Mainsheet

[tugboat]

Have just bought a boat with single-line reefing on the first 2 slabs and 2-line on the third. There are 3 sliders in the groove under the boom. Seems reasonable to assume 2 of these are for reefs and 1 is for the mainsheet, or does the third reef need a slider too? The mainsheet track on the bridgedeck is under a point some 18 inches from the end of the boom and there are no signs of any other fittings for the mainsheet either under or at the end of the boom. Problem is, there are no means of securing the sliders in position, therefore if on a run with the boom well slacked out the mainsheet attachment could just slide inboard. This can't be right and suggests that all 3 sliders are for reefing. So where do I attach the mainsheet? No claw on board or marks on boom to suggest one has been used. Picture me puzzled. Duhhh! I'm trying to get some info from the previous owner but he's abroad and not replying to emails at the moment. Anyone got any ideas/advice? Thanks for all contributions.

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[boatless]

First thing to check - are there any slits in the foot tape? If so, you just tie the end of each reef line in a bowline around the boom. No need for slides at all then. If not, it's worth considering, works well, and is much more kind to the gooseneck fitting because the boom is not being twisted.

Next mainsheet attachment should be fixed. A #10 self tap or two will be fine. Slide should have holes for these.

If you don't want to go go down the bowline round the boom route you should be able to find more slides at your local riggers.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Robin]

If you have slots in the mainsail foot, or if the main is loose fitted then the slides are really redundant. Normal method is to pass the reef line from the sheave at the boom end, through the clew reef cringle, down and around the boom then up the other side of the boom and through the slot in the sail where it is tied to itself. If you do not have slots or a loose foot, then the slides are needed (they don't need fixing in place as they will find their own natural spot) and you will need all three, better though is to have slots put in the sail at some stage.

The mainsheet probably was attached to the boom end if it is only 18" back from directly above the track.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[tugboat]

John & Robin, thank you both for your replies. The main is fitted with a stackpack type system - one of the older types I understand as the cover is held in place in the boom groove by the footrope. There are no slits in the sail (I understand where you are coming from with that) so the sliders must be for the reefs. There are holes in the sliders for fixing them but no holes in the boom. That goes along with the comment that they will find their own positions. If I get another slider from a rigger, I guess I'll get him to fix it, as one of the end fittings will have to come off the boom and be re-riveted anyway. I appreciate your advice. I'm quite an experienced sailor but my boats have always been oldfashioned with all gear external to spars and this newfangled stuff has got me a bit flummoxed. I'm dying to know what the last owner used! Cheers, Geoff.

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[boatless]

No need to fix the reef ones, they sort themselves out. Mainsheet does though, as you said earlier. You may be lucky and find that you can get the extra slides in through a cut out in one of the end castings.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[jerryat]

Hi Tugboat!

I have the same system on my boat. I think the sliders should be fixed, and it's a simple matter of setting up the reefs on a calm day with the sliders in the 'ideal' position for each reef.

Mark the position in the slider track through each slider hole ready for drilling. Select the maximum size s/s machine screw that will fit through the hole, and drill and tap a thread for these. Move the slider back into position, coat the bolt with silicon to prevent siezing up, and screw up tightly.

This is all IMHO of course, but has served me, and many others, for years.

Good sailing!

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[boatless]

The reef slides will find their own positions quite happily. All that shaking and rattling when the main is flogging helps them on their way. If you feel that you must fix them, make sure that they are directly below the reef cringles when the reef is pulled back very very hard.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[William_H]

Re Boatless comment the reefing slde finds it's own position. I must be missing something here. On my boat the reefing line provides a pull both down on the cringle to the boom but just as importantly it functions as an outhaul to give a flat sail shape. I suggest the reef line should lead from the cringle aft at about 45degrees to the fitting containing a pulley leading the reefing line forward. It has to be fixed to provide the outhaul force. I must have the wrong end of the story compoletely as I can't imagine boatless ideas could be so far from mine.
regards will

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[Robin]

Hi Will

Yes it seems sensible to expect the slides to be fixed and indeed slides which are fixed would of course work. However in practice the slides DO find a natural position that works fine, the outhaul/flattening directional force is provided by the reef line passing via the reef cringle and back to the sheave at the boom end. This is exactly the same as occurs on a boom with no slides at all combined with a mainsail with reef slots in the foot of the sail, or a mainsail with a loose foot, since in these cases the reef line merely passes around the boom and ties back to itself. As previously noted by Boatless this arrangement puts less strain on the gooseneck (less twisting force on the boom) as well as there being no risk of pulling a slide out of the boom track.

Robin


<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[boatless]

Thanks Robin!

William, the slides 'natural' position is directly under the reef cringle. The forces in the reef line are then aft and down (but in practice mainly aft) towards the sheave, and vertically down to the slide. This will provide ample foot tension, and slightly better control of the vertical position.

Personally, I much prefer the line tied round the boom, but if you have a groove mounted main cover it's a bit of a hassle to do without damaging it.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Robin]

We have a loose foot on our new mainsail this year (the old one had a shelf foot with reef slots) so there is no problem with taking the reef lines round the boom. The sail is much more adjustable too with the outhaul, big improvement I would say. Our boom still has the original slides in grooves in the sides, free to move.

Good luck on the RTI, we might be watching from Yarmouth if I can persuade the boss to sit on the buoys in the wind and rain, looking unlikely at present since she has just said 'it is up to you', which means something entirely different in my experience!



<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[boatless]

Thanks Robin. If a black Contessa gets wrapped around the pier, make sure you get some good pictures!

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.