Schaefer SnapFurl: Gear Graveyard

Schaefer Marine’s SnapFurl headsail furling system is a cost-competitive option for 16 ft. to 28 ft. boats, but the author experienced problems including twisting of the PVC luff extrusion.

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The Schaefer SnapFurl CF-500 furling system has a two-piece PVC luff foil, which snaps together over the forestay. The author discovered the plastic extrusion to be prone to twisting, particularly when reefing or furling the sail in high winds. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)
The Schaefer SnapFurl CF-500 furling system has a two-piece PVC luff foil, which snaps together over the forestay. The author discovered the plastic extrusion to be prone to twisting, particularly when reefing or furling the sail in high winds. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)

Sailors looking to add or replace a headsail furling system on a daysailer or small cruising boat in the 16-foot to 28-foot range will discover two cost-competitive options in the Schaefer Marine SnapFurl CF-500 (for 16 ft. to 24 ft. boats with 1/8 in. to 3/16 in. forestays) and CF-700 (for 24 ft. to 28 ft. boats with 5/32 in. to 7/32 in. forestays). A key to the low cost of both models is the two-piece polyvinyl chloride (PVC) extruded plastic luff foil. The two-piece plastic foil is cut to the required length and snapped together over the forestay, inspiring the product’s name.

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Doug Henschen has been sailing in and around the waters of the lower Hudson River, New York Harbor, and Long Island Sound since the 1980s, through sailing club memberships, boat partnerships and, since 2018, individual boat ownership. A career editor and journalist, Doug served as associate editor and managing editor of The Waterway Guide from 1984 until 1987 and as executive editor of Boating Industry magazine from 1990 to 1996.