Merriman catalog

[jimmy]

Does anyone have an old Merriman catalog with furlers in it? I have a #2 Merriman furler and would just like to find out what size of sails it is for. Thanks,
James

[Torna]

I have scans of one from 1955 - and there're no furlers in it. :(
In a "Merriman yacht blocks Fittings & Rigging" there's an image of the furlers and mention that they're avail in 3 sizes, but that's all.

-leif

[JimConlin]

IIRC, I had a #2 Merriman furler on a 35' masthead sloop. The big jib was close to 400 ft^2. The clevis pin on the bottom was 1/2".

Aside from the convenience of setting and dousing the sail, the Merriman furler and others of the ilk had very little to recommend them.

[jimmy]

Thanks for the info it sounds like the one I have might be the right size for my boat. If anyone has any more specific information, please let me know.

Everyone is different, but I think the convenience of setting and dousing the sail would be a huge improvement over climbing out onto the bowsprit of a boat without lifelines or a pulpit, especially when single handing. The other things the Merriman furler has to recommend it is that it is better suited to an older boat (in appearance anyway), and more importantly, I already have one.

[LRFBOSUN]

You're correct about the convenience and safety if you have a bowsprit. I sailed on an Alden schooner for years , a near version of a Malabar IV, design # 581, with a long bowsprit. You can find her on page 388 of Carrick and Henderson's book on Alden designs. She had a Merriman #2 furler for the jib, added about 1974. It always worked perfectly. If you can find a 1964 - 1973 catalog it has sizes. #2 is for boats 40-50 feet LOA and sails up to 450 square feet. The next size up, #3, is for sails up to 1500 square feet. The drum of #2 will take 80 feet of 1/8 wire, tho these days I would try using some sort of high-stength, low-stretch synthetic. It needs a tail of some larger line for easy handling. Do not try to reef with it except in an emergency; the sail shape will be all wrong. Merriman was still listing them in the 1973 catalog issued by Merriman-Holbrook in Grand River, Ohio. I cannot recal when they gave up, killed by hightech stuff of stainless and plastic.