The Excel and Pro Carbon Spars

• The Fibre spars are manufactured in Scandinavia specifically for the Aero spar range and have a special spiral bound Carbon outer casing to provide the torsional strength required for the furling/reefing process.

• The Aero Excel spar has an inner Glass Fibre core with an outer Carbon Fibre casing. It has a greater degree of flexibility, as well as being cheaper in cost.

• The Aero Pro spar has both a Carbon inner core and outer spiral binding. It has greater rigidity (though a 6m length can still be bent round to a U shape) as well as extreme torsional strength.

• Spars for 3mm luff wire can be supplied to any length up to 6 metres.

• Spars for 4mm luff wire can be supplied to any length up to 8 metres.

The Aero Luff Spar – used with a standard furling system

• A genoa furling system allows the foresail to be furled around the luff wire to prevent the sail flogging when not in use.
  
  

• The addition of an Aero spar prevents the luff wire being deformed by the twisting action of the furling drum.
  
  

• The Aero Luff Spar can be attached to any of the readily available furling systems to make the furling process more efficient, and upgrade it to a reefing system.
  
  

• A genoa reefing system allows the size of the genoa to be adjusted to the strength of the wind, or the size and/or strength of the crew.
  
  

• The sail is secured by means of a unique plastic clamp to avoid the bulge in the luff of the genoa caused when a cringle is furled around the spar.
  
  

• The Aero Excel spar is recommended for furling the genoa only, or reefing the genoa in moderately strong wind conditions.
  
  

• The Aero Pro spar is recommended where furling, and particularly reefing, may be required in the strongest of wind conditions.
  
  

• Only those systems with furling drums comprising of an enclosed cylinder for the furling line are recommended.

The Aero Furling Spar - a complete furling reefing system

• The Furling Drum and Top Swivel are incorporated within the spar.
  
  

• The luff wire is encased within the spar, with the swaged eyes at either end of the spar attached to the bow fitting and genoa halyard.
  
  

• The spar rotates on acetal bearings around the swaged eye ends of the luff wire.
  
  

• The luff wire and swaged eye ends take all the loading applied when tensioning the genoa halyard.
  
  

• With no loading applied to the drum and top swivel, (as is the case with all the separately bought systems), the spar is free to turn with virtually no frictional resistance.
  
  

• The lightweight (less than 0.5Kg), and compact (8mm diameter) spar provides an efficient aerodynamic entry shape for the genoa.
  
  

• The genoa luff is secured to the drum by means of a line and an adjustable side cleat.
  
  

• The genoa peak is attached to the spar by a line tied between the cringle in the sail and a fixed loop welded on the marine grade stainless steel end sleeve of the spar.
  
  

• It is advisable to furl high quality sail cloth loosely around the spar (the tie cringles aid this by forming a slight bulge at the peak and tack) by sailing off the wind to take the power out of the genoa.
  
  

• It is recommended that the furling drum is (manually) turned back a few turns to ensure the luff is not left tight around the spar after bringing the boat ashore.
  
  

• Cruisers who wish the genoa to be wrapped tightly around the spar to give a smaller profile when sailing reefed can have the sail adapted to use the clamp system, rather than the cringle and tie method.
  
  

• The Aero Furling Spar is supplied complete with disc spacer to keep the forestay away from genoa luff.
  
  

• The low profile drum raises the foot of the genoa only 10mm higher than a standard luff wire thimble fitting (relevant for racing enthusiasts).
  
  

• A specially designed aluminium coupling is available to be fitted between the Aero Furling Spar and the bow fitting (likely to be more useful for cruising enthusiasts).
  
  

• The coupling raises the base of the furling drum sufficiently for it to be pivoted about the clevis pin, saving the need to detach the spar from the bow fitting when lowering the sail - which is necessary without this coupling.
  
  

• The Aero Furling Spar provides the convenience of furling a genoa when not being used - after rigging, launching, on the water, approaching landing, or in the dinghy park - without any loss of performance when sailing normally.
  
  

• The Aero Excel Furling Spar is recommended for those who only require their genoa to be furled, or who may wish to reef the sail up to moderately strong winds conditions.
  
  

• The Aero Pro is recommended for racers with lightweight crews and other small boat sailors who may wish to furl or reef their genoa in the strongest of wind conditions.