Plastimo reefing

[DavidGrieves]

Sorry to be a pain but I need help again!
I just bought plastimo roller reefing gear(608), but will I need a halyard diverter. I'm not sure if I need one, and presumably will only know when I've fitted the gear. The boat is ashore and the mast is stepped. The instructions say I can fit it without removing the forestay or going up the mast. I don't fancy the idea of going up the mast when its ashore.
My Question is... Can I add the diverter once its all fitted? or will I have to remove the reefing gear and forestay, to get the diverter onto the forestay?
Any other comments/ sugestions would be welcome.

Many thanks again

Dave

 

[dickhicks]

I had a Plastimo on my last but one boat and the halyard diverter was a round bit of plastic about 3" diameter that either was on the end of the spar or on the forestay - I can't remember which. This acted as the diverter but if I remember was not very good and the halyard tension was important. The diverter came with the kit, you should have one. Speak to Plastimo direct - I found them helpful, they sent extra pop-rivets when asked as they hadn't supply enough in the kit.
The Plastimo I had was the smallest, can't remember if this was the 608.
If you haven't got this diverter you definately need one, and if you don't use the Plastimo one you need to rivetone to the mast to give an angle of 15º to the forestay.

 

[Chris_Stannard]

I think what is meant by a diverter is a fitting, just below the halyard block, which holds the halyard away from the forestay at the top of the mast. Its job is to stop the genoa halyard wrapping round the forestay when the sail is being furled. If in doubt go an look at one or two boats in the marina and you will see what I mean. The usual type is a U shaped fitting with two flanges on the ends to screw onto the mast and I should think it is a standard Selden fitting (or whatever type of mast you have.) . Make sure it will go with the profile of the mast. If you are happy to drill and tap the mast to fit it, whilst in a bosuns chair, it can be done. do remember though that if you are using self tapping screws, screw one with a pointed end in, and then take it out and out in a screw whose end you have cut off and rounded so that your ahlyards and cables do not get chaffed inside the mast.

Last point, do not climb the mast with the boat out of the water, it can destablise the boat and would cause dreadfully problems all round.

Chris Stannard

 

[Johnjo]

David
I fitted a Plastimo 608 reefing system to my Sabre 27 four years ago,
It was all done with the mast up and no trips aloft.
Would highly reccomend fitting a diverter wheel, this came as a extra about
£16 back then, The diverter is fitted on to the stay before the foil etc.
The diverter has about a 1" hole through the centre to pass over wnatever ends
of the stay you have fitted through it, Then a split insert is fitted to the
centre of it to reduce it to the diameter of your stay,It is a separate from
the rest of the system. No need to rivet anything to the mast at all.
Straight forward enough to fit the system, but better to have two of you to
fit it as it takes a bit of muscle to slide it up the stay and to hold it all
in position while fitting another length of foil,
The foils are held in place with grubscrews, I had to drill the countersink in
some of the foils a bit deeper as the screws were sticking up a bit proud,
Did not want them rubbing against the sail when reefed.
Following year I fitted a new forestay,when I had the mast down I noticed
a couple of grubscrews had disappeared, Plastimo say to use silicone when
fitting , But I used threadlock when replacing as was not intending to
dismantle it in the fore seeable future,
The new forestay was simply slid down through the system without dismanteling
it and a Norseman terminal fitted it,
To date I have had no problems with it what so ever, But did notice some ruts
in the diverter wheel where the spinnaker halyard had being cutting into it
when hoisting it, very shallow though so must be doing its job.
hope this has being a help to you,all the best with it.

mike

 

[WayneS]

Dave, There are two types supplied by Plastimo and both have been mentioned in this thread. One being a wheel that goes on the forstay and the other a saddle mounted on the mast.

I fitted an 800 setup last season and opted for climbing the mast and fitting a saddle type. The positioning of the saddle is important as u need to get the correct angle for the halyard so may I suggest that you start off with the wheel type and change to the saddle next time the go aloft or drop the mast when u know where it should be

One thing that got us was foil length. We ended up too short while fitting and had to charge arround the South Coast trying to find more one Saturday Afternnon. Sea-Teach in Emsworth are the boys for bits.

Good Luck

Wayne

 

[Johnjo]

Agree with you Dick bought mine from Seateach, Ihad already measured
the length of foil needed, when I asked Seateach about the system they
asked what boat, then told me what length of foil I would need!
Tallied with my measurements, They know their stuff! very helpful,

all the best mike