The Self-Sufficient Sailor's Furler

More details

ALADO A2 FOR STAYS TO 12m (40ft) x 8mm DIAMETER What every self-sufficient sailor dreams about -  simple, strong, effective, user friendly. And very affordable.   ALADO`furlers are guaranteed against failure for as long as you own them. The seller is the ALADO representative in New Zealand and he offers the furlers for sale worldwide at factory prices on their behalf. The main photo shows an A2 headsail furler on the seller's own 32ft sloop and another behind the mast as a mainsail furler off the coast of NZ where sail-savvy Kiwis have welcomed these innovative furlers to the Land of Wind.  PRACTICAL SAILOR magazine likes them too.  "Elegantly simple, well-crafted, and priced to sell....a snap to install literally." That's how PRACTICAL SAILOR describes the ALADO furler in its test report. "the units furling ease matches that of its much more costly competitors..."  it adds. Practically all ALADO owners install their furlers themselves. There is a minimum of moving parts. There are no swivels or ball-bearings to wear and fail, no possibility of halyard wrap. The furler fits over the forestay as it stands without any changes to the rigging or the need to employ a rigger. You don't even have to go aloft. Unlike other furlers, your forestay does NOT have to be threaded down a foil - the foils are in 2 halves which dovetail together longitudinally around the stay as it stands with 50% overlap in each section, forming an aerodynamic profile with two luff grooves for two halyards, if required. The halyard(s) return to the drum from a sheave-box at the top of the foils, loading the foils in compression. Free from tension, the drum spins easily on a high-density "non-stick" plastic thrust washer and bearing. The genius of the ALADO furlers is that there is – NO rigging changes needed   NO need to go aloft to install  NO need to employ a rigger   NO swivels or ball-bearings to fail NO  harmonic or torque fatigue on stay  NO  mast-supporting role    NO rigging loads imposed on halyard    NO foil butt joints (slide together)   NO joiner springs, clips, screws, glues, or rivets   NO risk of halyard wrap   Unlike other furlers, you do NOT have to remove the wire or its bottom terminal swage to fit the foils. It's just as easy to remove.  There is a removeable centralising bush in the drum which leaves a 38mm (1-1/2in) hole for the bottom terminal/rigging screw. The foils then slide apart in reverse order.   The foils have no mechanical fastenings to wear, corrode or freeze. Being in compression, they are not trying to flog apart. This A2 model comes with 12m (40ft) of foils, comprised of eight sections of 1.52m (5ft) which fit stays to 8mm diameter. The foils weigh 1kg/m.The drum external diameter is 200mm (8-in) and it is 150mm (6-in) high. It weighs 4kg. ALADO furlers come in 4 sizes ranging from 9m(30ft) to 25m(85-ft) stays. They have proved particularly successful with multihulls where in heavy weather mast-attached halyards can become in effect auxiliary forestays subjected to destructive loads. With the return-halyard system, it carries only the loads of the sail. They are unsurpassed for use with bowsprits, for similar reasons. The smaller models drums are sufficiently strong to be interchanged with the other foils for special applications such as short-footed self-tacking staysails or high-aspect mainsail reefing. Extra custom fittings are required to adapt the furlers for mainsail reefing. The seller is happy to discuss your requirements and his e/address is at the website www.Alado.com . He can list for sale any of the models at the factory price. The $1080 opening price for the A2 includes freight, insurance and all taxes and duties for buyers in North America, Centra and South America, New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Delivery is by FedEx, usually within 7 working days of payment if there are no delays at Customs. Please ask for prices to other countries. Questions welcome.