Roller reefing

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bamspm

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I have a Leisure 17 which still has the original worm gear roller reefing. The main has only 1 reefing point and I was thinking of using the roller reefing rather than having the main modified with a second reefing point I am reluctant to use the reefed main without a kicking strap but can't think of how to do this without a claw ring. Does anyone know if these are available and effective or have any other suggestions please.
 
I hated my roller reefing so I converted to slab.

You can have a kicking strap without a claw - I used to have a knotted tape loop threaded onto the kicking strap fixture, then rolled that into the sail and clipped the strap back on at the nearest knot. The problems with that are that the sail sets very badly, and the strap is always trying to unroll the boom so I also had to tie down the roller handle to ensure it stayed fixed.

I know my boat is twice the size of yours but I wouldn't want anything to do with a roller boom again. Others will differ!
 
Thanks Damo, I had thought of trying to roll a tape into the sail but hadn't thought of the worm gear unrolling nor that it would significantly affect the sail shape. It is just the sort of advice I was hoping for.
 
I think your roller reefing system is similar to mine, maybe exactly the same!.

I gave up with it years ago and had two sets of reefing points put in the main. I had a claw ring but it is possible, although I never tried it, to roll a strap, or a sail bag, in as you reef and attach the kicking strap to that.

My main reasons for changing were to stop the boom drooping into the cockpit when deeply reefed and poor sail shape when reefed. Another problem I found was that the ring has to be guyed to the swivel on the boom end which was not designed to take a load from that direction and consequently bent. I have a more powerful tackle on the fixed kicking strap than I would have dared use with the old claw ring

As far as I know the claw rings are still available, you will want a 120mm diameter one I suspect. I sold mine on Saturday! My advice would be to forget the roller and get another set of reefing points put in the main.
 
I have roller reefing on my Hillyard 2 1/2 turner and I don't like it at all as the boom droops and the main sets like a badly cut marquee. I'll be getting a new main this winter but have yet to decide on two reefs or three. What does the panel recommend?
 
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If you get 2 reefs, you will probably wish you had 3 as the wind rises! Why not give yourself the option of 3?

[/ QUOTE ]

Two deep reefs could save a third trip to a very small foredeck!
 
When reefing ie in strong winds the sail shape depends on proper outhaul tension which requires proper fixing of the tack. (gooseneck end) You can not get this with roller reefing.
I reckon you might find that the one reefing point is OK if you are willing to reduce jib size or remove jib or remove mainsail and sail on jib alone if wind comes up.
It is likely that the one reefing point is adequate if the sail is properly shaped and flattened when reefed. ie adequate stretch along the foot and enough halyard tension. Give it a go but forget roller reefing. good luck olewill
 
[ QUOTE ]
I used to roll a tapered rolled up towel into the sail when reefed, it stopped the boom drooping and gave a better sail shape

[/ QUOTE ] I tried a sail bag, only once though. We forgot it was there and lost it when we unrolled the reef!
 
My boom had a wedge-shaped piece of wood attached to each side of the boom, rising to about 1" in depth at the mainsheet end, which made the boom diameter larger at this end and compensated for any drooping as the sail wound in.
 
I solved the problem by having a second mast! having a ketch means that I can stow the main completely and sail on Genoa & mizzen! OK so it don't point that high coz the slot is so wide, but it is quick & easy to manage the rig & reefing the genoa means I can use it like a throttle to slow her down under good control.
 
[ QUOTE ]
solved the problem by having a second mast

[/ QUOTE ] We all await your detailed instructions for converting a Leisure 17 to a ketch!
 
I have roller reefing and am very happy with it. I sleeved the outboard half of the boom with a piece of plastic drainpipe and can wind the sail down to the spreaders without any boom droop. Instead of a claw ring, I have a wide padded alloy hook that hooks over the boom and rolled sail to provide an anchorage for the kicking strap. This only comes out when reefing is required. It is held at the correct position on the boom by a wire strop with a snap shackle which goes on the mainsheet swivel at the outboard end of the boom. When unreefed, the kicker goes to a low profile eye on the boom in normal fashion. You do need to reef in complete numbers of turns, though, to keep the unused kicker eye plate on the underside of the boom. If you dont, there is a risk that the hook will chafe holes in the sail. This hook came with my boat when I bought her. It is made of cast aluminium alloy and is about six inches wide. I guess you could make one by bending a piece of s/s plate around a suitable former. Roller reefing can be made to work!

Neil
 
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