Headsail reefing

[silverseal]

I have got a Colnbrook headsail reefing system with twin grooves. Anyone know if Colnbrook are still in business, or if I can get slides to fit the second groove to use the No 1 jib, which has got piston hanks fitted at the moment

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[oldharry]

Dont know about Colnbrook, but finding the luff groove diameter can be measured using the sooth end of a twist drill. Find the largest size metric drill that will enter the groove without jamming and you have the size of slide you need. Usually they are around 6 - 8mm groove diameter. If its 8mm then Plastimo slides will fit.

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[tugboat]

Well I'll be! I never knew you could use slides with headsail roller reefing. You learn something new every day.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

When I was shopping for my headsail last year, those nice people at Kemps were a little confused by my description of headsail sliders, suggesting they had never heard of such a thing. Until someone in the office remembered that older versions of roller reefing systems included sliders to allow new users to convert their old hank on sails to fit their new system. (I actually passed English!)

I thought all systems used sliders, and was shocked by this as it aged my head sail more than I had first guessed. Anyhow, while corresponding I drew a diagram to post to kemps to try and explain my current system so they could determine bolt rope diameter etc.

Hope this clarifies what you are looking for. I have some spares now, as new sail makes 'really' old headsail redundant. But I intend to fit them to a storm sail if I can find one at a reasonable price. I have seen these sliders for sale at boat jumbles, so they are still available.

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[oldharry]

Yes - produced for easy conversion of spare jibs I suppose. They seemed to work quite well on my old 22 footer, but didnt do too much for the luff shape of a part rolled sail!

Wouldn't really recommend them except as a 'stop gap' use for an old sail, but they do the job, and as Jools suggests, could be quite a good way of loading a storm jib onto a roller set up.

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