Opinion on Leisure Furl

[Larry]

An interaction with a partialy open bascule bridge in Woods Hole last week creates the necessity to replace the mast on my 1999 Tayana 52' aft cockpit cutter. Forespar built the original rig which we had lengthened by about 5 feet from the standard. The main is a North,10.8oz dacron with 5 full length battens. I use an Antal track and slides. My option is to simply replace the mast and damaged parts of the standing rigging or replace the mast and (according to what I have been told) for not much additional cost replace the boom with a Leisure Furl. A new main is recommended based on the cost/value of recutting a 9 year old sail. I am interested in any negative (or positive) feedback on Leisure Furl. We sail offshore (my wife and I) generally a passage north and one south from Florida to New England, most times riding the gukf stream going north and outside it as much as possible headed south.

We have not experienced an unusual amount of bad weather but fdo get our fair share. Shorthanded, safe fast passages, and simplicity our are goals.

A second, subsidiary question has to do with mast finishes. All the aluminium spars I have had have been painted (Awlgrip most likely). A new painted spar will not ship from Forespar for about 7 weeks (Leisure Furl notwithstanding). Annodized will ship as much as 10 days sooner, but I have no first hand experience with pros/cons of paint v annodized.