External luff reefing cringles

[MJWB]

The luff reefing points on my mainsail comprise a cringle laid into the sail which fits over a ramshorn. One ramshorn each side so I assume is okay to use one for a first reef and the other for the second.
I've seen external rings fitted by webbing through the cringle on some sails. Don't know what this set up is called. Does anyone know please?
My thinking is then that one ring goes each side on a ramshorn. Anyone comment on the merits of this please?
Lastly, are these easy enough to fit oneself and save the £s?

 

[Minerva]

Yes they are with it, I’ve even put short lengths (hand width) of 10mm double braid with stopper knots to help pull the sail down.

I’d give your local sail loft a call as it may be a small job they’ll do for buttons. Otherwise I’d be researching some suitable dyneema splices

 

[dunedin]

Easy enough to fit two rings, through an existing cringle / eyehole - we adapted a second hand mainsail in this way, simply using thin ish dyneema to lash the two rings together on either side of the sail cringle.

BUT I don’t think these are generally both attached to a ramshorn - usually still only on one side, but it is easier to attach has a bit more flexibility.

 

[ithet]

They are called "reefing spectacles" and do make reefing with rams horns easier, just one side goes over a horn. A sailmaker should not charge too much to do them.

 

[john_morris_uk]

They are called "reefing spectacles" and do make reefing with rams horns easier, just one side goes over a horn. A sailmaker should not charge too much to do them.

You got there first.

 

[Slowtack]

You can put blocks on them for reefing lines led back to cockpit...

 

[Roberto]

They are called "reefing spectacles" and do make reefing with rams horns easier, just one side goes over a horn. A sailmaker should not charge too much to do them.

Funny how terms change from language to language, in French they are called "dog's ears". The headsail feeder is called "cat's testicles". A woke prosecutor might sue them for physical violence against animals.

 

[MJWB]

You can put blocks on them for reefing lines led back to cockpit...

Good idea like that

 

[MJWB]

I did a bit of looking on the net since posting seeing as it's throwing it down. I believe on one site these were called flying cringles. Never heard of that.

 

[johnalison]

Funny how terms change from language to language, in French they are called "dog's ears". The headsail feeder is called "cat's testicles". A woke prosecutor might sue them for physical violence against animals.

Wouldn’t work in the UK. We are now so pathetic that we can’t use the term cats’ eyes.

 

[Puffin10032]

Wouldn’t work in the UK. We are now so pathetic that we can’t use the term cats’ eyes.

What are Cat's Eyes? | Reflective Motorway Studs Explained

seems to suggest that the term is still very much in use.

 

[zoidberg]

Rams' horns...?

 

[MontyMariner]

They are called "reefing spectacles" and do make reefing with rams horns easier, just one side goes over a horn. A sailmaker should not charge too much to do them.

An eye splice in both ends of a length of 8mm rope does a job for me.

 

[johnalison]

What are Cat's Eyes? | Reflective Motorway Studs Explained

seems to suggest that the term is still very much in use.

You must have missed the news item a few years ago reporting that people had objected to the term cats’ eyes on the grounds that it was confusing to foreigners and suggesting cruelty to cats, causing one local authority in the original report to relabel them as reflective studs.

 

[Poignard]

Where will it end?

Before you know it, the common name for nepeta cataria will have to be banned for fear it encourages cruelty to moggies.

 

[Daydream believer]

One would not try to fix the spectacle to both rams horn as it restricts how far down the track the sail can be pulled. IE it stops on top of the bunched sail on the reef below ( Assuming that there is one). By going one side the sail can be gathered down the side of the bunch & come lower.
As for rings - I would suggest that if you have a couple of spare large shackles, that will not pull through, you use those first until you are satisfied it works. You can undo them to make alterations in length. Use some dynema for the link until you are happy with it. Then you can buy some rings & stitch some webbing. If you do it at home, then still retain one shackle.

 

[Puffin10032]

You must have missed the news item a few years ago reporting that people had objected to the term cats’ eyes on the grounds that it was confusing to foreigners and suggesting cruelty to cats, causing one local authority in the original report to relabel them as reflective studs.

I did indeed miss that news item. Actually it's just resurfaced a memory of when I was little, our Dad taking the time to explain to us that they weren't real cats eyes. I suspect that highway engineers have a term for them such as reflective studs which they use in official documents. Personally I don't see confusing foreigners as a bad thing

 

[tillergirl]

Spectacles were much much better for me. The previous set of sail just had the cringle. In a blow, getting the cringle under the horn could be a challenge.

 

[wingcommander]

You must have missed the news item a few years ago reporting that people had objected to the term cats’ eyes on the grounds that it was confusing to foreigners and suggesting cruelty to cats, causing one local authority in the original report to relabel them as reflective studs.

Sure it wasn't aired on April 1st?
Cos the inventor of cats eyes must have thought...these are the dogs bollocks.

 

[Roberto]

Spectacles were much much better for me. The previous set of sail just had the cringle. In a blow, getting the cringle under the horn could be a challenge.

I made this thing to help hook/unhook the cringles/rings to the horn, one can pull with both hands it works quite well, I keep it at the mast. Loop dia about 15cm