The Alado System 

Designed for years of reliability under all types of weather and sailing conditions, our installation process is simple and designed to save you hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in labor costs by doing the installation yourself. 

Download the ALADO INSTALLATION MANUAL here for a more detailed guide.

If you choose to have the system installed for you, Alado's easy and simple installation steps help you determine what the estimated labor hours should be and help prevent over billing of hours.
 

Preparation 

As is the case with any project, 80% of the time is preparation. By having the materials ahead of time and prepared, your installation time normally under two hours. 

The Alado System is designed to be installed from the deck and does not require any aloft activities. If you are installing while the vessel is in the water, always ensure that you have a catch tarp around the deck and up over the lifelines to prevent parts bouncing off the deck and going overboard.

For best results, install the system with mast upright and secured. 

 Step 1 

 Assemble and prepare the bushings on the forestay.

Every Alado Roller Furling and Reefing System comes with 2-piece bushings that snap together and perform two important functions.

1. They keep the foil centered around the forestay wire.

2. Prevention of corrosion of metals between the foils and the forestay.

The bushing has a small node that fits in the hole on the foil. With one hand securing the bushing, align the grooves and slide upwards until the tops of the foils are aligned.

Hint: Placing the bushings on the forestay before you start the installation, makes it easier and faster when sliding the foils on. Be sure that you do not let any foils or bushings accidentally drop on the bushings lined up on the stay or they may come apart. 

 
Step 2

Assemble the Top Sheaves

Starting by interlocking a 5 foot and a 2 1/2 foot foil length until the top of the foils are flush(even) at the top.

Add the Top Sheave Assembly by tightening the two halves, but DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN these. The two halves can fit either side of the foils.

Add the bitter end(s) of the line you are using to make the Alado Halyard and make fast both bitter ends to a secure point on deck. leaving enough scope for the Top Sheaves to make their way to the mast top.

Remember that complete system will rotate freely when deployed and since it is supported by the deck, there is no swivel to bind or break.

Step 3 

Add the remainder of the 5 foot foil sections

Add each 5 foot section of foil to each of the 2 1/2 foot sections (don't forget the bushing) and continue adding sections until there is no more room on the forestay.

If you are single handing the installation or have help, it's a good idea to tie a messenger line on the jib halyard to be used as a rolling hitch knot on the foil, which you can slide down after every foil length is added. This is discussed in more detail in the PDF Installation Manual.

If you need to take a break, also add a Vice-Grip below the lowest foil to the forestay to prevent the foils moving down.  DO NOT Vice-Grip or pinch the foils. Its okay if the half of the foil section slides down as it will only go 2 1/2 feet until it is even with the foil at the Vice-Grip.

Steps 4 & 5

Secure the foils on the forestay.

Once you have added as many sections of foil as you can on the forestay, it is time to secure the foils again and measure for the luff feed(s).

Steps 6

Detach forestay  Add Drum and reattach forestay.

Step 7 

Add Centralizer and Stay Clamp

Step 8 

Insert Foils and tighten base.

Average Alado Installation Time - Between 1 1/2 to 2 Hours