D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Ye, okay, whatever floats your boat, but how do you kill the fish?
Reefing
- Thread starter BurnitBlue
- Start date
Ye, okay, whatever floats your boat, but how do you kill the fish?
Tranona
Well-known member
Just like I described. Saves going to the mast to get the winch handle (as per Parsifal) leaving the poor fish to thrash around in the cockpit leaving scales and slime everywhere. Quick jerk and drop it in the bucket to be dealt with later.
LadyInBed
Well-known member
No, No, No, unless you are left handed!
Forefinger in the (fish's) mouth, Thumb behind the head, quick jerk and job done.
grumpy_o_g
Well-known member
It rather depends what you catch - I would dispute this method is less messy with a Conger...
Babylon
Well-known member
I thought this only worked with mackerel?
Babylon
Well-known member
Why the feck don't we have a 'rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-uncontrollably' emoticon anymore!!
onenyala
New member
I have a sliding goose neck and all lines at the mast. Normal reefing procedure is: Starboard tack, Tiller pilot on, sail as close to the wind as possible without stalling, ease the main, check the boat is sailing ok under jib, up to the mast, ease the kicker, check there is no slack in the topping lift, ease the main down haul, lift the boom up and secure, ease the main halyard, hook on the reef cringle ( with spectacles), re-tension the main halyard, haul in the reefing pennant, re-tension the main down haul, re-tension the kicker, check the tension on the topping lift, back to the cockpit. Probably takes a couple or three minutes.
What I would like to know is how to reef when hove to ( when say the tiller pilot has gone walk about). Every time I have tried it there is always too much friction on the main luff to pull the reef down.
What I would like to know is how to reef when hove to ( when say the tiller pilot has gone walk about). Every time I have tried it there is always too much friction on the main luff to pull the reef down.
Tranona
Well-known member
Never bother with the congers - don't fit the pan unless you chop 'em up and call them rock salmon.
A1Sailor
...
I think BlowingOldBoots was perhaps asking what happens to the fish while you are having a quick jerk
JimC
Well-known member
I guess the friction arises because the boom is too far out and the pull of the sail is putting too much side load on the mast groove or track. This will be because your boat heaves-to pointing well off the wind, which is commonplace with modern designs. You might try playing with the rudder angle or headsail sheeting/area to make her point more into the wind. You could also try tricing up the topping lift a bit more so the sail is really loose.
Tranona
Well-known member
I think BlowingOldBoots was perhaps asking what happens to the fish while you are having a quick jerk
Never occurred to me - but then I lead a sheltered life. Now I realise his name indicates something other than I thought it might!
Tranona
Well-known member
JimC;3784351 This will be because your boat heaves-to pointing well off the wind said:
onenyala
New member
I will try tricing up the boom or playing with the rudder next time out. Thanks for your suggestions
prv
Well-known member
BelleSerene
Active member
I find it OK putting in a reef downwind with the main sliding down the spreader. I'd prefer that to heading into the wind to do it, which increases the apparent windspeed. I'd be wary of shaking the reef out and grinding the halyard back up with the sail against the spreader though.
Last edited:
Babylon
Well-known member
But of course if you're shaking out a reef, then that's because the wind has moderated, so heading slightly to windward to do this shouldn't be a problem.
It only takes a few minutes to just come onto a reach with the mainsheet fully out and the topping lift de-powering (almost scandalising) the sail in order to pull in a reef.
That's why when I re-rig, I'm going to lead the topping lift back to the cockpit - so that I can de-power the sail and let off the halyard from there, and only then go for'd to pull the reefing cringle over the rams-horn and tension the reefing line from below the gooseneck.
A1Sailor
...
How convenient is it having to go forward to the mast to put the reefing cringle over a rams-horn, with the halyard led back to the cockpit? Might a better option not be to have "luff lines" led back to the cockpit also?
Babylon
Well-known member
Good point. But I'm not a fan of small cockpits overcrowded with rope, and there's also the issue of multiple points of friction on the lead-back, and potential for in-boom failure with this system.
Its not the end of the world to have to go forward to the mast... until I have the time and money to sort it all out properly for my old age.
awol
Well-known member
What is missing is one of the lurking RYA instructors to tell us the proper way to reef. I presume, never having had the advantage of formal training, that reefing is a technique that is taught on practical training courses and that approved procedures have been determined for the various configurations of halyards, reefing pennants, etc.. I, when singlehanded, manage to do it (usually) without any drama by a meander to the mast where the pennants and halyard are sited, providing I remember to ease the kicker and main sheet first - sometimes I even attach a lifeline before wandering out the cockpit.
One tip I have learned is on a boat with 3 reef points but only 2 reefing pennants is to reeve a light line through the 3rd reefing clew before hoisting the sail - it makes the transfer of the 1st reefing pennant so much easier.
One tip I have learned is on a boat with 3 reef points but only 2 reefing pennants is to reeve a light line through the 3rd reefing clew before hoisting the sail - it makes the transfer of the 1st reefing pennant so much easier.