How do you secure your reefing lines?

[bbg]

I have seen two ways of securing the outboard end of the reefing line to the boom.
Variation 1 - line runs from end of boom, up through the reefing cringle, back down around the boom and a bowline is tied around the boom (as close as possible to boom)
Variation 2 - as above, but the line goes around the boom and then tie a bowline around the line, so as tension comes on the line cinches itself around the boom.
Probably haven't described these two very well, but any thoughts from the panel?
I can see advantages for both approaches.

 

[sailorman]

I have seen two ways of securing the outboard end of the reefing line to the boom.
Variation 1 - line runs from end of boom, up through the reefing cringle, back down around the boom and a bowline is tied around the boom (as close as possible to boom)
Variation 2 - as above, but the line goes around the boom and then tie a bowline around the line, so as tension comes on the line cinches itself around the boom.
Probably haven't described these two very well, but any thoughts from the panel?
I can see advantages for both approaches.

mine round the boom but secured with a running Bowline ( a bowline around the standing part ) it never goes too tight to undo

 

[Lee_Shaw]

I have seen two ways of securing the outboard end of the reefing line to the boom.
Variation 1 - line runs from end of boom, up through the reefing cringle, back down around the boom and a bowline is tied around the boom (as close as possible to boom)
Variation 2 - as above, but the line goes around the boom and then tie a bowline around the line, so as tension comes on the line cinches itself around the boom.
Probably haven't described these two very well, but any thoughts from the panel?
I can see advantages for both approaches.

Number 2

 

[bbg]

OK - two votes for number 2, one on the basis that the knot doesn't get too tight (thanks BTW for the name of the knot). What about chafe from the bowline on the standing part?

 

[flaming]

OK - two votes for number 2, one on the basis that the knot doesn't get too tight (thanks BTW for the name of the knot). What about chafe from the bowline on the standing part?

If you're worried about chaffe, just re-tie it occasionally, you'll never tie it in exactly the same place twice.

 

[bbg]

Reason I ask is because I can see evidence of chafe on the lines on my new (to me) boat.
I also wondered if there were any sail control issues that might exist (or be eliminated) with the two methods.

 

[William_H]

Reefing lines

I have a fractional rig so main is big and reefing is important.
The aft reefing line must do 2 jobs. One is to hold the sail down to the boom against the pull of the mainsheet the second is to pull the reef clew out against the tack attachment to flatten the sail. You only reef in strong winds so you want a flat mainsail.
The best way to do the 2 jobs is with 2 ropes however that is cumbersome. The line from the eyelet to the boom will in effect halve your outhaul ability but will provide s straight pull against the mainsheet pull. The line from the eylet to the end of the boom will not provide much support against the mainsheet pull.
So in effect the rope going in the 2 directions does the 2 jobs.
I feel however that you should consider the shape of the sail when reefed and working hard to windward. Is the foot tight enough? Is the clew suported close enough to the boom?

I use a saddle rivetted to the side of the boom at the appropriate place for the tail of the reefing line. The reefing line passes through a cheek block on the side of the boom. Both are adjacent to one another and together provide a pull on the reefing clew eyelet of about 45 degrees. I winch on the reefing line to very tight and find this gives me a nice flat main.

If you find the bowline around the boom is successful well and good but it must be close to the boom so it doesn't foul the eyelet. I get my eyelet almost touching the boom or within 30mm of the boom.
If sailing for long while reefed I fit a cord several times around the boom and possibly another outhaul cord to the end of the boom. A reefing line takes a lot of punishment in a blow.
So any method is OK but do be critical about the sail shape when reefed. good luck olewill

 

[shmoo]

I may have misunderstood this, but we have a variation that you don't mention, which is the end is attached to fittings that run in sliders on the side of the boom that are seized in place with a screw. There are two on each side. I have never been quite sure exactly where to place them with respect to the eye: usually settle for a bit back (outboard). Attach line with a short bowline

 

[onenyala]

Reefing lines

I do likewise except instead of a bowline I tie a stopper knot at the end of the reefing pennant to secure the end at the lug beneath the boom.

 

[gandy]

Variation 2 doesn't work for me, there is too much friction between the bowline noose and the standing part of the reefing pennant. Maybe with slippery rope it would work better for us.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I have an Isomat boom. My reefing lines go to the end of the boom onto a pulley, along inside to near the gooseneck and drop out into some clam jammers. I have a small winch below the gooseneck on the mast to pull them tight if required. The outhaul is similar.

 

[William_H]

Reefing

Hello Schmoo
This question of yours is what I was waffling on about. The position of the pulley and also the reef line attachment is adjustable so that you can adjust the amount of outhaul and the amount of down haul.
The typical location will have the rope leading to and from the eyelet ant 45 degrees. ie equal down and back pull. This position of course will vary with the depth of reef. So deeper reef has the eyelet further forward so reefing point further forward.
Pull the reef in and go sailing. If the foot of the sail appears to be a bit loose then pull the attachment back further and tighten the reef line. If the boom is being pulled away from the bottom of the sail then move the attachment further forward and or tighten the reef line. needless to say you need a good attachment at the front ofthe sail to counteract this tension from the back.
I would always use a winch to tighten the reef line on a tiny 21fter. olewill

 

[barfly4657]

I have an Isomat boom. My reefing lines go to the end of the boom onto a pulley

But where does it come from before that? This is about bowlines v stopper knots, sliders v slits in the mainsail foot.

We had a loose-footed main with adjustable clew outhaul plus flattener and two pennants for four reef cringles - a lot of string but no excuse for not getting a flat main. Another bonus was the ease of transferring first pennant to third : because they were so close together you could reach from the cockpit. Have you ever had to walk out along the boom to do that? Takes some balls - but quite unnecessary.

 

[lw395]

I prefer a simple ordinary bowline around the boom, as tight as possible. Assuming a loose foot or slits in the lens foot. A bowline is easy to check that it has been tied correctly, rather than some crew members favourite knot.
I think its best if the reefing line goes direct to the cringle from the pulley, for minimum friction, especially when shaking out. You don't want to have to persaude a line that has jammed due to some clever arrangement that has gone wrong. The end of the boom is an awkward place to do anything, I want simple systems that always work, rather than some slight theoretical gain at the expense of complication.
Also don't forget the loop of light line/elastic from the second to third reef cringles, to thread the third reef when the second is in! If you whip the ends of the reef lines with a loop to tie the messenger to, you're almost making it too easy! (I forgot this once when I end-for-ended the reefing lines!)

 

[andygc]

This seems to be getting into a confusion between boats that have slides on the foot of the main and those that don't. For the original question - method 2. If rigged properly there is no problem at all in getting the cringle down to the boom. If you use method 1 you cannot get the cringle right down because of the space taken by the knot.