How big too big for slab reefing?

[davethedog]

Would you consider a 47ft boat too big to consider for a couple to use if it has slab reefing and no electric winches? Fitting an electric winch is of course an option!

DTD

 

[fredrussell]

Depends on the fitness of the couple I’d say.

 

[[70521]]

I have friends with a 47 foot Boreal and slab reefing. It worked well in the Southern Ocean.

 

[jwilson]

At this size reefing at the mast starts to become an attractive option to dramatically reduce friction. Either do this or really work at reducing friction in the lines and all the leads back to the cockpit.

 

[dunedin]

The height of the boom can start to be an issue for things like zipping up stackpack cover. But a few steps on mast helps.
I would definitely want single line reefing led aft. And yes, fit one electric halyard winch, they are brilliant and a good investment.

 

[davethedog]

Cheers as looking at options for next boat and seen a nice possible (with good interior and hull and teak decking etc) and with slab reefing. Currently have a 41ft with in mast and aware it is not perfect but we are sort of used to it and the advantages it gives.
DTD

 

[Zing]

I know a couple who run a slab reefed 82 footer without difficulty.

 

[mrangry]

I have a 44 footer with slab reefing and often sail single handed. I considered converting to single line reefing but decided not to due to the extra friction in the lines.

 

[Bobc]

I have a 50fter with slab reefing, and really like it (wouldn't swap it for in-mast furling).

I have the Selden single-line system, with everything fed back to the cockpit, and can put in a reef of shake one out on my own in a couple of minutes.

It's certainly no more effort than reefing into the mast.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Heavy work but we have a winchrite much discussed on the forum and wouldn’t be without it. Heck of a lot cheaper than an electric winch

 

[Daydream believer]

Friend of mine has a 45 ft yacht with self tacking jib so a slightly bigger main than a usual genoa boat ( He does have a genoa & code zero of course) & he has single line reefing back to the cockpit & likes it. The halyard is another issue & hoisting a main that size is much nicer with a powered winch.. Especially with a fully battened mainsail where there is some friction from the batten cars

 

[Poignard]

There's always the humble tackle. Cheap, simple, not much to go wrong.

 

[Wing Mark]

There's always the humble tackle. Cheap, simple, not much to go wrong.

I've sailed on a cat, bit over 40ft, it had a 2:1 main halyard which seemed to work well.

What matters is whether the gear, like blocks and winches, is adequate for the tasks at hand with the muscle available.

 

[Laminar Flow]

The larger the boat, the safer and more convenient it is to handle sail at the mast. Also, as size increases, stability increases and you will have to, proportionately, reef less. I speak from experience and a good deal of it single handed on a 50 footer.

If the winch requires too much strength/force to operate, it is too small. It seems that, since the advent of winches, we have forgotten the simple labour and cost saving benefits of tackle. In this context it should be noted that the Boreals, mentioned earlier, utilize a 2:1 purchase on their main halyard as well.

If you are not racing and in open water you have all the time in the world to raise, lower or reef sail. Install lazy jacks to help tame the sail and slab reefing is no problem at all.

 

[Ningaloo]

Hanse 458 (14m) with 60m2 main and slab (single line) reefing. Single electric winch to starboard which handles main halyard, jib sheet and reef 1. Think I'll eventually get a second electric winch to port for the main sheet.
Reefing this boat does not seem any more difficult than my previous 385 (11m) which I regularly sailed solo. I just take my time and everything gets done eventually. Obviously need a reliable autopilot to keep the boat on track, but the boat sails well on jib alone.
But the height of the boom and the depth of the sprayhood means that zipping up the stack-pack is much easier with two people!

 

[Moodysailor]

A lot of mention of winches (rightly), but also a big factor is the ease of raising & lowering. A bigger sail with nice roller car slides and good quality fittings to reduce friction will be much easier than a smaller sail with high friction plastic slugs and stiff rope. I have some personal experience

 

[Neeves]

Hanse 458 (14m) with 60m2 main and slab (single line) reefing. Single electric winch to starboard which handles main halyard, jib sheet and reef 1. Think I'll eventually get a second electric winch to port for the main sheet.
Reefing this boat does not seem any more difficult than my previous 385 (11m) which I regularly sailed solo. I just take my time and everything gets done eventually. Obviously need a reliable autopilot to keep the boat on track, but the boat sails well on jib alone.
But the height of the boom and the depth of the sprayhood means that zipping up the stack-pack is much easier with two people!

Instead of the second electric winch - consider cross sheeting to the existing electric winch. Simply take the halyard or sheet to the manual winch and cross to the electric winch. You could instal a turning block - but use the manual winch as the turning block lets you try the idea and then make a decision on spending money.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

We have a Selden boom with their reefing system. We retired that and installed single line reefing for the third reef (blocks on the sail) - and have not looked back. The cordage for the 3rd reef is very long - we replaced most of it with 6mm dyneema which is spliced into the short working length. We have our main halyard marked for each reef position so can drop to the right location. We have one electric winch, primarily for the main halyard, 45^2m, plastic slugs fully battened main but the same winch can be used for reefing lines and some headsail sheets (other headsail sheets have a single winch and the ability to, again, cross sheet (saves buying extra winches). Our 3rd reef reduces the main by 75%.

Reefing can be done single handed from the cockpit - the idea of putting in a 3rd reef at the mast gave me nightmares.

Neither of us would win awards for body building.

Jonathan

 

[Skylark]

My 41 AWB has slab reefing and it presents no issue in use. My issue is that the boom is very high and hence it’s not easy to get the sail back in its stack-pack. The boat has an arch over the cockpit by the companionway and I have to climb it when I fold down from the leech. Far from ideal.

I would use an electric winch when reefing with great caution. Scandalising the boom removes a lot of reefing line friction.

 

[dunedin]

I would use an electric winch when reefing with great caution. Scandalising the boom removes a lot of reefing line friction.

Our electric halyard winch is generally only used for hoisting the fully battened main when single handed - as pulling from the cockpit it gets heavy after the second set of spreaders.
Occasionally it also gets used to assist with jib furling if caught in a squall, and very occasionally for speeding up a reef when getting tired on one of these days when everything has been happening in a short period due to gusty winds.

However, our rule is simple but effective for avoiding damage - only ever 2 turns round the electric winch and NEVER in the self tailer unless winding by hand. Seen a lot of people breaking things using power winch, but with our technique it starts to slip if something jamming. Many times this has saved problems / breakages.

PS. Difficult to scandalise a fully battened sail with rod kicker, But equally never lands on somebody’s head, and proper attention to rope alignment and size we have no issue with friction in our single line reefing lines (which does without the complexity of Selden pulleys inside boom).