How to fit your own Roller reefing - my first "how to" film

[ditchcrawler]

I fitted single line reefing to my Minstrel some years ago.I screwed blocks to the boom at each end with the reefing line from end of the boom up to the reef cringle, down to the blockat an angle,along the boom,round the block on the tack of the boom,up to the cringle and down to a block at the bottom of the mast and back to the cockpit.You just release the throat halyard,the gaff slides down the mast,you pull in the reefing line until the cringles in the sail are down on the boom,cleat the reefing line and tighten the throat halyard again.I switched over some of the lines so I had the halyards and reefing line on the same side.I only had one reef.You could have lines and blocks both sides of the boom for two reefs.

 

[Gordonmc]

why are flexible furlers not available here?

http://www.sailcdi.com/ffmain.htm


Dylan

Flexible furlers were available in the UK... I put one on my first owned boat, a Hurley 22 which would put the year at about 1997.
There were a few sniggers when the kit was delivered to the marina... the foil came as a big coil of plastic which went balistic when the ties were released. As per the instructions it had to be allowed to straighten naturally before fitting.
Putting it together was a good deal less of a faff than with the Plastimo with half the number of parts... it was done on the pontoon with a friend helping slide the foil up the forestay (existing) and I just had to cut the stay and use a sta-lock to attach the turnbuckle. The furling drum sat on top of the turnbuckle.
The kit was still on the boat when I sold her.
At the time the flexible furler was by far the cheapest on the market.

 

[dylanwinter]

any chance of some snaps

I fitted single line reefing to my Minstrel some years ago.I screwed blocks to the boom at each end with the reefing line from end of the boom up to the reef cringle, down to the blockat an angle,along the boom,round the block on the tack of the boom,up to the cringle and down to a block at the bottom of the mast and back to the cockpit.You just release the throat halyard,the gaff slides down the mast,you pull in the reefing line until the cringles in the sail are down on the boom,cleat the reefing line and tighten the throat halyard again.I switched over some of the lines so I had the halyards and reefing line on the same side.I only had one reef.You could have lines and blocks both sides of the boom for two reefs.

I would love to see some snaps if you get the chance

dylandotwinteratvirgindotnet

 

[dylanwinter]

so why not availabel now

Flexible furlers were available in the UK... I put one on my first owned boat, a Hurley 22 which would put the year at about 1997.
There were a few sniggers when the kit was delivered to the marina... the foil came as a big coil of plastic which went balistic when the ties were released. As per the instructions it had to be allowed to straighten naturally before fitting.
Putting it together was a good deal less of a faff than with the Plastimo with half the number of parts... it was done on the pontoon with a friend helping slide the foil up the forestay (existing) and I just had to cut the stay and use a sta-lock to attach the turnbuckle. The furling drum sat on top of the turnbuckle.
The kit was still on the boat when I sold her.
At the time the flexible furler was by far the cheapest on the market.

I cannot see any sign of the things here in the UK

why not?

how come I had never heard of them

Dylan

 

[petersto]

Dylan have a look at the Barton website plenty of diagrams. I fitted two single line reefing kits to my Centaur, moved the main halyard to the cockpit the topping lift tensioner to the aft end of the boom, I can now reef my sails without leaving the cockpit. I did this after nearly falling of once in rough weather messing around at the foot of the mast trying to reef.

 

[Gordonmc]

I cannot see any sign of the things here in the UK

why not?

how come I had never heard of them

Dylan

I really can't remember who supplied the Flexible Furling I put on the Hurley, so I emailed SailCDI. They don't have an active UK distributor/dealer but say they can ship from the USA or Canada.
I don't think I would have paid shipping costs and risked HMRC slapping on import duty, so assume there was a UK dealer who has now called it a day.