claw

[bige]

i have a saddler 25 with a roller reefing main sail,i have to disconect the kicking strap to roll the boom to reef,but cant connect the kicking strap once this is done,should i have what i have been told is a claw to do this and if so where can i get one?

 

[Guest]

It's a horse shoe shaped bit of alloy with a roller on each point. The kicker attaches to the middle of the horseshoe and the whole thing fits around the boom, as you rotate the boom the rollers allow the horseshoe to stay in the same spot and the sail rolls underneath the claw.

I've only ever seen them at boat jumbles but it would be worth ringing a few decent chandlers. Even better, convert to slab reefing.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[Stemar]

I saw one on the barge at Bursledon on Sunday. Perhaps someone else can help with a phone number for it.

Agree with the idea of converting to slab, but unless you need a new main, it's not a cheap option.

 

[maris]

I've been rolling a sling into my sail,bit of a nuisence realy.
Would it be ok to put reefing eyelets in my main?

 

[Stemar]

Re Eyelets

My regular skipper tried that last year. It wasn't a great success. The first time he tried to reef, one of the eyelets pulled out.

You'd need to reinforce the sail around the eyelets, then use some pretty meaty eyelets. A sailmaker could do it for a price that would be a lot less than a new main, I think my skipper was quoted about £20 - 30 per eyelet; but if the main's getting old anyway, it may not be worth it

 

[halcyon]

Had one on the main sheet on our Hurley 27, never loved it, oval boom, if you rolled the main, the horse shoe disapeared into the sail, may work on a round boom. The kicking strap was not used when reefed.

Would it work on the kickins strap? as it's an angled pull, would it not dig into the sail?


Brian

 

[johnmuir]

I have one if you want it. Perhaps we could strike a deal ?
It is surplus to my requirements as have bought new boat.
TEL 0141 778 6715 ASK FOR JOHN

 

[AndyL]

Claw not a good idea.

It sticks; it damages the sail. I have roller reefing, and if needed when reefed, I rig a preventer line from the end of the boom forward. If you make that tight, between the preventer and the mainsheet, you don't need a kicking strap.

Cheers, Andy

 

[dickh]

I had a claw for the kicking strap on a Vivacity 20 some years ago - you have to take a line from the claw to the end of the boom which prevents the claw moving towards the gooseneck. It worked OK but was not a perfect solution, you can still get them - I believe Gaelforce have them in their catalogue.
dickh

 

[bige]

thanks to all,i will be replacing all sails during lay up and will change to slab reefing