Sunstar
New member
My boat, a Sunstar 18, has on boom roller reefing. What I am looking for is a practical, easy to use (and cheap) solution to attaching the kicker when the sail is wrapped around the boom.
Kicker for Roller reefing Boom
- Thread starter Sunstar
- Start date
graham
Well-known member
You need a thing that looks like a horseshoe (I cant remember the correct name). The kicker attatches to it and a line out to the end of the boom stops it moving up the boom.
You slack the kicker then the sail rolls up inside it.
Probably a boat jumble would be a good place to find one.Dont know if they are still made.
You slack the kicker then the sail rolls up inside it.
Probably a boat jumble would be a good place to find one.Dont know if they are still made.
VicS
Well-known member
A claw ring is what you need rigged as outlined by graham.
It's a solution but not a perfect one.
Another method is to roll something in with the sail and attach the kicker to that.
Personally, because I found roller reefing unsatifactory, I had reef points put in the sail and adopted slab reefing which enabled me to keep a fixed kicker.
I know roller reefing works perfctly well on some boats so if that applies to a Sunstar then one of the above is the way forward.
It's a solution but not a perfect one.
Another method is to roll something in with the sail and attach the kicker to that.
Personally, because I found roller reefing unsatifactory, I had reef points put in the sail and adopted slab reefing which enabled me to keep a fixed kicker.
I know roller reefing works perfctly well on some boats so if that applies to a Sunstar then one of the above is the way forward.
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
You also need a line from the claw ring (some people call it a 'C' ring) to the twizzly bit on the end of the boom.
l'escargot
New member
You want one of these:
It goes over the boom about 1/3 out from the mast. It is attached to the kicking strap and another line goes to the end of the boom to keep it from sliding back.
This one is for sale here but you should be able to get one from some of the bigger chandlers.
It goes over the boom about 1/3 out from the mast. It is attached to the kicking strap and another line goes to the end of the boom to keep it from sliding back.
This one is for sale here but you should be able to get one from some of the bigger chandlers.
Spuddy
Active member
A friend had one of they clawww rings on his gaff cutter long ago. It could chew away a bit at yor sail and wasn't all that easy to rig up.
The other way which is not much easier but is cheaper and better for your sail is to have a lengthof webbing or hemmed up hefty sailcloth with an eye on one end. Roll it into the sail so it gets trapped and then lash up your kicker to the eye.
You will usually need to wind it in further back than you might at first think.
regards...spuddy
The other way which is not much easier but is cheaper and better for your sail is to have a lengthof webbing or hemmed up hefty sailcloth with an eye on one end. Roll it into the sail so it gets trapped and then lash up your kicker to the eye.
You will usually need to wind it in further back than you might at first think.
regards...spuddy
Avocet
Well-known member
Avocet had that system and I couldn't find a "Claw" so I had a kicker extension made up from seat belt webbing. It just rolled up round the boom with the sail. It worked reasonably well but obviously there comes a point when you run out of webbing length. I wasn't bothered because at this point, the sail shape was so lousy, there wasn't much point in reefing any further! In the end, the tufnol worm gear at the gooseneck died so I converted to slab reefing. It absolutely transformed the boat! I wish I'd done it sooner!
tugboat
New member
I have a reefing claw that is now surplus to requirements. If you are interested send me a PM and I'll send you the measurements.
William_H
Well-known member
Yeah get rid of roller reefing is best advice. will
oakleyb
Member
sent pm
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