I'm planning to replace my antiquated, heavy aluminum headfoil/nonfunctioning furler with a new wire headstay and tuff luff.

Does anybody know the complete specification-length, turnbuckle size etc etc. Approximate cost?

Can't help you with the length, but I'll offer one bit of advice. Take a look at the Ronstan Sealoc calibrated turnbuckles. Less total throw length, but an order of magnitude easier to adjust. We went to them for our shrouds, when we replaced them. (New hardware, every quarter century, that's my motto!) We'll do the same on the headstay when it gets replaced in a season or three.

- David

We installed a new Tuff Luff on Thursday of the NA's after breaking ours restepping the mast. Extrusion 1706-36, no hardware $288 through my sailmaker from Shaefer (possibly discounted considering the circumstances). This is for a #6 Luff tape (check with your sailmaker if you don't know). 36 Feet long, it needed several feet hacksawed off to fit. You'll want a feeder, top and/or bottom spacer. Maybe a top cap, pre-feeder, and Kevlar bumper. See www.tuffluff.com

Steve, I believe the original equipment was a "Headfoil" system. Several years ago I replaced the plastic extrusion on Mondial. I called the Headfoil office and found them to be both very knowledgeable about the original J/30 specs as well as very helpful. Here's the contact information from the "Marketplace" page:
http://www.headfoil.com

Headfoil Corp.
P.O. Box 449
Lake City, MN 55041
Mary Lagerquist
(612) 345-4115

Steve... the headfoil 2 has the advantage of being able to hold both #5 and #6 tapes. I switched mine in April, after buying yet another tuffluff, and some sails that the sailmaker SWORE were #5. There is also a #5 tape with a different size... can't remember which sailmaker. All a pain... if you are borrowing sails/buuying used ones... But I guess Meanie doesn't have those issues? By the way, can I borrow the swim team again in April?

Swim team is all ready and can't wait. Goals this year are drink less and take slower route to brain trust should questions arise (well maybe I can accomplish one of those).

And Meanie's issue with sails is to stop putting holes in them.

MB

Swim team +1?