Rigging reefing lines

[Adrian62]

Have just changed my westerly Konsort boom ,having removed the in boom furling boom and replaced with an original kemp boom with 3 reefing lines . We have rigged the reefing lines that came with the boom but not sure they are right . The existing lines may need to be changed to longer ones . The goose neck has hooks on it . We have tied the lines to the points on the luff which go down to the rollers on the boom , then the lines go through the boom come out the boom on a downward pulley to bottom of the mast and back to the cockpit .
Should the luff end be looped through the sail and tied to the boom rather than the sail .
The present set up worked ok today when we reefed but does not quite look right .
thanks

 

[andsarkit]

The lines should be looped through the aft reef point and the end secured to the boom. This will keep the sail central on the boom and give a double purchase to pull down the sail.
A picture from page 57 of the Selden guide : Selden

 

[ashtead]

In case it’s not apparent from above there is a bowline tied in the end of each line on ours though which the line passes before climbing up the sail to its reef point and then journeying diagonally back to block at outer end of boom and then travelling down the boom to gooseneck .

 

[KompetentKrew]

I tore my mainsail after rigging the reefing lines incorrectly, and subsequently found this image helpful:

From this guide: Proper Reefing Procedure — UK Sailmakers

 

[Neil_Y]

Have just changed my westerly Konsort boom ,having removed the in boom furling boom and replaced with an original kemp boom with 3 reefing lines . We have rigged the reefing lines that came with the boom but not sure they are right . The existing lines may need to be changed to longer ones . The goose neck has hooks on it . We have tied the lines to the points on the luff which go down to the rollers on the boom , then the lines go through the boom come out the boom on a downward pulley to bottom of the mast and back to the cockpit .
Should the luff end be looped through the sail and tied to the boom rather than the sail .
The present set up worked ok today when we reefed but does not quite look right .
thanks

You probably also have jammers under the boom at the front that the reef lines pass over, you winch them tight then jam them so you don't need a coach roof jammer or to leave reef line on a winch.

 

[LadyInBed]

Also note from the image in #2 that the lines are rigged on alternate sides.

 

[Poignard]

Also note from the image in #2 that the lines are rigged on alternate sides.

That's very interesting and I wonder why that is recommended.

I have always rigged reefing pendants on the same side for no better reason than that was how they used to be arranged when yachts had wooden booms.

But I am launching my boat next month and I will follow the guidance above and rig the pendants on alternate sides.

 

[Hermit]

I think the only reason for the pennants to go on alternate sides was the assumption they they come out of the clew end of the boom either side of the topping lift attachement point and so avoids them crossing.

 

[Poignard]

I think the only reason for the pennants to go on alternate sides was the assumption they they come out of the clew end of the boom either side of the topping lift attachement point and so avoids them crossing.

Seems reasonable. I am a convert!

 

[mattonthesea]

I tore my mainsail after rigging the reefing lines incorrectly, and subsequently found this image helpful:

From this guide: Proper Reefing Procedure — UK Sailmakers

Interesting. I don't have a loose footed mainsail so I tie the bowline through the cringle in the foot of the main and tightly around the boom. Is this wrong?

 

[BabaYaga]

The goose neck has hooks on it .

I may totally misunderstand, but the way I read this piece of information, the boom is intended for slab reefing at the mast and then the sail cringles on the luff are attached manually to the hooks. The reefing lines are for pulling down the leech, not the luff.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Interesting. I don't have a loose footed mainsail so I tie the bowline through the cringle in the foot of the main and tightly around the boom. Is this wrong?

If I'm reading you right, then that's what the cringle is for.

My main isn't loose-footed either - I believe it has a short leather-reinforced slit for this purpose.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I may totally misunderstand, but the way I read this piece of information, the boom is intended for slab reefing at the mast and then the sail cringles on the luff are attached manually to the hooks. The reefing lines are for pulling down the leech, not the luff.

I have reefing lines running back to the cockpit (an arrangement like this, I think), but the reefing lines at the mainsail luff run to a ring on a piece of webbing that goes through the cringle to another ring on the other side. I had therefore been going forward to the mast to hook the second ring over the hooks. Viewed from the opposite side to the reefing line, it looks like this.

Have I been doing it wrong?

I am unclear whether the point of my led-back reefing lines is to reduce the need for trips to the mast or to eliminate them completely.

I think I started going to the mast to secure the obverse luff reefing ring after I tore my main (at the leech or middle crinkles) through being a clueless reefing numpty. Perhaps I'm being too careful?

 

[Hermit]

Looks like yours may have been set up for single line reefing i.e. you pull the reefing which pulls down a section of the whole sail - meaning you shouldn't need to use the reefing eyes at the mast as long as the line is kept under tension. However, depending on the setup, this may have a lot of friction in the system which could cause you to think the reefing pennant is tight throughout but it actually isn't; it then releases under load and puts stress on the sail where not expected/strenghened and causes a rip.

Might be worth getting a sailmaker/rigger (or another local forumuite who know what they are doing with this type of system) along to give you a few pointers.

 

[Adrian62]

Thanks for all your replies . I will change to lines about but I can’t have the lines at 90 deg to the boom as the sail is tight in the boom will take them to as close to the clew as I can get .

 

[chriswesterman]

The original Westerly owners manual is here - https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/f/fe/Owners_manual.pdf see page 31 - 2.17 - Fig 16

Our Konsort mainsail is bolt roped to the boom. Has 'rings' in the foot of the mainsail to pass reefing line through. Are these missing on your sail ? Mast mainsail reefing tack cringles are attached to the hooks on the gooseneck.

 

[Gadget257]

Adrian 62 out of interest did your boom rolling sail already have reefing points or are you putting them in yourself? I ask as I am look at doing something similar to my Halmatic 30 but I am concerned if the mainsail cut is different for a roller boom compared to slab reefing it will make sail failure more likely.

 

[andsarkit]

I don't think that a main on a roller boom will be significantly different. I had my roller mainsail coverted by a sailmaker and it was fine and set a lot better than the roller reefing.
The important thing is adequate reinforcing patches to spread the load. Look at a similar boat to get some idea of the size and weight of the patches. Also sailmakers have access to a hydraulic cringle press with a stainless grommet which will be much more secure that anything you can do. It might be possible to use webbing and a ring instead.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have reefing lines running back to the cockpit (an arrangement like this, I think), but the reefing

Mine is exactly like the first link & works perfectly well on a 28 M2 mainsail. I do not go forward to reef. The sail has a foot that is fully fitted in the boom, so there are loops on the underside to attach the end of the leech line. There are slots in the lazy jack covers to accomodate the reef lines through them.
If one's sails are not strong enough for the reef points, (likely on old dacron sails) that may be because they were cut for roller reefing. I would suggest that they be taken to a sailmaker & have additional sailcloth added at stress points
Some have a block & tackle system in the boom, but this is unnecessary & creates additional friction. It does not increase purchase power. Plus makes it difficult to repair at sea if a problem occurs inside the boom.

 

[davidej]

I tore my mainsail after rigging the reefing lines incorrectly, and subsequently found this image helpful:

From this guide: Proper Reefing Procedure — UK Sailmakers

I usually tie my pennants to " saddles " on the bottom of the boom but have experimented with something like this.

I am really scratching my head to understand the reasoning between the "right" and "wrong" method shown here.

can somebody explain please.