Schaefer Snapfurl 500 Extrusion question

[tjspiel]

I am a boat and part bottom feeder.

Why buy something new when I can waste all that time and money buying used parts and fixing them instead?

So I found a used Snapfurl 500 drum and it's been patiently waiting in my basement for Spring and the rest of the parts I need, which is basically the extrusion.

I was going to wait to buy a new one of those closer to Spring to minimize the amount of time it was sitting around coiled up. Want to make sure it will actually straighten out.

It might not matter. For all I know they sit at the warehouse coiled up for years.

But now I see one (two actually) on eBay for substantially less than the cost of brand new. They've never been used. Still zip-tied with original warning stickers. Description says they've been in storage. I've asked the seller how long and am waiting on a reply.

For those of you that know (or have an opinion), should I care how long they've been coiled?

It's for a boat I just bought in the Fall. A furler is just one of many things I'd like to purchase for her so saving some money on this does make a difference.

[Krusen]

Brand-new uncoiled slowly on a hot, sunny day.

At 5 years, we took the mast down for maintenance, still very flexible.

[tjspiel]

Brand-new uncoiled slowly on a hot, sunny day.

At 5 years, we took the mast down for maintenance, still very flexible.

Thanks Krusen !

So it took awhile to uncoil even on a hot, sunny day?  Or were you recommending that I do it on a hot, sunny day?

Glad to hear it has stayed flexible. Have you been pretty happy with it? 

I had a CDI before and no issue with it but for various reasons too long to explain, I decided to go with a Snapfurl this time.

[Krusen]

The furler was on a friends boat, I assisted in installing it.  We unrolled it on the grass on a warm sunny day,  His boat was in its slip, not the place to wrestle that snake!  It was nearly straight in half an hour.  We put a weight on each end to flatten it to measure for the cut.  Do not use a rough weight, which might scratch the plastic, and damage your sail.

We cut it to length before taking it to the boat.  Hack saw, and then a sharp knife top remove burrs and smooth the edges.

It has been years, but I clearly remember that following EVERY instruction, exactly, was important to satisfaction with the finished system.  It was not lawyer language, it was experience from years producing satisfied customers.

It was not really hard to do, just slow to assure that it was right first try. 2 people are required. 

[tjspiel]

The furler was on a friends boat, I assisted in installing it.  We unrolled it on the grass on a warm sunny day,  His boat was in its slip, not the place to wrestle that snake!  It was nearly straight in half an hour.  We put a weight on each end to flatten it to measure for the cut.  Do not use a rough weight, which might scratch the plastic, and damage your sail.

We cut it to length before taking it to the boat.  Hack saw, and then a sharp knife top remove burrs and smooth the edges.

It has been years, but I clearly remember that following EVERY instruction, exactly, was important to satisfaction with the finished system.  It was not lawyer language, it was experience from years producing satisfied customers.

It was not really hard to do, just slow to assure that it was right first try. 2 people are required. 

In my case it should be a little easier, since it will be in my back yard with the mast down.

Thanks !

[tjspiel]

Found out that they've been stored for 5 years (since new) without ever being uncoiled. Might have to pass. Not sure they'd ever completely straighten after being coiled that long.

[Doug SC]

I used very hot water that I soaked rags in to heat and straighten my plastic CDI extrusion. You could always low ball the price or suggest you'll buy if he straightens it first. I understand the reluctance and do what you are most comfortable doing. I just mentioned the hot water trick because it worked well for me.

[tjspiel]

I used very hot water that I soaked rags in to heat and straighten my plastic CDI extrusion. You could always low ball the price or suggest you'll buy if he straightens it first. I understand the reluctance and do what you are most comfortable doing. I just mentioned the hot water trick because it worked well for me.

Thanks Doug,

The boat came with a "Tuff Luff" headfoil system which looks kind of like a CDI extrusion. The previous owner's kids did a number on it when they tried to help him by putting the boat away. They coiled up the tuff luff tightly and put a couple of twists in it in the process.

It was not something I was intending to use. It's more for racing where you've got somebody on the foredeck to do headsail changes.

Anyway, I hate to throw stuff away so I stuffed it in a PVC pipe in hopes that it will straighten out once we get some warmer weather in the Spring. I might try your rags soaked in hot water trick to see if it helps.

As for the Snapfurl extrusion, if it doesn't sell in a few weeks I might do as you suggest and give him a lowball offer. He might be more open to that if it's not selling at his asking price.

And if it sells to someone else in the meantime, it might be just as well.