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A snuffer is a simple, reliable method of dousing an asymmetric spinnaker. Despite advances in furling technology, snuffers remain the first choice for many offshore race yachts such as Class 40 and IMOCA. In this blog we look at how to select the correct length of snuffer for your sail, why snuffers dominate in short-handed offshore racing and where a furling asymmetric might be preferred. To help answer these questions we sat down with Nathan Steffenoni, co-director of OneSails GBR South. As you might expect, the considerations are very much case dependent, so Nathan was keen to caveat many of his responses. 

It is up to us, sailors, navigators, racers, and adventurers, to act for the preservation of the oceans, our wonderful playground. Innovations are flourishing, attitudes and habits are changing, and builders and designers are now giving priority to the eco-design of boats and fittings, and to the search for more ecological materials. In this blog we shine a spotlight on the innovative construction technology in the Eco Concept furler range, and say congratulations to Karver Systems for doing their bit for the environment.

Karver have just released details of a major redesign of their entire KF continuous line furler range. Almost 20 years of end user feedback and manufacturing experience have been brought together in this extensive upgrade. We are busy working to get the new range online but in the meantime, here is a summary of the key features of the 2021 Karver V3 KF Furlers.

You have a 39 footer and are interested in using the same furling unit for both your code zero and asymmetric spinnaker. We take a look at the furling unit options and discuss the available torsional cables depending on your sailing style and budget.

You have a 25ft sportsboat and need a top-down furler, which one should you choose?

One of upffront.com's key principles is to offer a good selection of hardware and rigging options with high quality technical information to give you the information you need to make informed product choices.