With similar (and sometimes compatible) product ranges, Technical Sales Manager Mark Van Note sat down with Sailing World's Dave Reed to dissect what makes these two French powerhouses tick.
Innovation in Sync
Facnor and Profurl have long been operating in the same technical space, and while many attributes of the two French brands are similar, they still operate independently, Van Note says. This unique relationship between the two companies has driven both competitive innovation and mutual advancement. Facnor has a little bit more of a custom reputation, Van Note says, adding that Facnor’s flexibility helps them tailor products for serious racers and unique projects. By contrast, Profurl doesn’t necessarily have as much customization, Van Note says. They instead focus on providing robust, standardized furling systems that work right out of the box and are suited for everyday sailors and cruisers.
The Wichard Groupe represents both brands in the US, but the technical similarities and hardware integration between the two brands are striking, and there’s a point to that. “We can take components from one brand, bring it to the other, and vice versa,” Van Note says, “which helps when we’re dealing with a boat that has a diverse inventory of flying sails.”
Ratchets and Drums
Profurl and Facnor have invested heavily in improving the user experience to ensure easy and consistent furls. Profurl redesigned its range about five years ago, Van Note says, and its drums are now slightly larger than Facnor’s drums (for a comparative-sized unit). A larger drum provides more power when furling, which makes it easier. Racers and high-performance sailors favor Facnor’s smaller drum for the speed advantage. While ease of furling is typically more important than speed for shorthanded cruisers, recreational sailors and club racers, Profurl does, however, offer smaller drum “speed versions” for high-performance applications.
Both brands have ratchet mechanisms integrated into the drum. Facnor implemented their ratchet technology quite a while ago, and Van Note admits that engaging and disengaging the ratchet remotely with the furling line does require a subtle technique. Profurl’s ratchet is simpler to use. Crucially, the ratchet mechanisms of both Profurl and Facnor ratchet units can be engaged from the cockpit using the furling line.
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