reefing a main with a stack-pack

[DogWatch]

I'd agree with this. I'm also worried about the phrase "lash down the tack" that Dogwatch used.
You said your boom was originally for roller reefing, is the same true of the sail? How exactly are you attaching the tack when reefed?

Sounds to me like it's your reefing set up that's the problem here.

I don't see a difference between using a reef hook and lashing down the sail at the tack end of the reef. The sail is held to the mast by the slugs and is held down to the boom by my ready made 'strops' that allow me to lash them down bar tight.

If I am having problems, taking from this thread it is more likely to be the clew and it may be time to start saving for a more modern boom.

The sail is designed specifically for slab reefing, as was the previous main and the bag of white material that purportedly was once in the shape of sail that came with the boat in 1989. It is now a rather fetching bimini

 

[DogWatch]

The alternative is to pass the reefing line from the end of the boom, through the cringle and down to an attachment point on the boom. This provides back and down tension. I have to use this arrangement because my boom is fixed in height but it would work well on 'normal' rigs.

I have this I think... the line goes through the cheek block through the cringle and down to an eye plate on the opposite side of the boom. The eye plate could I guess be offset as they are currently match the cheek block positions.

This would give a two-way pull on the clew, interesting and a simple thing to try first.

 

[Slow_boat]

When I converted a roller boom to slab reefing I had an issue of the reefing pennants, being outside the boom,hanging beneath the boom in a big loop when the sail was down. I sorted it by screwing lengths if plastic pipe, about 15mm internal diameter, along the boom from cheek blocks to about a foot short of the goosneck, one for each pennant. Problem (cheaply) sorted.

I also am making a stackpack this winter. Don't secure it to the bottom of the boom, the sail will flop all over the place and try to hang under the boom when lowered. My intention is to pull it through the boom track with the foot of the sail. I'm also thinking of having the lazy jacks secured to either half way along the spreaders or higher up the mast on a strop secured to mast and shroud, with a small block for the lazyjack about halfway between the two.

 

[Heckler]

Yes this is what I am talking about.

We do have lazy jacks, but even so, it leaves the bottom of the sail so baggy when I pull down the reef that I will still tie the sail down with the ties to pull the middle of the sail in a bit tighter.

It seems nobody else is using them at all, maybe I need to reconsider if what I am doing makes any difference at all, other than it looks neater.

We spent a few hours looking over stackpacks on the pontoons one afternoon and I am familiar with the zip/velcro pockets that are filled to accommodate reefing lines.

As we are building our own, I have considered, instead of fitting clips down either side of the boom, have the pack go right around the boom like a bag, fixed in a few places underneath. This would mean the loose lines I asked about would be within the bag, I don't know if this will work or not. It may cause real problems if they become tangled, especially as our boom is above our head height.

If the lines need to remain on the outside, I don't see what problem a stack pack will cure for us. We have after many alterations built a sail cover that fits between the lazy jacks (3 zips underneath) that only takes less than a minute to put on/take off. Saying that though, the loose lines will remain at the velcro holes and may just fall back into the after part of the bag.

Jools
I did Sacha last year, come and have a look at the system. There most weekends 8A7 in the marina. Have also a got the other sail bag, battens etc. 4.5 mtr boom. Easily cut down if necessary. Admiral Blue, Beer tokens exchange!
Stu

 

[flaming]

I don't see a difference between using a reef hook and lashing down the sail at the tack end of the reef. The sail is held to the mast by the slugs and is held down to the boom by my ready made 'strops' that allow me to lash them down bar tight.

Do you have reefing cringles at the tack then? The average reefing cringle has a whole heap of reinforcement that isn't there on a a normal slug attachment. I suspect you may be doing damage (stretching) your sail by reefing in this way.