Make sail handling easier with expert advice from Seldén at the Southampton International Boat Show
by Seldén Mast 7 Sep 2022 14:51 UTC
16-25 September 2022
Furlex on a Catalina 425 © Seldén Mast
Gosport based, Seldén Mast will be offering expert advice on how to make sail handling easier at this year's Southampton International Boat Show (SIBS), 16-25 September 2022.
Replace manual with electric
As yachts get bigger, the loads on halyards and sheets increase, meaning the strength needed to manage the sails also increases. This can easily be managed by installing electric winches or electrifying the headsail furler, ensuring a sailor can sail shorthanded, with young or inexperienced crew or continue to sail without downsizing as they get older.
Easier and more controlled sail handling can also be achieved by powering up a furling mast.
Furlex Electric
Launched in 2018, Furlex Electric is a compact and weatherproof electric foresail furling system.
Furlex Electric is designed around a highly efficient 42V electric motor. A DC/DC converter (PSU, Power Supply Unit) converts the boat's 12V or 24V to 42V which allows for thinner cables to the motor unit, easy installation and a compact unit design.
Power is transmitted to a self-locking worm gear to rotate the luff extrusion at a max torque of 60Nm (204E), 90Nm (304E) and 135Nm (404E). The high torque levels mean furling the foresail will be possible even during the most inclement of conditions.
It's also an intelligent system which understands how much power to use, working fast or slow at your command, consuming the minimum power necessary, and it's built to last.
E40i electric winch
Ideal for single or short-handed sailing, the three-speed E40i electric winch can be operated by the helm with two fingers, one to start the winch and one to switch speeds.
Available with a black anodized aluminium or a stainless-steel drum, the E40i winch is built around an electric motor which is totally integrated into the drum, leaving just three thin cables protruding.
With no external motor or gearbox, the E40i's innovative design means the large cut-out in the deck or coach roof, usually associated with electric winch installation, is no longer required. E40i is ideal for operating halyards, furling lines and sheets led to the coach roof.
Synchronised Main Furling
Making sail handling easier and more controlled, Seldén's Synchronised Main Furling (SMF) system, allows its E40i electric winch and its electric in-mast furling systems to communicate. A single button unfurls the sail while the electric winch tensions and pulls in the outhaul - it's sailing at the touch of a button.
The SMF system converts 12 or 24V to 42V ensuring the system doesn't drain any power, which is particularly important for larger yachts which may spend longer away from shore power during extended cruising or an ocean crossing. The system moves into sleep mode when not in use, further minimising any excess power drainage.
Available on yachts up to 50ft, the SMF system isn't just for new boats. Easy to install, it can be retrofitted to RB and RC furling masts.
"From a sail handling perspective, there's so many ways a yacht can be customised to suit someone's individual requirements, taking into account factors such as boat size, its age, number and experience of the crew and budget," says Sam Vaughan, Head of Sales at Seldén Mast.
"We're really looking forward to chatting to people at SIBS this year and showing them just how easy it is to make sailing easier for them, whether they're sailing single handed around the world or coastal cruising with their family."
In addition to these labour-saving sail handling products, the full range of Seldén products will be available to view on the stand, including the manual Furlex range, CX and GX top-down furlers, rodkickers and an extensive selection of deck hardware.
Seldén Mast will be on stand J217 in the Ocean Hall where the team will be running demos of the E40i electric winch and SMF furling system throughout the show.
To find out more about the Seldén and its product range visit: www.seldenmast.com