Equipment: Made in Netherlands and France, new furling booms from Made, drives from E-Wincher
Hauke Schmidt
· 07.12.2024
Behind this Dutch brand is Johan Mulder, who previously worked at Romar Leisure Furl, the European counterpart to the well-known Leisure Furl trees from Forespar. With the Type C model range, he has developed an independent series.
Furling boom type C, for yachts from 37 to 55 feet
According to the manufacturer, the Mader Type C furling boom is the most cost-effective mainsail furling system on the market. The boom body is made of extruded aluminium and CNC-milled parts, which are welded together to form a stiff and lightweight boom. The aluminium parts can be finished in a choice of robust anodised or two-component paint.
The sail runs on a track that is installed in the existing mast groove. A combination of rigid wedge and flexible feeder ensures smooth operation when furling the sail. The furling mechanism is driven by a compact unit on the jib fitting and is operated with an endless line. This means that the mast does not need to be drilled through. Once the sail has been recovered, an integrated cover protects the fabric from UV radiation and the effects of the weather.
The profile also has a recessed rail on the underside for the boom vang fitting and padeyes for the mainsheet. As an option, the furling boom can be extended with an awning for the cockpit and offers the option of installing integrated LED lighting.
For a 40-foot yacht, a manual type C furling boom costs around 17,800 euros.
Type S, customised furling boom for yachts from 55 feet
Made offers the Type S furling boom for larger yachts. This is designed as a so-called open-front concept. This means that, as with the Leisure Furl systems, the sail is driven through the mast. This allows the sail to be furled particularly close to the mast, which ensures a very smooth furling action.
Unlike the smaller models, the body of the tree is not made from an extruded profile, but from pressed aluminium sheets. To prevent the construction from warping, the sheets are not welded but glued together with epoxy resin. To achieve maximum strength, the construction is then tempered. Type S systems are customised products; prices are therefore calculated individually.
Smart electric drive also for other rolling booms
E-Wincher has an electric drive to match the Made rolling booms. The system is based on the Sailforce series for winches and works with brushless motors and a 48-volt buffer battery. This makes it very compact and does not require thick cables. It is linked to displays and controls via a bus system and can work semi-automatically. Predefined load thresholds are available for manoeuvres such as setting, reefing or recovery, which control the drive accordingly and monitor the pull on the halyard. The Sailforce drive can also be used for furling booms from other manufacturers; prices on request.
