Selden's Furlex jib furler splits into a manual "S-series" (100S through 400S, including the fourth-generation 104S/204S/304S/404S) and a push-button "E-series" (204E and 304E) — MAURIPRO stocks complete Furlex 204E and 304E electric units, conversion kits that turn an existing manual unit into an electric one, and spare parts across the whole S-series range. Matching your boat's forestay wire diameter and the model marking on your drum or head swivel gets you to the right part without guessing.
This is written for the cruiser (~30-45 ft) trying to work out which Furlex is on the headstay — often because the boat came used, the model decal has worn off, or a "204S" vs. "204E" search hasn't turned up a clear answer. Selden's own support site still documents the S-series by boat length and forestay wire diameter, since the model plate on an older drum is frequently missing or unreadable by the time an owner goes looking for parts.
Selden Furlex furlers at a glance
| Line | Type | Boat size / wire range | What MAURIPRO carries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furlex 100S | Manual reefing, entry-size | ~20-27 ft, 4-6mm wire (per Selden's own documentation) | Spares only — feeders, tack/head swivel parts, drum covers |
| Furlex 200S / 300S / 304S | Manual reefing, mid-size | ~30-45 ft, 6-10mm wire (per Selden's own documentation) | Spares only — drum, tack swivel, head swivel, sail feeder |
| Furlex 400S | Manual reefing, large | ~45-70 ft (per Selden's own documentation) | Spares only — line drum halves, line guard bracket |
| Furlex 204E | Electric, push-button | 6-8mm wire, forestay lengths to 58.4 ft (17.8 m) per MAURIPRO's current listing | Complete electric units, on-deck and through-deck |
| Furlex 304E | Electric, push-button | 8-10mm wire, forestay lengths to 57.9 ft (17.7 m) per MAURIPRO's current listing | Complete electric units, on-deck and through-deck |
| 200/204/300-to-electric conversion kits | Retrofit kit | Matched to the wire diameter of your existing manual drum | 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, and 10mm wire kit variants |
Boat-size and wire-diameter ranges for the manual S-series per Selden's own technical documentation; E-series stay-length and wire-diameter options per MAURIPRO's own live product listings, checked against each SKU.
Shop all Selden Furlex electric furlers →
How do you tell if your Furlex is an S-series or an E-series?
Look at the unit housing at the base of the foil, just above the drum. An S-series manual unit is a bare aluminum or composite drum with a furling line wrapped around it and no motor housing — you reef the headsail by pulling the furling line by hand. An E-series unit (204E or 304E) has a black composite motor housing bolted to the top of the drum, a power/data cable running below decks, and push-button control instead of a furling line. If you see a drum with no motor housing but the boat's electrical panel has a furler control switch already wired in, you likely have a manual S-series drum that's been retrofitted with one of Selden's conversion kits rather than a factory E-series unit — check for the conversion kit's flange rings visible where the motor housing meets the drum.
What's the difference between the Furlex 204E and 304E?
The two electric units split by forestay wire diameter and, in turn, boat size. MAURIPRO's current 204E listings run 6mm, 7mm, and 8mm wire with forestay lengths to 58.4 ft (17.8 m), which lines up with Selden's own published guidance that the 204E targets roughly 30-38 ft yachts. The 304E steps up to 8mm and 10mm wire with forestay lengths to 57.9 ft (17.7 m) on MAURIPRO's listings, matching Selden's own guidance that the 304E is built for the larger sail plans typical of 38-45 ft boats. Both units share the same push-button operation and composite outer shell — the difference is purely one of scale, not features, so choose by your actual forestay wire diameter and boat length rather than by price point alone.
Can you convert a manual Furlex to electric?
Yes — this is the detail that resolves most of the "204S vs. 204E" confusion we see. Selden sells drop-in conversion kits that fit onto an existing Furlex 200S, 204S, or 300S manual drum and add the motor housing and control hardware, effectively turning it into a 200e, 204e, or 300e without replacing the whole unit. MAURIPRO carries these kits in 6mm, 7mm, and 8mm wire versions for the 200/204 line and 8mm and 10mm versions for the 300 line, matched to the wire diameter stamped on your existing drum. If your boat already has a manual Furlex in good mechanical condition, a conversion kit is almost always the cheaper and faster route to push-button furling than removing the whole system for a new E-series unit.
How do you find spares for an older manual Furlex (100S-400S)?
Start with the wire diameter your forestay actually uses, then narrow by boat length against the ranges above — Selden's own support documentation still organizes the S-series this way because the drum's model decal is one of the first things to wear off in UV and salt spray. MAURIPRO stocks the parts that fail first across the whole S-series range: tack swivel wedges and distance bearings sized by wire diameter (6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 10mm depending on the line), head swivel flange collars and top guards, drum line guide fittings, and sail feeder assemblies for both the entry-size 100S and the mid-size 200S/300S. Because Selden groups these parts by wire diameter and drum generation rather than by a single universal part number, matching the physical measurement is more reliable than guessing from a partially legible decal.
Which Selden Furlex should you choose?
If you're replacing a furler outright, start from your forestay's wire diameter: 6-8mm points to a 204E, 8-10mm points to a 304E, and either can be ordered on-deck or through-deck depending on your existing deck layout. If you already have a working manual Furlex 200S, 204S, or 300S and just want push-button control, a conversion kit gets you there without disturbing the foil or drum you already trust. If you're simply keeping an older 100S, 200S, or 300S running, order spares by wire diameter and boat length rather than trying to match a worn decal — Selden's own documentation and MAURIPRO's spares catalog are both organized that way for exactly this reason.
Expert notes
From our rigging bench: the fastest way to tell a factory E-series unit from a retrofitted S-series-plus-conversion-kit is the seam line where the motor housing meets the drum — a factory 204E/304E housing is a single molded shell, while a conversion kit shows a visible split flange where the kit was bolted onto the original manual drum.
On boats bought used with no paperwork, we've found matching the forestay wire diameter with calipers is far more reliable than trying to read a sun-bleached model decal — Selden's own S-series ranges are organized by wire diameter first, boat length second, for exactly this reason.
Common mistakes
- Ordering a whole new E-series unit when a conversion kit fits. If your existing manual drum is in good shape, the 200/204/300-to-electric kits are almost always the cheaper, faster upgrade path.
- Guessing wire diameter instead of measuring it. Furlex parts are sized in 1mm increments across the 6-10mm range — a caliper reading beats a guess based on boat length alone.
- Assuming every "S" unit takes the same spares. A 100S, 200S, 300S, and 400S each use different tack swivels, feeders, and drum components — match by model line, not just by "Furlex."
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Furlex is an S-series or an E-series?
An S-series manual unit has a bare drum with a furling line and no motor housing. An E-series unit (204E or 304E) has a black composite motor housing bolted above the drum and is operated by push-button rather than a furling line.
What's the difference between the Furlex 204E and 304E?
The 204E is built for 6-8mm forestay wire and smaller boats (roughly 30-38 ft per Selden's own guidance); the 304E steps up to 8-10mm wire for larger boats (roughly 38-45 ft). Both share the same push-button operation and composite housing.
Can I upgrade a manual Furlex 200S or 300S to electric without buying a whole new furler?
Yes. Selden's conversion kits bolt a motor housing and control hardware onto an existing manual drum, turning a 200S, 204S, or 300S into push-button operation without replacing the foil or drum.
Where can I find spares for an older Furlex 100S, 200S, or 300S?
Match your forestay's wire diameter and boat length against Selden's own S-series ranges, then order by that measurement — MAURIPRO stocks tack swivels, head swivel parts, drum components, and sail feeders across the 100S through 400S range.
Where can I buy a genuine Selden Furlex furler or replacement part?
MAURIPRO carries complete Furlex 204E and 304E electric units, 200/204/300-to-electric conversion kits, and spares for the full manual S-series range — see the collection links above and below.
Recommended gear
Selden Furlex 204E — complete electric unit for 6-8mm forestay wire, forestay lengths to 58.4 ft.
Selden Furlex 304E — complete electric unit for 8-10mm forestay wire, forestay lengths to 57.9 ft.
Selden Furlex 204-to-204e Conversion Kit (6mm) — upgrades an existing manual 204S drum to push-button electric operation.
Selden Sail Feeder Assembly for Furlex 204S/E/TD — a common wear-item replacement across the 204 line.
Shop all Selden Furlex electric furlers →
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Last updated: September 6, 2026.