I pulled it down with the downhaul that he said was unnecessary was priceless!

[@nicolasfilsdejean]

Hello, I agree it's a wonderful "trick" this downhaul but you still need to go ahead of the mast to tie the flapping jib down or stow it away in it's bag... and then it's in the way when you need to access the chain locker or the windlass or the ancor...

[@edwardyoung2839]

I have had my boat for 47 years and have watched the development of roller fueling head sails and their problems but never had a problem with Hank on sails. Hughes 38 with tall rig.

[@SBAtmost]

Didn’t think, of the weight on top of the mast, with a furling head sail in stormy conditions. Good point! Thanks for the pointer.

[@robertcooke1774]

im 70 been sailing since the 60s.done 10 atlantic crossings 9 solo. approx 60.000 miles offshore. ive never had roller furling

[@ianb4801]

If Suhaili had furlers all those years ago, then I bet she'd still have them today. What works for you is what you stay with.

[@mikereaves6911]

Good points to consider, at least on small to mid-sized boats. Actually, I always enjoyed hanking on the headsails, but it can be a dangerous situation if a squall makes up suddenly, and you have to go forward on a wet, pitching deck. Of course, as you pointed out, reef early, and avoid the drama. Thanks.

[@cwalke32477]

I love my roller furling sail, on my small 17 footer. Fantastic and easy single handing. I could see the issues with weight, ocean crossing, but I'm pretty sure I won't be doing that in an unballasted pocket yacht

[@Wolf6151]

I grew up sailing in the 70's, never knew what a furling was. The way you re-bag the sail makes hank on so easy.

[@stephenberry3769]

Excellent video. Archimedes said, "Give me a lever long enough and place to stand and I will move the world." A mast is essentially a huge lever. Any unnecessary weight up top just exacerbates any problems when the shit gets real. Well done guys. Thanks for pointing this out. Keep up the good work.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Thanks 😁

[@sergeidolbin2775]

Agree with everything you've said and can add this. I have a cutter rigged 33 footer and out of total of 6 hanked-on sails that i have, only one I've had made to size and paid a full price for. All others were in new conditions either donated by racers, where a smaller boat owner would give up a perfectly sized sail for my cutter stay or in other cases where I've paid the most $150 for. In all cases, I didn't ask for it - it was offered to me and I just couldn't pass. And to riff head sails, I just tack without releasing the wotking line, allowing it to backwind, letting the sail drop across the deck and then, hoist the other one on the opposite tack - it is very easy in pretty much any condition. Fair winds to all and please, riff earlier 🙏

[@RiggingDoctor]

Another excellent point. You can make almost any sail work on a headstay with hanks, not so much for a furler.

[@johnhutchins1470]

I'm usually suspicious of the word "better" and always suspicious of it when used to criticize something as widely used and accepted as roller furling. There's almost always a latent assumption that there is a best solution that fits all needs and that assumption is invariably wrong. I acknowledge that you recognize that roller furling has a place in coastal sailing but really that's entirely too limited a concession. To begin with most people don't have cutters. They're more common among cruisers of course for good reason but the reality is most boats aren't cutter rigged and for a variety of reasons a cutter rig isn't an option even for most offshore cruisers just because it's not the boat they have. Hank on sails are much more challenging for folks with one headsail. And the difficult is compounded for those who are older or otherwise less fit physically. That's true even with a cutter rig. A suit of purpose made hank on sails will give you a more efficient sail shape as you reduce sail than rollers but it is more physical work than a sensibly used roller. A whole lot more if you have one headsail. This means that for a lot of people -- even a lot of cruisers -- notwithstanding the problems you point out, rollers will be a better choice. I think your claim that bronze wing chafe stainless also should have at least a limited qualification. It's just not always the case, when metals rub against each other, that the softer one wears. In fact sometimes the opposite is true. Where there's any kind of abrasive in the picture it can become embedded in the softer metal and then the softer metal becomes something like an emery board. In dusty environments then -- especially if you let your hanks get grimy -- there could be chafe to the headstay. It's a non problem out at sea of course but at least possible along dusty coasts. In the end, as in most things, the right solution is the one that works for you and is inevitably going to depend on who you are. As for me, like you I have a cutter rig with hank on sails. Will that always be true? Ask me in twenty years -- I can't know now.

[@jeffhodge7333]

A bright guy once said, "Make things as simple as possible, but no simpler." Too many things are overengineered, such as your interminable post. You should always want rigging that minimizes fouling. When you find that you can no longer hoist a hanked-on jib, sail a Sabot and forget headsails. Stay aloof, mate.

[@theespjames4114]

As a future novice sailer let me thank you for dashing my hopes of push button sailing!

[@RiggingDoctor]

Haha no worries!

[@rahmannoodles6451]

Haha that was exactly what i was thinking.

[@shaggyduder]

A word of caution to newbies, sailing is not for the faint of heart, I've know folks who bought a boat, had a scary day and nite at sea, and sold the boat. It's scary out there. sail on a large lake for a few years before you attempt to go out on the Big Blue Bitch. BTW, regardless of the rigging, if you don't know how to use it, it won't matter.

[@hosoiarchives4858]

@@charonstyxferryman I’ve heard most new blue water boats are sold in a year

[@ablemarine9072]

If you go to sea on passages...... Hank On has always been my choice. Sailor of 75 started sailing 1956 regularly for over 50 years and still do sail, have had both. This all belongs to the owner of the vessel and what they are most comfortable with. Repairs in isolated areas with furling issues can keep someone stuck perhaps. Fair winds to everyone. like the Video!

[@RiggingDoctor]

Very good points. I like to keep things as simple as possible but others may require the ease of setting sail

[@ablemarine9072]

@@RiggingDoctor setting Sail is the ease of everything we do it for! To some I would say. The adventure begins even if for a day or months

[@stian222]

I would think that furling on a cat or trimaran would be less of an issue due to the reduced heeling factor. Great discussion btw! Thanks

[@alapikomamalolonui6424]

Elevated weight STILL degrades righting moment, of course, but since you'll probably never get close to your "tipping point" anyway that weight aloft will just be stress on the standing rigging and little else. But then again,.. who wants stress?

[@Frindleeguy]

Windage aside, the insurance and other issues persist.

[@ianrobertson2390]

Hi, loved your video on hank on sails versus roller furler. You may even like our set-up. We have only 3 headsails now down from 5 & all hank on. No 1 Lite out of 6.9oz Hydranet that reefs down to No1 Heavy, just a lace up reef & in a radial cut. This replaced a 5oz No1 Lite & a 12oz No1 Heavy both in dacron & cross cut. Of course they were old & the new sails way out preforms the old ones, 20% faster & with more ease & comfort. We have a 7 Ton loaded Lock Crowther 44' dagger board cat with a rotating mast & can now usually sail at not far below wind speed ie blowing 4 kns & we're doing 3kns. Our next sail is a square top, fully battened blade headsail that self tacks & is a real deck sweeper when not reefed, out of 9oz Hydranet, radial cut again, that is also reefable & covering an extra heavy No 1, No 2 & No 3, all sheet from approx the same place, give or take for tuning as the clew rises up as the sail reefs so this can occur & waves can pass under the sail as the wind gets up & the sea state worsens. On both sails we also use barber haulers when off the wind. All sails are cut for windward work as we don't want to be carrying too many heavy sails on a performance catamaran & feel even a bed sheet will go down wind so to speak. With the No1 Light hanking it on so doesn't have to pass over the Seagull striker like sails out on a prodder, so it can be sheetedvin in close, a proper forestay so great Luff tension & it's much easier to tack as it doesn't have to pass around in front of the fore stay. The square top blade is such that it will tack without getting hung up on the diamond's & having to drop it down a bit to facilitate tacking. The twist keeps all the power down low where it's just driving the boat forward & not driving the bows down & causing the yacht to hobby horse & in extreme conditions trying to bury the bows & put you end over end. Also as you reef the head sail, you are lowering the center of effort, the same as with your Main Sail so all your drive is down low where you want it. Our Main is also Square Top, fully battened & radial cut, 9oz Hydranet. Both the Main & the Blade head Sail drop into lazy bags with the head Sail bag being held up by the Seagull striker ie front beam stiffener come bridal & the mid & rear of the bag are held up be lazy lines that run through an eye at the Luff about a meter & a half above the 3rd reef & pulled up & down by a block & tackle that can also act as a down haul to get the sail down if things get a little out of hand. This has a cam cleat at the Seagull striker or can be lead back to the mast by a turning block & made off to a cleat so you can raise & lower the lazy bag when pulling reefs in & out. It just drops into the bag or pulls out no need to lace the sail up when you reef. The sheets just snap on & when changing the reef the lazy sheet just becomes the new sheet & is rethreaded. Our blocks can take 2 sheets & the next reef's clew can be reached while standing on the deck so you never have to drop the sail onto the deck to reef. Our next sail is our stand alone storm jib. The storm jib & the No 1 Lite/Heavy both have deck bags like the lazy bag so they can stay hanked on or attached to the trap tie offs with snap shackles or just be put down below via a big hatch. Being reefing sails they hold a much better shape than a roller furling sail, less weight aloft, lower center of effort & the best thing is you can easily check the forestay swage at anytime. We check our rig every time we go sailing as with the rotating rig we find it can go through rigging at a quicker rate than non rotating. We also have a 1/2oz symmetrical kite for lite down wind stuff & a 1oz Asymmetrical kite, that's great for taking down wind. You can almost reach with this sail in lite conditions. No screacher to come unfurled in a storm & have to fight like a wild Anaconda. Hanks Alot for your video & views, we couldn't agree more. Ian & Margie. Gotcha Covered

[@davegood1751]

Depends on the sailing. When I did a lot of racing I used hank on.... 4 different sizes up to 150 % . They gave a better shape in different weathers and would not use anything else for racing. Now I cruise getting older and I use a furler. Makes life a lot easier but certainly not as efficient when reefing. When tied up in port I always put one or two sail ties around the furler to prevent it from doing it's own thing

[@HubertAlacoque]

I appreciate your video very much for learning so much about the subject. I sold my C & C 32, which had a Harken furler. I worked well with the furler system with a 100% jib and the 130% genoa. The design of the boat is such that 60% of the power comes from the jib. So I used mostly the 130%, which I furled partially in winds of 17 knots and up... I just bought a newer boat, a 2006 C & C 115, which is mostly rigged for racing. I will receive and see the boat for the first time late next week... Obviously, I can't wait... I could not go see the boat because of the virus... Now, this new boat doesn't have a furler, and operates with hank on sails.... It'll be a learning experience. But I am sure I will prefer it, like you do. I am looking forward to give you further comments...

[@fernandogoulart6813]

I’m taking care of my parents, health issues and dementia my dad was not a nice person so he has a evil dementia. They’re raising my nephew that just put only abuse financial and physical so I did something crazy I bought a sailboat. I always wanted to sailboat. My daughter said when she was a baby, but I totally forgot, the boat is a good the boat is a good diversion. I never sealed before. I don’t know what anything is just watching KZbin videos and I have a great passion for it. I guess I always have, but I always do for others if I get myself I got a awesome deal on a Pearson 23 it has a sliding keel the sails had more holes on it then Holy roller I really like your videos. You’re a professional as a rigor. My boats been sitting out for 25 years and the ropes don’t look too good. I’m wondering if they are savable or it looks like a rats nest? How much rope would I need to re-rig the boat? I just discovered what a rolling Furler is. Lol we appreciate some help of possible. A caretaker was taken care of this person and things disappeared from the boat so I don’t even know if I have all the parts what’s your recommendation

[@RiggingDoctor]

On a boat that size, the replacement ropes will not be that expensive so I would definitely recommend starting fresh. Ropes are normally replaced every 10 years, so 25 years is a bit past the normal usable lifetime for the ropes. I would recommend talking to a local rigger to have them replace the “running rigging” and probably the “standing rigging” as well for you. Have them set it up so that you can use it and start off having fun instead of starting off by troubleshooting everything that breaks.

[@andvil01]

I bought a 20 ft trailer sailer this spring. My first sail boat. Sailing in the Swedish archipialago. It has hank on head sails. One 90% jib and a 130% genua, I guess. I go by the weather forecast and route. If it will be over 7 m/s, outside the islands or will change to worse later, I go by the jib. And keep i the whole day, if it not totally calm down. I am in no hurry. Only twice this summer, I had to change from genua to jib. One of them I just droped the genua and went with only the main sail the last few nm. As an outdoorsman (kayaking, hiking, mountaineering) I like solutions you can repair in field with few resources. The KISS rule always apply. Simple solutions = simple damages = simple repair. Everything with small springs, some plasic pegs, moving parts or batteries will eventually break and when they do it will be at the worst thinkable moment. No chance to find a new part or bring spares for everything. Simple solutions can be repaired with your shoe laces, a piece of wood, a tent peg and some tape. It will do for the rest of your holiday, until you come home.

[@juanistella8469]

When I started sailing, I started as a PROEL (the guy in the bow) in a 24 ft sloop with hank on sails. For me it was the best thing, specialy in stormy weather. It was very very fun. Also, it gives you the oportunity to better choose your gib for every specific wind situation, plus much better trimming acuracy. Now I sail in a 21 ft sloop with furling gib. It is much easier, but not as much fun, neither that fine at the trimming part. Despite that, sometimes it's great just to pull on a roap and get the job done, specialy for river sailing, as in my case. Most of all, personaly, I love the romanticism of the old ways, and hank on sails gives me that oldschool feeling... After all, I I am just another romantic hahahaha... Congrats on your vids. They are awesome. Greatrings from Argentina!

[@GERntleMAN]

Very reasonable video. On our 58 year old Van de Stadt Andromeda, we have hank on headsails and even in 8 Bf they were perfectly manageable without clenching your teeth that you rolled up your carbon headsail with wrinkles damaging it in the process

[@RiggingDoctor]

Tried and true!

[@Kimdino1]

For us small amateur racers, with just 1 or 2 crew, the debate remains but with very different arguments (lol). Roller furler pros:- A single setting provides what is always a very workable luff tension Setting, and stowing a sail, in less then 5 seconds. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to, as you round a mark, have the genoa dissapear at the same moment the spinnaker sets. Or vice versa. So keeping full power on throughout the manouevre. Keeping the foredeck as a clear working area. Hank on pros:- Clean luff causing less drag and turbulence over the sail. Being able to tweak the luff tension to get the very best out of the current wind state. Not having to compromise on the best headsail for the wind state. Etc, etc..... Regarding reefing, the same arguments apply as given in the video. However, in my personal case there is a very powerful argument for a roller furler. As a physically disabled person going up to the foredeck while at sea is NOT an option. But a roller furler enables me to sail single-handed and be able deploy and fully stow the genoa with a line to the cockpit.

[@RiggingDoctor]

That is a very true and wonderful feature of roller furling, it lets you do everything from the cockpit! I was just picturing in my head the swapping of headsails in 5 seconds as you round the buoy and that is an incredible feature that they offer!

[@fabienh3943]

I accidentally bought hank on sails as my 7.5m boat is "racy". This was a nice video releasing me from solid doubts on whether I hadn't been a jerk in that choice. Thanks for the motivated arguments !

[@RiggingDoctor]

You are welcome :)

[@rodcummings1682]

Thanks for the discussion. I have never had a furler and you have confirmed that hanked sails still have a lot going for them. Keep it as simple as possible

[@usablellc6735]

I think you've under played the issue of storing a hank on jib/Genoa. I'd have liked to have heard more about it. You make great arguments for hank on, and but I'd have liked to hear more about storage.

[@RiggingDoctor]

We have a turtle bag on the deck and the sail is stowed stuffed into the bag on the deck and still hanked on. I just drop the sail, flake it, and roll it up; then stuff it into the bag 😎

[@jasonborkowski4892]

Thank you for the tip on the down-haul! Managing jib sheets and the jib halyard to keep my sail out of the water sounds well-organized. As it is now, I loosen the jib sheets, and then run to the front of my dinghy to drop the jib which ultimately ends up in the drink. An eternal fool, but I keep learning every day.

[@RiggingDoctor]

A trick to keep it from getting wet is to tack but don’t change the sheets so that the windward sheet is holding the sail to windward and lower it then. The jib falls right onto the deck and stays nice and dry.

[@thall0790]

I never had a problem with my hanks, tom for the vid.

[@RiggingDoctor]

😎

[@7drobin]

This an old video, I know! Still, I have bought a 20 footer masthead. Had an old furl, and I got a marina to refit. I bought a Furlex 50s to go with the new rigging. On our first sail I could not furl the head easily at all. On my second attempt, after tuning the rigging, I had to, relunctantly, use a winch. I read a bit since, and realised that I have to slacken the halyard when furling, and perhaps lower my swivel to the recommanded 1 foot (which will compromise the sail or do permanently reef in the first foot). I never had one before, and wish like hell I had not. I am thinking of getting rid of it, while it is sort of brand new, and return to the good old ways. I don't trust the thing. It is not safe.

[@RiggingDoctor]

I know what you mean. My boat came with a furler and I took it off because most of my Rigging jobs were repairing other people’s furlers. I didn’t want that headache while cruising. Hank on has simplified my life and just works.

[@melvinboyce9629]

74 here and been sailing a very long time. I prefer hank on for the obvious reasons. Have sailed on a boat with roller and did not like furling in a stiff breeze. And have seen what happens when they unroll at the dock in a storm. Have to admit at my age I do wish there was a simpler way to handle my sails at times. But then perhaps the old way is that simple way. Thanks for your videos.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Glad to hear from a much more seasoned sailor than us! Fair winds, friend

[@philipsnipes2932]

So I thought of doing a roller furler - but I'm going to stick to the hank on for our Catalina 25 as I improve my sailing. It does seem like roller furling it much easier if sailing solo.

[@michaelharris9615]

This is an excellent video. I have a hank-on Yankee on my 1972 ketch. I am learning about how to manage that sail. Many thank - for example, discussion of downhaul is super.

[@kaynediaries630]

Hi, am not a modern sailor, i mean dont have the modern boat, but been a sailor since 11 yrs old, old school, literally, we are sailing the primitive way, but how this video says bout the integrity of the hardware, and the precaution for a worse case scenario makes a lot of sense to me,,, just u said its just not the right moment to repent in an open sea with high wind due to broken main stay, just because of a comfort of a push button,,, better sweat it out in an adventure, knowing 3verything been checked,,, great video,,, god bless and god speed

[@RiggingDoctor]

Thank very much, some ways are just safer on the open ocean.

[@pappont]

thanks for another great video! When I buy a boat, I'll have a hank on. I agree with your arguments

[@philippadowney549]

For my part I'm mainly a coastal and round the cans racer and a sailmaker for many yrs... I would be reluctant to spend money on a furler on a boat with hanks already. Re workload being a cutter helps. On classic yachts with a big overlapping genoa tiny main sloop rig hank ons are a lot of work. On more modern boats with non overlapping jibs this is where it is easier as you reef the main first and the jib is less awful if on a furler or on hanks less changes. Any boat with a furler can be fitted with a removable inner forestay for storm and heavy weather jibs. As to poor maintainance... yep. Seen so much. And people ruining their sails by rolling them the wrong way or not fitting a u/v strip... or not using the sail in ages and catching the knackered furling strip on the spreaders and ripping our the leech... first windy weekend of the year....

[@RiggingDoctor]

It's such a shame to hear about such poor maintenance. Thanks for your great comment!

[@tiborkiss9186]

We have roller furling on our boat, but I sailed with both furling or hank on setup. Hank on is a great way when talking to changing the sails quickly or taking down. On the other hand - the classic way to get rid of the taken down sail is to drop it to the v-birth so it is not in the way when hoisting the new sail - so your v-birth becomes a messy sail locker in the end. Plus: how many boats have more than a jib+mainsail? Storm jib? hha, only one which left from the good old days when the boat was new (in the `80s). :) That said, the roller furler is the weak link in the rigging in my experience - they can jam up for many reasons... also, one can buy a decent sail for the price of a furler - so it is rather expensive. Plus: furled jib is out in the sun most of the time - uv damage is inevitable. All in all: hunk on is better/safer/cheaper in many ways, but roller is more practical for everyday life - like capsuled keel vs bolt on one. Most sailers use their boat for weekend sailing - for them, roller furling is more practical.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

I sail club SJ 24th, coastal stuff, and we carry 3 foresails on each boat, 100% jib, 130% genoa and storm jib. Plus spinaker. Usually it is day sail, you just look at the weather forecast and choose one to start the day. The most (and I'd say for me the only) annoying part of hank on, is that I have to take down and pack the jib on return, where I would be rather already drinking beer.

[@svoceanghost7734]

We do long passages quiet often across the Gulf of Mexico. We had roller furling for years, and we made the switch. We will never go back to furlers. We can now point 4-5 degrees higher with the right cut sail instead of a particial furled one. 5 degrees makes a lot of difference if your sailing 4-5 hundred miles at a time. It compliments our traditional style vessel too. ~Fair Winds from the "Ghost" crew.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Wow great to hear that! Fair winds!

[@tedb.5707]

Speaks to the advantages of cutter rigs versus full-height sloop rigs. Giant jibs are a problem shorthanded.

[@RiggingDoctor]

I personally can’t handle them on bigger boats!

[@damienduggan9060]

Big fan guys and always dipping back into old vids. Just bought a 21' with hank on head sail and feel reassured as a newbie so thanks :)

[@RiggingDoctor]

Glad we could help! There’s some things where spending more doesn’t really make it better :)

[@HerbDuncan]

Been sailing for 48 years with hanked on headsails: Working jib, a drifter, a 130 genoa and last but not least a 210 genoa. When I drop the head sail I leave it hanked on and bag it or lash it to the rail. For years folks have been trying to get me to switch to roller furling and I politely say "No thanks". Because when all hell breaks loose... shit happens. I subscribe to the keep it simple stupid. By the way I'm 84 and when and if the day comes that I can't hoist the sails I'll pack er in

[@RiggingDoctor]

That’s a inspiration for us all! A 210 is a massive sail so there is no excuse for “the sail is too big to manage” rationale.

[@HerbDuncan]

@@RiggingDoctor Right..with the 210 and main I've got around 1000 Sq ft and on reach my old Soverel 38 kicks ass.

[@billroberts9182]

As a solo sailor, I like being able to furl/unfurl my genoa and main from the cockpit. I don't have to go forward except to anchor. But I do worry someday the furling mechanism is going to jam...

[@saylaveenadmearedead]

Just keep everything clean and lubricated, including washing your sheets with downy! Many improvements in furler design and the old crap was known as roller fouling in my delivery life!

[@saylaveenadmearedead]

Your choice may change as you grow up....

[@magnuslundstedt2659]

One of my previous bout had a third alternative. I don't know the correct name in English, but translated from Swedish it would be "fore stay profile". An aluminium foil on the fore stay just like an roller, but thinner and without the rolling part. The pros was thatbitvhad 2 groves for the luff so one could raise a second sail in the shadow of the one already up, then tack and drop the one now in shadow. And it was easy to run with Genoa 1 & 2 wing on wing downwind. I think it was mostly used for racing I the eighties.

[@SuperMusicmantra]

They're referred to as luff grooves or blades in english. They're still very popular on racing yachts because of what you mentioned about hoisting the new sail while the old one is still aloft; sometimes referred to as "skinning a jib" (in contrast to peeling a kite). Not popular on cruisers because when you get the jib down, it's only attached to the boat at the corners, making it less manageable than a hanked on jib.

[@Seaviewsystems1]

I think you just saved me about $6000. I have a 46' Liberty 458 cutter. It has a roller furler on the grnoa but hank on stays'l. I was going to convert to a roller on the stays'l but now I'll rethink that. One negative to hank on that you didn't mention is that with the sails on the stays, they are not in your hold blocking your way to every other item crammed into the sail locker. This is not a trivial advantage. For a 46ft boat, the combined volume of a 130%, 100% yankee and drifter would be in the order of 125 cuft. Having a high cut, 12oz yankee'ish genoa on a roller and a geneka, on a top down roller,, and a hanked on Stay'sl, I've got everything on deck where it's easy to deploy as conditions change. If I know I have a blow coming, I can bring the rolled geneker below until the weather is more settled.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Very true about the space savings. Roller furling keeps it up on deck and up out of the way. When you get somewhere, you furl the sail up and you’re done! With Hank on, you still have to bag it up and it takes up space on the deck itself as it’s not high overhead. With the sail locker situation, I know what you mean. We use our port lazarette as the sail locker and getting to anything else in that locker requires taking the sails out so you can reach it. For this reason the only non sail item stowed in there is all my mast climbing gear.

[@rolandlowe8945]

New subscriber here. Great vids with great explanations. Thanks for all that you do. I’m relatively new to sailing and about to upgrade from my ‘74 Pearson 26. Looking at Hunter 37C. The staysail boom is not available and it’s forestay and chainplate has been removed. Can I replace that forestay and add a hank on storm jib to supplement the roller jib? Thx

[@RiggingDoctor]

Welcome aboard! The setup you describe is a very common one. The inner forestay has a hank on storm jib while the headstay has a roller furling headsail. You literally get the best of both worlds! The ease of roller furling when you are sailing around, and the reliability of a hank on storm jib when it’s nasty out. One little trick, if you ever need to fly your storm jib, take a moment to put a few sail ties around the furled Genoa. If the furling line breaks for any reason, the sail ties will help hold the sail furled up to prevent a catastrophe. If you can reach the clew, a sail tie through the clew and around the furled sail will keep you golden during the storm 😉

[@JeanBenoitFOURNIER]

Very nice. My furler just twisted and f**** up real bad. I was researching replacement furlers when I stumbled on this video. I'm also a fan of single-handed legend Andrew Evans who prefers hank on sails too. You might just have converted me! ;)

[@RiggingDoctor]

Welcome to the simple life! Enjoy hearing other sailors complain about their furlers and the adventurous stories that ensue when the furler got jammed or the fueling line broke loose!

[@Reissumies]

I was considering a roller furler modification for my 9m catamaran. One concern was that the roller furler mechanism would be in a place waves get to it? Salt water would possibly jam the mechanism or in the long run corrode parts? After seeing this video I have decided to save my dollars and keep hank on headsails. Thanks for the informative video.

[@RiggingDoctor]

You are welcome! You just avoided many unnecessary headaches.

[@GrantHodgsonWnNZ]

Very useful perspective and info on work-hardening of ss. Have had both, hank on day racer, rollerfurl on cruiser.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Do you have a preference between the two?

[@GrantHodgsonWnNZ]

@@RiggingDoctor hank on better for racing, furler somewhat more convenient for short handed cruising reefing, except we had a continuous loop furling line which was troublesome

[@buckaroo3589]

The size of the boat figures into this decision. A larger boat is going to benefit more from roller furling. Its just a ton of work folding and storing larger sails.

[@RiggingDoctor]

The bigger the boat, the bigger the deck and the more space there is to work flaking the sails when they come down. Personally, I view a big sail as a liability if the furler stops working.

[@Foxholeatheist]

I know this is an old video, but how do you feel about headsails/staysails with a reef built in? IIRC, the Pardeys recommended a reef point in at least the staysail so they could reduce area forward of the mast without necessarily carrying an extra sail for it.

[@RiggingDoctor]

I have that in both headsails. I have the clew hiked up for the reef so the reefed sail is like a Yankee as well. It makes it a jib, and a Yankee in the same sail.

[@PickleballAces]

Northern latitude, safety concerns used multiple furl for different sales and leave rigging for Hank on in addition for back up

[@RiggingDoctor]

Having a plan to have the right sail for the right conditions is so important!

[@paulscousedownie]

I’ve been following the recent Golden Globe single handed race, especially the southern ocean section. It was clear to me that hanked on sails were much less troublesome in high winds and big seas. Yes foredeck work is probably little more hazards than being in the cockpit, but if the fuller jams it’s a real nitemare to sort out! Simply dropping the sail and overall reliability hanked sails for serious ocean sailing is the answer. KISS Keep It Simple if not simpler.

[@RiggingDoctor]

⛵️👍

[@GerryBeltgens]

Hank on for all 5 of my sailboats over many years. The only boat that I nearly bought with roller furling needed nearly a thousand dollars repairs before it would be functional. I have never had a problem with my hank on systems and I have less wear on my sails as I have 3 different sails for different conditions.

[@apollomorris9920]

So are you limited on the sail choice with a roller? I not experienced but am going to buy a boat I had thought how do you put up a storm jib with a sail all ready on the line? Plus I just want to point out most boats are equipped with a roller so why would I change it before I used it to death?

[@MT-iu5ls]

Hanks make sense for shorthanded sailing I agree. I live in Australia and I've never encountered a 2 year limit on insurance cover for a headstay under a furler?!

[@jeanerm2478]

I would love more info on how you made the sail bag for your hank on sail. I love the idea!

[@RiggingDoctor]

We will show them in much more detail soon! Thanks for the idea :)

[@andyvan5692]

good points about hank-on, but I am on a 29'6" mono hull, and only with one other crew, so having roller-furling, gives us simplicity, ease of reefing / sail handling, (short handed!!), and as I have balance problems (schitzencephaly), having NO need to go on deck to reef, esp. in a sea state, which causes us to "abandon" a trip, we are FAIR weather sailors, is all a good thing. PS we DO have a roller boom for the main, but in these sea conditions, we just "drop", and fold the sail, and come in on JIB alone, for the reasons said above.

[@garyknight6766]

I have had several, several boats in my 70 years. Always liked Cutter rigs. The most versatile boats had hank on sails. So easy to put up a “Drifter” or “Genoa”

[@garyknight6766]

With hank on sails

[@GulfCoastTim]

I have owned 3 boats and all had hank ons. A smaller boat with hank on not so bad since the head sails are much smaller. Larger boats can be a pain to lug a large sail out across the deck up front to attach. Then back again to store it afterwards. Plus all the different sail sizes takes up a lot of extra room in your boat. Best to get a head sail cover at very least plus hook up a line to help lower the headsail. Single handing with hank ons is not the easiest especially if you have to switch sails in not so good conditions. So for me i would prefer roller furling and I would like to upgrade my hunter 33 to a system like that.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Thanks for your input :)

[@JPBierman]

My 60 years old boat has hank on sails. Thanks for this video because I was considering to change to furling headsails. Now a no-no for me.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Keep it simple!

[@BlueFlutterbies]

Very logically presented and quite eye-opening.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@inheaven11]

I like roller furling better but found that the hanks tend to be hard to open with old beat up fingers. Is there a smoother hank?

[@RiggingDoctor]

Bronze hanks get corroded with time and need to be replaced with new ones. The alternative is to use soft hanks which are made of dyneema and are impervious to corrosion.

[@anonpers0n]

I crossed lake Erie on an Irwin 32 {as crew) with roller furling, I thought it's was really nice for quickly adjusting for the changing weather, that being said it was a sketchy boat and a sketchy captain and I didn't trust that anything was maintained well. All in all I agree with y'all... But you will likely have more sails to store if going hank on. (Crewing for slightly sketchy boats was a risk I am willing to take to build up experience and not something I recommend to others, I am competent at not dying and poor and live far from the ocean. I assume all risk when chasing dreams)

[@RiggingDoctor]

We found that by putting a reef in the headsail, we get two sails in one without the hassle of storing them.

[@AwakeInAnacortes]

Excellent information and at the exact time I needed it! As always, your insights are useful and well presented! You guys rock!

[@RiggingDoctor]

Glad we could help!

[@AwakeInAnacortes]

@@RiggingDoctor 3 years later, I gotta say I still am glad I chose NOT to "upgrade" to a roller furling. Keeping it simple (hank on) has been a good strategy.

[@tdk1246]

You've made all the points about the benefits of hank on sails. But forgot to mention about how much heavier a furled sail is because of all the sunbrella cloth added for uv protection. Yet all of that aside, hank on sails can be made more efficient with the use of Wichard style hanks that have a spring instead of a piston. Twin headstays is another efficiency, the old time cruisers used keep two sails ready to go on the foredeck. One for the current wind and the other for the next higher level of wind.

[@karlwright5472]

I've had to deal with a shredded flogging furled sail in 60 knot winds whilst in a marina, had I been at sea I would have lost the mast,my next boat will have hanks!Also- with furling sails and line led back to the cockpit many people never leave the cockpit so they don't get to look around and spot potential problems. As for dealing with sail changes you Learn to reef early which is good seamanship

[@RiggingDoctor]

What a mess! Glad you were able to keep the stick up during that ordeal!

[@MR-yp7mu]

What are your thoughts on reefing hank-on headsail, similar to reefing a mainsail?

[@RiggingDoctor]

We have it and love it. Our jib has a low clew for upwind performance, but the first reef has a very high clew which makes it a yankee jib great for broad reaching. The last time we crossed the Atlantic we had the jib with the reef set most of the time that sail was flying. It’s very convenient as it gives you two different sail options in one sail!

[@MR-yp7mu]

@@RiggingDoctor Thank you. You just can’t beat simplicity and reliability of hank-on sails! And if you can reef them that sounds like a perfect option.

[@SalingSamantas]

Any more information on your hank-on sailbags I'm Thinking I want to set my boat up this way. Lots of good thoughts. Also I'm going to be single handing most of the time any thoughts? I'm doing my refit now and documenting my progress on KZbin as well. Thank for the insite you guys are great!

[@davidrhightower]

I am going to do my stays in dyneema at some point. Do i need o put anything over the head stay to prrvent chafing from hanks

[@RiggingDoctor]

Yes, you simply slip on a chafe sleeve from New England Roped and have your sail maker add soft hanks to the jib. For extra chafe protection, I also serviced the ends of the stay with 1.8mm Dyneema since these are the areas of highest wear. It’s been working fine for 4 years now with no sign of chafe!

[@RiggingDoctor]

That said, I met someone who was using bare Dyneema and bronze hanks. He only had minimal chafe where the hanks rested. I was surprised.

[@davidrhightower]

@@RiggingDoctor ok thanks. I thought i did need but could not remember if you went over that in an earlier video. You are not too far from my boat dowm im Deale

[@jimnickles2347]

Seems like Dyneema is cheap enough compared to stainless you could replace it More often? @@RiggingDoctor

[@RiggingDoctor]

It is cheap, but it’s also a lot of work.

[@emiliojtorres-requena9558]

Good points I would say on older designs with large fore triangle then hank may be better. The new designs with small 100% actually I think work fairly well. I have started to see a systems used on the J121 and J99 a combo hank furling. Any thoughts on these. Love the video and discussion. One last question can you remove a in-mast furler and convert to standard main with slugs. Thanks keep up the awesome work.

[@Dulce-Phil]

i've used both, and was glad to see this video as you confirmed my presference. On another note, you should make it clear that "Red Right Returning" is strictly for the USA. If you follow that rule in the rest of the world, you'll be in trouble pretty quickly. Love your channel.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Thanks! Most of our viewers are in the US, but as we grow and travel, that becomes less of the truth. We should do some clarification on that one :) Portugal for example is NOT Red Right Returning and took some mental struggles to get it correct!

[@randallcrenshaw3871]

I like hank on can always find a good used sail for cheap, people think of them as old fashioned

[@PyeGuySailing]

Strange question, I have a Hyde roller furler on my boat...is it possible to hank onto the solid aluminum tube or would I need to replace the forestay if I wanted to go hank on.

[@RiggingDoctor]

With that system, you can use larger than normal soft hanks (Dyneema soft shackles) to hank it on. The only issue is you won’t be able to lower the sail below the furler drum. Other than that it should work reasonably similar to a normal stay with hanks. If you like hanks, I would consider switching the headstay to a bare wire (or synthetic) stay and fully remove the furler before you go about any serious distance sailing.

[@PyeGuySailing]

@@RiggingDoctor when I redo my rigging I definitely want to change to synthetic.

[@RiggingDoctor]

I’m working on a video series now about how to make the stays start to finish. If you have your notifications turned on (the bell) you won’t miss it when it comes out 😎

[@PyeGuySailing]

@@RiggingDoctor subscribed and belled😉

[@kiral3]

Troubke is most people confuse roller furling with roller reefing. The sail shape of a furled genoa is abysmal

[@little-wytch]

I have yet to ever sail a cutter, but I have been leaning towards that if I can get a boat to liveaboard. I say that so you know I have no experience when I offer this speculation/question. You mentioned that you used to have a roller headsail but rarely used it, favoring the hank on staysail. If one mixed and matched like that, wouldn't it make more sense to use a roller for the staysail and have hank on headsails? Headsails get changed more it seems, genoa/spinnaker/Code D/Code Zero/Etc. I would think it would make sense to have hank on headsails and sail mostly like a sloop and have a roller staysail for downwind runs or when you only want a single, smaller, and closer storm sail running with your trisail. Have I completely lost the plot and that's a bad idea, or is there any sense in that?

[@RiggingDoctor]

I completely understand. What happened was I used the staysail because it was easier to manage than the roller furling, but a Hank on headsail is best because then you can switch it out for the optimal headsail depending on the conditions. Hank on headsail for sure, and for simplicity a Hank on staysail as well, but if you needed to have a roller furler up there, the staysail would be the one to roll up as when the weather gets nasty, it will still be set full so you don’t have to worry about partially furling it an everything that goes along with that.

[@dyancatamaran4016]

Hi, you guys are great. really like to listen both of you. Keep it up. Here comes a question about in-mast furling system. You later videos shows a very nice boat with this system. When are you making a video - technical, operational, financial and issues about it?

[@RiggingDoctor]

We have a video coming out on October 8 that talks about that boat and we talk specifically about the in mast furling in it 😉

[@drphosferrous]

Ohsnap i just realized i have stainless hanks on my jib. Is that bad?

[@RiggingDoctor]

They won’t wear as easily as a bronze Hank would do that means that the headstay might be wearing instead of the Hank. I would check to see if it’s stainless steel and not chrome plated bronze, which would still be softer than steel and therefore would wear instead of the wire.

[@svZia-Switch51]

It's a reasonable discussion, but maybe no more so than trying to defend non self-tailing winches in a world that now finds more electric winches as primaries than ever before. This in itself, just like furling units, has added immeasurably to the ease of maintaining the boat under sail while not physically beating you up and preserving energy. That in itself has allowed people to cruise far longer in the older years than ever before. First, I have not met many "ocean" sailors that run a 150% genoa as their primary head sail. If you feel the conditions warrant a 150% to keep you moving, you would have already furled the head sail and raised either a genneker, asym, Code 0, or some other light wind sail. Poor Barry trying to cross the Pacific (Adventures of Old Sea Dog) with nothing but his heavy genoa and stay sail are good examples of why you need a light wind solution. So given that you'd be running a well-cut 110 to maybe 130, you still have a near infinite number of reefing points which can be executed quite quickly and un-done just as fast. The ability to make rapid changes for a given wind condition are what keeps the boat moving steadily. Not like you want to "float" across the Atlantic. Right? There is absolutely nothing wrong with hank on sails, that is a fact. They worked for generations and will keep on working. But there is nothing wrong with horses either, and yet we do not ride them as our primary transportation means any more. Well, at least not most of us! :-) I can't help but feel that much of this discussion is about finances, and not better or worse per se. If finances are what is keeping you from continuing to modernize your vessel with additions that make sailing faster, safer, easier, and allows us to sail longer into our lives, than that is ok. But being stuck with older systems due to financial limitations doesn't make them better necessarily. The beauty of all this is that we each get to outfit our boats with the systems and solutions that we find works for our particular situation, physical condition (age), and lifestyle. Thanks for the discussion, keep the videos and discussion points coming! Dan s/v Nepenthe Hylas 46

[@RiggingDoctor]

Very good points! Furlers sure do make sailing easier which means that it can be done when the body won’t allow as much work to be expended. While finances are always a deciding factor in the choices we make, it is not the only factor. I was more interested in the reliability and durability of the headsail system. I had a furler on the headsail and switched it out for a hank on system. The furler has a 150% Genoa and a yankee. The Genoa was for coastal and bay sailing while the yankee was at home offshore. When I switched to a hank on system, I then scrapped those two older sails and had a 100% jib and nylon drifter made. Switching systems wasn’t the cheaper method for me as I now had the cost of two new sails instead of simply working with what I had. I did the switch because I wanted a system that couldn’t fail. This is great while I am young but will not work when I get old. I know my future will involve a furler and a longer range motor. While I am young and able, I will do what I am still capable. Thanks for watching and I appreciate your insight :)

[@svZia-Switch51]

@@RiggingDoctor Good discussion. I think in the future when we bring forth a topic of A vs B, it's only fair to consider ALL factors, and not just the ones of convenience per se. When I used to run a lab I would sometimes have researchers who would short cut the testing of their thesis by only challenging certain factors that would help them defend in the direction they wanted. Bad ju ju and not a true test of a thesis. Same applies here, when you introduce us to your thesis, it's reasonable to expand your test criteria to all the factors you can possibly measure including: safety, cost, reliability (short and long term), physical impacts on the human body, etc etc. I love the fact that you guys put yourselves out there for what you know will be potential criticism because that's how we advance the discussion. I'd just love it if you could expand your criteria a bit so that the discussion is truly worthy of having. Thanks for playing guys, have a fantastic day! I look forward to your next vid. :-)

[@richardmiller7887]

Interesting discussion. I was thinking of installing a roller furler but your video has made me think again. I am a big believer in keeping things as simple as possible on a boat and this seems to be the meat of your argument. Also with a hanked sail I like the idea of the foot staying in the same position irrespective of sail size, keeping the centre of force in the same position as designed for that particular sail / boat; conversely I am not sure what happens to the force point position as a roller furler sail is furled i.e. does it move up?.

[@RiggingDoctor]

The Center of Effort moves up and forward which creates more heeling and lee helm, exactly what you are trying to avoid when reefing the sail.

[@nevilleholmes1324]

what happens it your foresail is at the end of a 9' bowsprit?

[@RiggingDoctor]

There are control lines that make life easier. A downhaul Will pull the sail down neatly , no matter how far out the sail is. The stay on really long bowsprits can also be made “adjustable” with a block at the bottom. This allows you to release the tension on the stay and actually pull the entire sail and stay assembly back onto the deck for easier sail changes. Naturally, this needs to be on a cutter as the inner forestay is keeping the mast up while the headstay is released for the sail handling.

[@nevilleholmes1324]

@@RiggingDoctor Many thanks. Never had hanked on sails but then I have had problems with furlers, like "Murphy", when it is most inconvienient.

[@ProspectingMonkey]

I just got my first boat, I'm costal and It came with 3 Hank ons! But they take up a lot space in my lil boat. I think I would prefer roller feeling. What's your thoughts for a small boat?

[@RiggingDoctor]

Get a reefpoint in the biggest one so that you have two sails in one and leave the others at home. If the winds are light, you have the big full sail. If the winds are high, you can reef to a small sail.

[@ProspectingMonkey]

@@RiggingDoctor this is my home, tiny living not on a budget but cuz ii just want to have fun 😜😇😘😆🙏

[@RiggingDoctor]

That’s great! We are going to be converting our 30 ft boat to have hank on as well. For us, the safety outweighs the lack of space on deck

[@ProspectingMonkey]

@@RiggingDoctor thank you for being so Inspirational

[@apivovarov2]

Hanks and furler are not the only options. Another option is just a groove (or double groove) along the forestay. The benefit of the groove is that it gives better luff shape in comparison to hanks. Lots of boats, especially racing ones use it.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Very true!

[@renaudblais9315]

Hi Doctor! I am fitting a solent on my (ex) sloop. The mast is too forward to rig it cutter. Do you see a way to have both sails on hank on and manage to tack ? A Furler seems the only way to do so. I would like to have 2 sails ready to go, a 150 Genoa and a 95 solent with 2 reefs.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Tacking through a solent slot is a tricky order! The best I can say is to back the solent and have it guide the Genoa through the slot. In light airs, we have to do that with our setup and we have about 4 feet between them. I have a friend who is setting up a solent rig for cruising. He is doing the inner one as a furler and the outer one as hank on. His reasoning: when coastal, he will use the furler and can easily tack. When offshore, racks are infrequent (we usually stay on the same tack for about a week at a time) so the hassle of dropping the sail, tacking, pushing the doused sail through, and rehoisting will be a rare occurrence. While offshore, he will tie off the furler so that the sail can’t come open and simply sail on the hank on jib. This setup seems the most practical but he won’t be able to fly both at the same time (unless on a run). The truth is, with a solent, the sails are so close together that one will steal the wind of the other and it won’t perform as well as it could if one of the sails were down. On our boat, when we want to point really high, the staysail interferes with the jib and we have to lower the staysail to keep our speed. I would focus on setting it up in a way that works well for you and not plan on flying both at the same time (unless you are going dead downwind and you can set them wing on wing)

[@michaelcee8348]

i'm more than convinced. much thanks

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

The only real advantage of roller furling, is the ability to furl the headsail from the safety and convenience of the cockpit, while furling and securing the headsail of a hank-on sail, requires someone to go forward. I also have a headsail bag on the bow but that also requires a man to properly stow or stuff the sail, Needless to say, it also helps to have someone man the helm, while the other is forward.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Definitely easier as a two man job, but with a monitor windvane, it can act as the second person 👍

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

@@RiggingDoctor I have an old Sayes Rig which I absolutely adore. I've even found that it works while under power (low rpm and staysail only.) I never sail without it. It is my second mate. (My wife cooks.)

[@davidwoods304]

Excellent, thanks .

[@hellsbaby127]

Totally agree, when sailing offshore the less things to go wrong the better, and hanks justl work.

[@RiggingDoctor]

👍

[@Vernspy]

Thanks so much for this insight! Is hank on possible on synthetic rigging?

[@Vernspy]

Found the answer in another one of your videos!👍👌❤️

[@HempBike]

If you're going to have furlers A cutter rig minimises the downside. A large overlapping low-clew genoa roller reefs abominably I agree. But a high clew jib does much better, and a stays'l better again. Also, with two headsails covering the same area as the big genoa, quite often one or both sails will be a reasonable match for the wind strength so you don't have to reef, just furl.

[@RiggingDoctor]

That is an excellent point. The sails have less material to furl so they fuel much better, and they can be furled completely to let the smaller staysail fly full during a storm. The only concern would be if the furled sail came unfurled in a storm. It could be from a chafed furling line or as simple as someone forgot to cleat it off. Either case, a furler can make a lot more sail appear in a hurry while a hank on sail would slowly start to get blown up the stay. Both make the same issue of having unwanted sail in the air, but one of them happens much faster than the other.

[@HempBike]

@@RiggingDoctor Unlike a genoa, you don't have to move the sheet car fwd as you furl a high clew jib-top either.

[@billytsoulogiannis7564]

never mind hank-on & furling, i want more info on that coal/wood burning stove to heat the boat

[@RiggingDoctor]

The Dickinson Newport! It burns diesel and works like a champ. It alone heated our boat through freezing winters in Baltimore. We had a week that was -20°F all week long and the heater kept the boat in the 80-90°F range. It also does a great job of drying the boat out of its a damp day.

[@romekin]

where do you store your head sails, and how many do you have?

[@romekin]

and I disaggre by the way...

[@RiggingDoctor]

We have two staysails, one on the stay, and one in the aft lazarette. We have a jib and drifter, the jib lives on the stay, drifter in the port lazarette.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Any moment in your sailing life that led you to that feeling?

[@romekin]

@@RiggingDoctor i sail in condition that change rapidly, and be able to reef quickly its a plus, I do not sail across ocean yet, ben when I do need to quick reef, a roller its the best!

[@romekin]

I sail in SF bay area where wind are strong and can gust quickly!

[@EricEversonArtAndDesign]

I like to keep things simple, so in principle I can agree that hank-on is a good way to go. For single-handing, though, I think limiting how often one has to go forward makes roller-furling worth considering.

[@Garryck-1]

If you're single-handing, go with junk rig instead, and you can totally eliminate the need to go forward to reef the headsail. No hanking on/off, and no standing rigging at all.. simplicity for the win!

[@danielpearson4972]

As a solo sailor and retired. On a westsail 32. In the PNW going to Alaska in summer and Mexico or farther south skipping California at all times.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Those are great boats!

[@markwentland3147]

Hi, I was wondering if you could use hank on headsails.if you had a dyneema forstay with chaffe protection? also do you have a video of how you made your dead eyes out of dyneema ? thx

[@RiggingDoctor]

That is the setup we have. We have a chafe sleeve over the stay. We will do a video on the deadeyes soon!

[@markwentland3147]

Thx you guys @@RiggingDoctor

[@toadamine]

hank on for racing, roller for anything else... roller furling is so much nicer to use on a cruising or bluewater boat... and especially in foul weather its much safer not wrestling a sail in a storm.

[@Sailing13Winds]

Hank on! Hank on!! Excellent..

[@scott.wallace8625]

Could I add a second fore stay for a sail variety? I have multiple points on the bow, not on the mast. Small boat. Westerly cirrus 22. Not much deck space. I plan on doing Some over night blue water work with her. I took the Roller furling down and was planning to fix it. Now maybe not. Good argument for no furling. Thanks.

[@RiggingDoctor]

You can add a second stay right behind the headstay (called a Solent) to give you variety in the little space available. Just don’t put the stays side by side (athwartship) because that will give problems when going to windward. This was tried a few decades back and called “twin headstays”; it didn’t work.

[@scott.wallace8625]

@@RiggingDoctor thanks i have my fore stay forward. I will rig a second one aft of the fore point. That should get me 4 Head sail options. Little boat no deck room. Re rig the furling blocks for the clews to get some fore sail downhauls?

[@scott.wallace8625]

@@RiggingDoctor on athwardship? she is a westerly. Built for chinashop bulls like me.... Even bulls can break cheap plates. I like to eat off nice plates. Attempting to get it right...

[@RiggingDoctor]

Let me know how it works out! Sounds like a versatile setup :)

[@RiggingDoctor]

The furling blocks can be used to lead the downhaul aft, which will make your life easier! When the headstays are side by side instead of front to back, the one without the sail flying always seems to have tension while the one with the sail seems slack, This is because as the mast leans just a bit, the leeward headstay loses tension as the windward headstay takes up the slack, then you have headstay sag on your luff and windward pointing goes away. Having the two headstays rigged fore-aft negates this issue and let’s you always have proper headstay tension.

[@daleyoung87]

If you know how to operate a furler correctly and have installed it correctly, you'll have no problems. Just turn up into the wind to release just enough pressure and furling is no problem.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Every person we’ve met with a furler has a story

[@mylenevella6029]

Hi I just watched your video I have a scampi 30 sailboat I am completely new to sailing and I was worried for not having a roller furling system but when I watched your video I felt relieved, could you please contact me I would like to ask you if what I have to connect a hank on :) looking forward to it thank you

[@RiggingDoctor]

Absolutely! You can email me at [e-mail] and I can help you out

[@TravisTennies]

I love smart people! Thanks for the video.