Mainsail Reefing

[alec]

I don't have single line reefing but would love to have it.

I have to go to the mast, tack out a split pin etc etc etc.

Funnily enough, I don't mind all this, not too much anyway. What I really hate is dealing with the bunt and tying it all up with all those ties. It takes time and is awkward etc.

I would be very interested how others deal with this. If you leave it it flaps about and drives you mad so it has to be dealt with. Are lazy jacks the total answer ?

Thanks in advance

 

[johnalison]

Lazy jacks do help a bit and we never bother to tie up the bunt when reefed. I suspect a stack-pack would help even more but I am too mean to get one and they look peculiar to me.
I am mysified by the split-pin; I don't fancy playing with that in a force 6 in mid-channel. Normally one just pulls the tack-ring or spectacle down to the ramshorn.

 

[vyv_cox]

I assume your split pin prevents the loff rope from falling out of the groove? You can fairly easily fit a mast gate that will overcome this.

We have single line reefing made and fitted by us. It's excellent and has never given us a problem. We never tie the bunt and don't have any ties fitted. It has never been a problem, even before we fitted lazy jacks.

 

[EdWingfield]

After one season I've just abandonned a SLR system as due to friction losses I could never reef to a flatish aerofoil. I'd be interested to read how Vyv-cox manages?

I now have a slab system which gives me control of the sail shape. Upon reefing the spare sail drops into the lazy bag. Downside is that I must go to mast to deal with the tack.

 

[MoodySabre]

I used to have a setup like that, where the mast groove for the sail slides starts way above the boom so you have drop a couple of sail slides out before you can get the cringle down to the ramshorm. Presumably you have one of those R shaped pins that justy pull out. I can't see how a mast gate would help that. Sorry - not very helpful but sympathetic.

Lazyjacks would help keep the sail in order once reefed and as I now have lazyjacks and a stack pack and a mast groove that come right down to the boom I am in reefing and sail dropping heaven. It only cost the price of another boat /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[vyv_cox]

Using a system with balance blocks in the boom, it has a 2:1 purchase at the leech and 1:1 at the luff. This ensures that the aft of the sail tightens first, giving a flat sail as required. Friction has never been a problem, although I think our rope size is probably one too big and I may reduce it.

 

[vyv_cox]

<< I can't see how a mast gate would help that.>>

Normally the groove continues below the gate. Slides are strategically placed on the sail to allow the cringles to come right down to the ramshorn or block in a single line system.

 

[MoodySabre]

On my Snappie the mast groove ended above the boom and the sail slides were held in by a pin. The cringle wouldn't meet the ramshorn unless you dropped some sail slides out. Not fun.

 

[PhilipH]

SLR, Harken ball bearing cars for the luff track, fully battened main, fixed sail bag and lazy jacks - magic. Makes reefing a dream and putting the sail away is so easy. The shape of the sail is good too when reefed cos of the full battens.

It is also very safe cos it is all managed from the cockpit.
Don't leave the mooring without it.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[William_H]

If the mainsail has slugs then yes you need to remove the bottom ones unless the track extends way below the gooseneck which would require a bend in the track. I have never seen one but it seems like it might work. I use the bolt rope with a guide.
As for the bunt of the sail it depends how deep the reef is. Mine must be relatively small because I can bear the bunt hanging although I usually do tie it up. Or at least do a tie at the front where the wind catches it. Yes I imagine lazy jacks would hold the bunt up.
At the risk of repeating myself however. I do find that a rope at the tack (front) of the reef far better than using rams horns. It can be used like a cunningham to get that extra luff tension and it will not escape or fall off the horns. Just remember to angle the pull forward to give a forward pull to the foot you can't rely on bolt rope or slugs to do that job for you. olewill

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
I assume your split pin prevents the loff rope from falling out of the groove? You can fairly easily fit a mast gate that will overcome this.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate our mast gate with a passion, it always jams at least 3 or 4 sliders meaning someone has to help them through when hoisting the sail. Close it too much they jam, open it too much they fall out. I have never found a perfect position. It should not be so difficult I am sure.

The gate is a piece of black nylon that slides around over the 'gap' and is locked down with a wing-nut, it is like a bent wedge, I don't know without a picture how to explain it better. It does not appear damaged and I am using the correct sized slides, is this normal or should I look to improve things? Thing is, I am not sure how to?

 

[ytd]

we have the same system as vyv-cox for reefs 1&2 but not enough room in the boom for reef 3 so that is slab. the SLR has trouble getting sufficient tension on the leech unless you use the topping lift to lift the boom before hauling in the reefing line. Have to let the main, vang and traveller off as well. Makes hauling in much easier though.

As well as lazy jacks helping to stop the bunt flapping, we haul in the unused reefing lines.

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
If the mainsail has slugs then yes you need to remove the bottom ones unless the track extends way below the gooseneck which would require a bend in the track.
...
olewill

[/ QUOTE ]That's not necessarily the case. Our reefing cringles are mid-way between slides, so the cringle can be popped onto the horn alongside the stack of slides. In our case the track goes right down to the gooseneck, but there's no need to remove slides when reefing.

Edit - with the current sail, I've not tried the third reef yet. Maybe at that point the stack of slides will be too tall for this to work. I need to try that before I need it for real.

 

[MoodySabre]

I have a Selden (Kemp) mast with a sprung mast gate (see Selden website) and the slides don't jam. A little vaseline in the mast groove should help. It might be worth trying slightly narrower sliders at the top.

 

[markstirling]

You can use a jackline on the sail slugs so that you dont have to remove the split pin for reefing. Works OK for me. See here for some pictures (bottom of page shows the idea most clearly).

 

[William_H]

Yes thanks for that Gandy now I understand a little better how to deal with slugs and reefing. (But I will stick with bolt rope only.) olewill

 

[alec]

Quote:
At the risk of repeating myself however. I do find that a rope at the tack (front) of the reef far better than using rams horns. It can be used like a cunningham to get that extra luff tension and it will not escape or fall off the horns. Just remember to angle the pull forward to give a forward pull to the foot you can't rely on bolt rope or slugs to do that job for you. olewill
================================================================

I like the idea of this and will definitely try it out.

The cringle always seems to slip off the horn. I have damaged two sails where I have been winching away with the actual sail caught on the horn without knowing it. I now use a bit of bunghy cord looped over both horns to keep it there.

Many thanks to all the responders. Very helpful indeed.