Headsail Reefing on a Sonata.

[DJE]

A friend of mine sails a Hunter Sonata and is single handed most of the time. He's getting fed up with changing headsails and wants to fit a roller reefing gear. Does anybody have any knowledge of the systems available for that size of boat and their various good and bad points?

 

[FullCircle]

I fitted a Facnor S60 with twin luff groove and removeable drum to my 22ft Jouet 680 Fractional rig.
This means that:
a) you can have your cake. By having a full furling genoa you can single hand.
b) eat it too. By removing furling genoa and drum, you can then use luff groove sails to go racing.

I bought the lot as a package including a new forestay (recommended, not actuially necessary) from Paul Lees at Crusader sails. He would also convert the sails from piston hank to luff tape if you wish.

 

[grievesie]

I assume if he's single handing that racing is not a major concern? If so then the lowest cost roller reefing system would be the Plastimo 406S (or 406T for twin groove version) which can be had at various chandlers for around £200. Also need to budget for converting the sail - fitting luff tape and a sun strip would be approx £200 - (I would recommend using a No 2 genny as it avoids need to shorten luff and will roll better). Or you can put the money towards a new roller genny - but watch out as most sailmakers will try to sell you a more expensive system on which they make more money!

The Plastimo 406 systems will fit a forestay up to 8.5m long and 5mm diameter - which should do the Sonata. The drum can't be removed, hence the comment about not being suitable for racing. They can be fitted with the existing forestay in place but I have only done it with the rig down (replacing rigging at same time) - instructions are good and I found it quite straightforward. I've used them on two boats now and, though not the best reefing gear you can buy, they work well enough and are the best value for money on a boat the size (& value) of a Sonata.

 

[noby]

[ QUOTE ]
Also need to budget for converting the sail - fitting luff tape and a sun strip would be approx £200

[/ QUOTE ]

If the budget is tight, as they usually are, the 406 comes with sail slugs so you can use your existing hank-on sails. At the end of the day you can drop and bag your sail, but while sailing it is easily reefed/furled away.

 

[DJE]

Thanks all, I'll pass on the recomendations.