Barton slab reefing kits

[guydickinson]

Wonder if anyone has these on their boom. Basically 3 sliding blocks on a track - each one for one of three reefing eyes on the leech of the mainsail. Lines are guided forwards to whatever mechanism to haul in a chosen reefing point (if that makes any sense). Does anyone know of a better system?? - as this one has 2 problems. 1) Each time time one raises the mainsail, the lines come off these travelling blocks and get caught up in whatever is nearby - like the next one. Ie no decent fairlead to them 2) One literally exploded under the strain of the sail being reefed today - so no great confidence there really!! I suppose the answer may be individual fixed (non sliding) blocks for each reefing point....more holes in the boom but......?

 

[VicS]

I have such a system at least it is Barton as far as i can remember. A much smaller boat so no problem with it taking the load and only two reefing points.

The lines cannot come off the blocks You must have them fitted on the track the wrong way round. The reefing line is tied to the eye which is located at the back end of the cheek block, passes under the boom, up through the reef point, back to the back of the block then forward from under that.

No the lines cannot come off the blocks. There is an awful lot of string about even with only two reef points but that is all.

Found the kits in an old catalogue and notice that there were two versions. one with two cheek blocks for boats up to 8.5m and one with three blocks for boats up to 12m. The latter has heavier track and presumably sturdier blocks

 

[guydickinson]

Thanks v much - actually I have just realised that they may indeed be the wrong way round (blushing ++) - although the main problem is the fact that one literally fell apart, bits flying in all directions!!! They have what is probably properly called a becket near the release knob which should be aft of the block in that case - but then, if its not to guide the line through, what on earth is it for? Incidentally this is the heavier duty one.

 

[VicS]

Becket that's what its called sorry I called it an eye That should be at the back end and it should be facing down. It will move if it is not. That's what the reefing line is tied to, then goes under the boom etc etc.

Hopefully here is a picture. The right hand side is down and the top is the back. So tilt your head to the left to look at it. It is set to fit to the port side of the boom but the beckets should swing to the other side with a bit of persuasion if it is to be fitted to starboard.

Click me


Sorry would not post as an image so its a link instead. This one for boats to 39ft


here you go I have turned it up the right way

 

[wooslehunter]

Fitted one last winter & have had no probs. The boat is smaller though at 26'. One mod I made is to use the becket on the middle block for the first reef with the line back to the aft block. Then the 2nd reef line starts at the forward block becket & then back to the middle block. I need to get another becket for the 3rd. This way they can pull back & down more effectively.

The reefing lines have to pull in 2 directions: down to pull the clew down to the boom & back to tension the foot. Used as designed, I found that if I put the block far enough eft to give good foot tension, the boom clew wouldn't be pulled down properly. This is why most in boom reefing systems have the pullies righ at the clew end.

 

[guydickinson]

Thanks VicS. Being very dense, aren't I! On my system they (prev owner) had it so the reefing line starts tied to an eye on the other side of the boom, then up, through the eye in the sail and down round the block and so on. What you say makes much better sense and would (normally) be a much stronger set up. (I say "normally" taking into account the one that disintegrated!!). So thanks v much for that!!!

 

[WoodyP]

Have a look at the Barton Marine site - technical information. It gives a diagram of the set up and tells it all in words.
Vic's answer is spot on.
G.