Inmast furling system

Has anyone got anything positive to say about the main sail inmast furling system ?

I can't speak from experience with a Hanse but I've had a Bavaria 49 with in-mast furling and vertical battened mainsail from Elvstrom for the last 6 years and sailed around Greece, Turkey and Croatia. It seems my experience of furling mainsails has been very different to other people's here...

I sail a lot by myself, with friends who know nothing about sailing and with friends who've done extensive amounts of racing sailing in NZ and elsewhere and in each case the furling main has been great. I've never once had a jam and I think this comes down to being careful as you're furling the main and not letting it flog about too much as you're trying to roll it in.  On the Bavaria I always do the furling from the mast rather than using the looped line that comes back from the winch on the mast to the cockpit as it gives me a bit better control and I can get a better feel for the sail as it's furling.

When sailing by myself I tend to furl early which benefits the boat but also reduces the risk of getting into trouble as the wind builds. This I do quite happily alone by taking the outhaul (which is normally led back to the cockpit) back up to the mast with me and with one hand ease it and with the other wind in the mail - there should be very little load on it so it's not difficult.

When sailing with friends who know nothing I can easily tell whoever's on the mast to wind and whoever has the outhaul to keep some tension on it but to ease it gently. I watch the main to make sure it's gone in smoothly.

The "racers" I have onboard also had a boom furling cruising boat that they sailed from Auckland to Fiji a couple of years.  After being on my boat they were blown away how easy it was and said they'd go for one in a cruising boat if given the chance (they were onboard with me for a full month sailing).

A couple more points:
- you don't have to be dead head-to-wind to furl it.  The more wind there is the more this makes sense but in light winds you can furl at just about any point of sail. Not a biggie but nice...
- you can start sailing (and furl) really quickly as the total travel from no sail to "all out" is only the length of the boom.  Thinking about how big the mast is on a Hanse, and that you're using a winch to raise it there's a big difference in time.  Does it make much difference?  Maybe not, but it's nice.

On the other hand I've since sold the Bav49 and when looking at Beneteau's have counted them out if they've had Z Spars furling systems as I've heard some bad stories about them.  So it comes down to personal expereince I think - my experience has been with Selden spars and Elvstrom vertically battened mains and it's been good...

Phil

As U see it things are very clear:

If you want a floating caravan go for in mast furling.

If you want a sailing boat go for slab reefing.

As simple as that.