Hey Mark, and Ron,

Ron, do a search of the archives for "leisure furl", there's been a lot of discussion of these systems over the years... Can't speak for other systems, my only experience is with L-F - but I agree with SG, it appears to be the most highly regarded at this point...

In a nutshell, I don't like them... IMHO, you can't beat simple slab reefing with everything at the mast, but of course that involves leaving the cockpit, and a bit of WORK - not to mention, it is just so damned Olde-Fashioned these days (grin)...

Then again, I don't like boats of the size where these systems start to become mandatory... And, I like even less reaching the age where I start thinking these systems are necessary (grin)... But, for me, if I were sailing anything over about 45 feet, a L-F would definitely be the way to go, despite all their drawbacks...

I'd avoid the electric versions, I've had nothing but trouble with them, though I believe L-F has had some recent success ironing out some of their problems. I'd go with the style that uses control lines coming back to the cockpit instead, but make sure both halyard and downhaul lead back to the same side of the cockpit... having them on opposite sides of the boat (as they most often appear to be configured) is a recipe for disaster, requiring 2 people some distance apart using electric winches can easily go bad - no need to ask me how I know this... LOL!

A hydraulic vang which can measure boom angle to within a degree is very valuable, especially on a bigger boat - the angle of the boom needs to be PERFECT on a tall rig...

I think they're probably great on something like a Morris 42 daysailer, "effortless" pushbutton sailing and all that... But for a boat that is gonna be sailed offshore, I just think they're way too complex, and finnicky... I would hope that if the time ever came in my life where I thought I really needed one to keep cruising, I'd have the good sense to downsize to a smaller boat, instead....

best regards,

Jon