FreedomYachts.org

About a month ago "Teke's Pride" posted that he had just got the Harken small boat staysail furler. Has anyone else tried something like this? And how has it worked out for you on "Teke's Pride?" (I have avoided the staysail since I didn't want to have to fool with it, but this idea has me thinking about adding one again...)

Sorry to take so long to post an update. After receiving my Harken furler and figuring out how/where to mount it, I had to send the staysail to Harrstick to have the luff shortened about 6" because of the furling unit and because I mounted it to the aft cross bar of the bow pulpit instead of to the gun mount. I did this to keep the launch area of the spinnaker clear.

I got the staysail back about 2 and a half weeks ago but I have not had a chance to go sailing yet (working 2 jobs). Last Sunday I pulled the "Pride" from the water, dropped the mast, and pulled her home on her trailer. Thursday after work I mounted the new mast hound for the new spinnaker halyard (the old halyard will be dedicated to the staysail). This morning I took the boat back to the marina and spent about 3 hours stepping the mast; bending on the mainsail; and re-rigging lines. I had to be at work in Huntsville (about 45 miles away) by 2 pm so, once again, I did not sail . I should have Memorial Day off at both jobs so, I plan to sail then. I promiss to give you all a full report.

The new spinnaker from Rolly-Tasker in Puket, Tialand arrived about 2 weeks ago so Memorial Day will be my first chance to use it as well. I CAN'T WAIT!!

You've anticipated my next question, which was going to be "have you thought about adding another halyard, and if so, how?"

What did you use for a mast hound for the new halyard? I've seen a Ronstan part, but I don't think it would fit my F25 round mast. I can't remember if the F21 has the same carbon fiber mast as the other Freedoms; I think it does... how did you attach the hound? SS cherry rivets, like my mast track is held on with, or did you try tapping and using machine screws?

With your setup, all you'd need is a jib boom of some sort, and you'll look like the mini version of the F32!

You are right about the Ronstan masthound, it is desgned for an oval mast. I streightened the arms out and then bent them around a peice of 6" PVC pipe using screws, pliers and a vice to acheive the required round shape. The 6" PVC pipe is about the size of the carbon fiber mast at a point 4 to 6 inches above the old halyard. I drilled holes in the mast and attached the hound using steel pop rivets. I thought about using self tapping screws but decided that sharp pionts inside the mast where they could chaif antena wire or the wiring for the masthead lights was NOT a good idea.

You can see photos my at http://www.freedom21.info click on "Online Discussion" and then "Photos". The photos are in the album "Hull #345".

I had to work all this weekend, including Memorial Day.

The good news was that I got out off at 3pm this afternoon and after getting gas for my truck and heading home to change into shorts I was at the marina by 4:30. I took about 30 min. to rig the spinnaker bag, raise the furler and sort out all my lines. I had a great 2 hour sail this evening.

Winds were light (3 to 5 mph) and the roller furler worked great. After hoisting the spinnaker on a run I rounded up onto a beam reach and unfurled the stay-sail (my little Freedom 21 cat was now a cutter and making better than 2 miles an hour in a 3 mile an hour breeze ). In winds that light the helm was very neutral even with both the stay-sail and spinnaker up and drawing.

The only problem was with furling the stay-sail when I was heading in for the evening. If there is any slack in the spinnaker halyard the furler tends to wrap it up into the stay-sail The same thing happens when unfurling again if there is slack in the spinnaker halyard. I don't know if this is because I mounted the new block for the spinnaker too low on the mast or if I just need more practice with the new sail lay out.

The winds freshened to around 8 mph on the sail back to the marina. The re-cut (6” taken off of the foot) stay-sail worked well flown from the crossbar of the pulpit instead of the gun mount. The helm remained neutral even with the stronger air. I always had balance issues with that sail before it was re-cut and I was flying it 12” further forward (as designed) from the gun mount. Harrstick did a great job!