Profurl furlers split into four distinct families — C-series and R-series manual reefing units for the headsail, and NEX and Spinex top-down furlers for Code Zero and gennaker/spinnaker sails — each sized to a specific boat-length range, and MAURIPRO stocks genuine units and spares for every one. Matching your boat's length and the sail the furler flies against the ranges below gets you to the right model, and the right parts collection, without guessing.
This is written for the cruiser (~30-45 ft) standing at the bow trying to work out which Profurl furler is on the headstay, or which one to order for a new sail. Unlike some furler brands, Profurl doesn't put one universal model plate on every unit — its own technical support site splits documentation into "current models" and "previous models" and has a separate path for when you don't know your product reference number at all. That makes matching by family type and boat length the fastest practical route to the right unit or part.
Profurl furler families at a glance
| Family | Type | Boat size range | Example models |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-series (Cruising) | Manual headsail reefing, round anodized foil | 22-72 ft (7.0-22.0 m) | C260, C290, C320, C350, C420, C430, C480, C520, C530 |
| R-series (Racing) | Manual headsail reefing, elliptical black-anodized foil | 29-37 ft (9.0-11.5 m) new; larger legacy units in spares only | R250, R350 |
| NEX | Continuous-line top-down furler, for Code Zero/reaching sails | 20-52 ft (6.0-15.9 m) | NEX 0.9, 1.5, 2.5, 4.0 |
| Spinex | Continuous-line top-down furler, for asymmetric spinnakers/gennakers | up to 65+ ft (8.2-19.8+ m) | Spinex 0.9 through Spinex 8.0 |
| Legacy/previous-range units | Older manual reefing furlers, whole unit no longer sold new | varies by model | C42, L42, LC42, N42, NC42, R42, B35 |
Boat-size ranges per MAURIPRO's own current Profurl listings, checked live against each model's product page.
How do you tell which Profurl furler family you have?
Look at the foil and the drum mechanism first. A round, silver-anodized extrusion running the full length of the headstay with a drum at the bottom means a C-series cruising unit. An elliptical, black-anodized extrusion with the same full-headstay layout means an R-series racing unit — Profurl builds the racing foil from a lighter 6106 alloy with ribs for strength, which is why it looks and feels different from the C-series' round foil even before you check a model number. If there's no foil running up the headstay at all — just a drum unit mounted at the tack with a continuous furling line and no permanent luff track — you have a top-down furler for a flying sail, not a headsail furler: NEX if it's flying a Code Zero or reaching sail, Spinex if it's flying an asymmetric spinnaker or gennaker.
What's the difference between the C-series and R-series manual furlers?
Both series share the same maintenance-free core: sealed 100 C6 carbon steel ball bearings packed in grease so water, sand, and dust can't get in, a dimensionally stable plastic drum, and a 10-year worldwide warranty on the whole unit. Where they split is intent. The C-series is built for coastal and blue-water cruising — doubled guide arms stop riding turns, snap hooks are forged by Wichard, and the unit can be fitted flush with the deck, on long link plates, or below deck depending on your boat's layout. The R-series adds a removable drum that converts the system into a simple twin-groove forestay when you want to sail without the furler engaged, plus Wichard-forged shackles and the same doubled guide arms, aimed at cruiser/racers, regattas, and offshore racing rather than pure daysailing.
How is a NEX or Spinex top-down furler different from a headsail furler?
A C-series or R-series furler is a permanent fixture on the headstay, reefing and unreefing the working headsail every time you sail. NEX and Spinex furlers exist for the sail you don't fly every day — a Code Zero for light-air reaching (NEX) or an asymmetric spinnaker/gennaker (Spinex) — and they furl by pulling a continuous line that spins a torque cable running the length of the sail's own luff, rather than a fixed foil bolted to the headstay. Because the sail itself carries the furling mechanism, NEX and Spinex are sized to the sail and boat length together, not to the headstay wire diameter the way C-series and R-series are.
How do you find parts for an older or unmarked Profurl furler?
If your boat is old enough that the furler predates the current C-series/R-series/NEX/Spinex lineup, you may have a previous-range unit — Profurl's own spare-parts documentation still lists model lines like the C42, L42, LC42, N42, NC42, R42, and B35, which no longer appear as new whole units in the current catalog but still have stocked spares. MAURIPRO carries drum bearing refit kits, head swivel bushings, link plates, and drum components for these older ranges, organized by the model printed on the drum housing or link plate where one exists. If you can't find a legible model marking at all, match the boat's forestay length and headstay wire diameter against the closest current-range equivalent above, or send our rigging team a photo of the drum and top swivel — that's usually enough to narrow it to one or two candidate models before you order.
Which Profurl furler should you choose?
Start from what the furler needs to do, not the brand model number. For a permanent headsail furler on a coastal or blue-water cruiser, match your boat's length to the C-series table above — most mid-size cruisers in the 30-45 ft range land on a C320, C350, or C420. For a cruiser/racer that wants the option to sail without the furler engaged, the R-series' removable drum is the deciding feature over the C-series, not boat length alone. For an occasional-use sail like a Code Zero or asymmetric spinnaker, choose NEX or Spinex by the sail's own luff length and your boat's LOA together, sized separately from whatever headsail furler is already on the headstay.
Expert notes
From our rigging bench: the most common mix-up we see isn't between two C-series sizes, it's a sailor assuming a black foil means "damaged" or "different brand" when it's simply the R-series' factory-anodized finish — check the shape (elliptical vs round) before assuming anything is wrong with the extrusion.
On boats with an unmarked, older furler, we've found the fastest path to a working repair is ordering the drum bearing refit kit for the closest matching current-range model by headstay length, rather than waiting on a positive ID for the exact legacy model name — most of Profurl's bearing hardware is shared across a given size class even when the outer housing isn't.
Common mistakes
- Sizing by boat length alone for the R-series. R250 and R350 boat-length ranges look like a subset of the C-series, but the deciding factor is whether you want the removable-drum twin-groove option — not just LOA.
- Assuming NEX and Spinex are interchangeable. NEX is built for Code Zero/reaching sails; Spinex is built for asymmetric spinnakers and gennakers. They aren't sized or rigged the same way.
- Ordering spares by boat length instead of the model stamped on the unit. Once a furler is old enough to be in the previous/legacy range, boat length is only a starting point — the drum housing or link plate marking (where legible) is more reliable.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Profurl furler is a C-series or R-series?
Check the foil shape: a round, silver-anodized extrusion is the C-series (cruising); an elliptical, black-anodized extrusion is the R-series (racing). Both run the full length of the headstay with a drum at the bottom, unlike NEX or Spinex top-down furlers.
What's the difference between Profurl NEX and Spinex furlers?
NEX is Profurl's top-down furler for Code Zero and other reaching sails; Spinex is built specifically for asymmetric spinnakers and gennakers. Both furl via a continuous line and torque cable rather than a fixed headstay foil.
Where can I buy genuine Profurl furlers and replacement parts?
MAURIPRO carries the current Profurl C-series, R-series, NEX, and Spinex lineups, plus spare parts for older/previous-range units — see the collection links above and below to shop by family or model.
My Profurl furler has no visible model number — how do I identify it?
Match your boat's forestay length and the foil shape (round vs elliptical) against the current-range table above to get close, or send MAURIPRO's rigging team a photo of the drum and top swivel — most older units can be narrowed to one or two candidate models that way.
Are Profurl furlers covered by a warranty?
Profurl's current C-series and R-series manual reefing units carry a 10-year worldwide warranty, per Profurl's own product documentation.
Recommended gear
Profurl C350 Cruising Unit — the mid-range C-series pick, rated to 41 ft, for coastal and blue-water cruisers replacing or upgrading a headsail furler.
Profurl R350 Racing Unit — the larger R-series unit, rated to 37 ft, for cruiser/racers who want the removable-drum twin-groove option.
Profurl NEX 2.5 — a top-down furler for Code Zero and reaching sails on boats from 39-46 ft.
Profurl Spinex 2.5 — a top-down furler for asymmetric spinnakers and gennakers on boats up to 40 ft.
You may also be interested in
- How to Choose a Headsail Furler: A Selection Guide
- How to Identify Your CDI Flexible Furler and Order the Right Replacement Parts
- Can You Service a Facnor Headsail Furler?
Last updated: August 28, 2026.