Rigging reefing lines

[Adrian62]

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.

No the boom roller sail had no reefing points and was fully battened , I purchased a good used sail to go with the slab reefing boom . I have the intention of taking the boom roller sail to a local sailmaker to see if it is economical to have it modified as it is a nice crisp sail in very good condition . The cut of sails is different the roller one is a lot flatter and have noticed that the slab sail has more shape and seems to push the boat along quicker by up to a knot . Had over 6.5 knots on a reef in 18 k winds . Have found the conversion back worthwhile as it is so much easier to raise and lower the main , the in boom roller was always sticking and jamming up and had to be dead head to wind to have any chance .Just got fed up with the stress with crew (wife) .

 

[andsarkit]

No the boom roller sail had no reefing points and was fully battened , I purchased a good used sail to go with the slab reefing boom . I have the intention of taking the boom roller sail to a local sailmaker to see if it is economical to have it modified as it is a nice crisp sail in very good condition . The cut of sails is different the roller one is a lot flatter and have noticed that the slab sail has more shape and seems to push the boat along quicker by up to a knot . Had over 6.5 knots on a reef in 18 k winds . Have found the conversion back worthwhile as it is so much easier to raise and lower the main , the in boom roller was always sticking and jamming up and had to be dead head to wind to have any chance .Just got fed up with the stress with crew (wife) .

I had assumed that Adrian62 with a Halmatic 30 from the 1980s would have the main wrapped around the boom rather than inside the boom. I agree that the in boom main would have to be very flat to roll neatly.
The reefing that rolls around the boom would be fuller but it would still set badly when rolled and you might also have a drooping boom. You also loose the use of the kicker unless you have a reefing claw. Slab reefing is the way to go as it is simple and fool-proof.

Sorry, this was meant as a reply to Gadget 257

 

[Gadget257]

No the boom roller sail had no reefing points and was fully battened , I purchased a good used sail to go with the slab reefing boom . I have the intention of taking the boom roller sail to a local sailmaker to see if it is economical to have it modified as it is a nice crisp sail in very good condition . The cut of sails is different the roller one is a lot flatter and have noticed that the slab sail has more shape and seems to push the boat along quicker by up to a knot . Had over 6.5 knots on a reef in 18 k winds . Have found the conversion back worthwhile as it is so much easier to raise and lower the main , the in boom roller was always sticking and jamming up and had to be dead head to wind to have any chance .Just got fed up with the stress with crew (wife) .

Thank you.

 

[Adrian62]

I had assumed that Adrian62 with a Halmatic 30 from the 1980s would have the main wrapped around the boom rather than inside the boom. I agree that the in boom main would have to be very flat to roll neatly.
The reefing that rolls around the boom would be fuller but it would still set badly when rolled and you might also have a drooping boom. You also loose the use of the kicker unless you have a reefing claw. Slab reefing is the way to go as it is simple and fool-proof.

My Boat is a Westerly Konsort 1988 and the Boom that I have just replaced was a in boom furling type .Not an original fitting but a replacement fitted by a previous owner about 10 years ago at great expense but unfortunately was not great ,as a rigger said to me when they are working they are brilliant . but as he often sees as soon as they start playing up they are a real pain .
Also with the system as fitted had a solid vang so no adjustment of the kicker .was just a case of set boom 90deg to mast for sail tension and then no adjustment for reefing , When reefing just roll the sail in and that was it .Sounds simple enough but when you have to winch the sail in not quite so . We even tried having a smaller rope in the luff tape but was still very stiff at times , and the system chaffed through the luff tape .
Did not want to spend any more on it hence back to simplicity .