Single Line Reefing

[Chris_Stannard]

I am thinking of fitting single line reefing to a Selden boom. Has anyone any experience of this system and its advantages, disadvantages, problems.

Many thanks in advance

Chris Stannard

 

[philip_stevens]

This was done on my Selden boom about three years ago.

Advantages - everything can come back to the cockpit - including the topping lift or line to a rod-kicker.

Disadvantages - to keep the outhaul, I lost the third reef - though there are ways around this to still get a third reef, by having a fixed outhaul (or even coming onto outside of the boom with a jam-cleat) and a cowhorn at the fwd end of the boom for the cringle of the third reef, and the outhaul line going up to the third reefing outhaul point.

Problems - sometimes, the blocks in the narrow boom can get stuck on each other. To free them takes a few minutes of pulling them backwards and forwards. Not really a problem.

regards,
Philip

 

[JeremyF]

The Bav's have Single Line Reefing as standard to Selden booms.

I wouldnt want to go back to at-mast reefing again - great to be able to put in or shake out a reef in seconds within the safety of the cockpit.

Tips - pull through the reefing lines before raising the main to reduce the friction of pulling the 2 lines through numerous pulleys as well as hauling the main up. Pull through the reefing lines ASAP on dropping the main, otherwise you get long lengths of rope thrashing around at head level.

Question - Has anyone added a 3rd reef to a single line system, or is that simply too much string and friction? Is there an alternative?

Jeremy Flynn

 

[billmacfarlane]

I'm thinking about adding a 3rd reef this winter. I 've been advised that the 3rd reef should consist of 2 separate lines , one from the luff and one from the leech passing through the boom. To achieve this of course I need another 2 clutches and I'm going to do this by moving the topping lift to a cleat at the mast and putting the pole downhaul onto a jamming cleat which will free up the clutches.

 

[quaelgeist2]

Have the Selden system on my 31ft boat.

(+)
- very handy to bring in, I have reefed single handed and close hauled, just easing the main sheet a bit, lowering the halyard to the mark and pulling in the reef
(-)
- much friction as mentioned before, I also pull out reef lines before hoisting
- third reef only by switching the first - however you normally know early whether you need 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 on our boat (we can sail up to F7 w/ 2nd reef) and it is done easily when not underway

I will try to reduce the friction during the next winter by cleaning and greasing the cars inside the boom (boat from 1997, previous maintence unknown) and reducing the reeflines from 12mm to 8mm Dyneema

I would, however, not mount a single line reefing, if I hadn't had one when I bought the boat. I sailed with hook-on (mast) and in-boom line (operated from mast winch) for years and found it very easy and no problem at all. It is more comfortable now, but how often you have to put in/take out a reef underway ?

cheers
chris

 

[charles_reed]

I do most of my sailing single-handed on a 31' boat with a 285 ft/sq fully-battened main.

For two seasons I had single line reefing fitted, but found it only useful on the 1st reef which goes in at about 15/18 knots windspeed.
The latter reefs were impossibly hard work, due to the frictional resistance and could never be set sufficiently well to give a good flat sail. An additional drawback was that I could only set up 2 in-boom reefs.
In fact the single-line reefing was very much slower than slab reefing, so I reverted to slab reefing.
I don't use a trysail, so have a 4th reef in the main - that's necessary on a broad reach in only a F7 if I want to use the autopilot.

In summary, single line reefing is better in theory than in practice and works well on fairly small mainsails and with heavy mechanical advantage - but is more trouble than it's worth compared to a simple slab-reefing.

 

[RJD]

Hi, Have you considered two line reefing? My Konsort came with standard slab reefing which entailed me going to the mast and pulling the sail down etc...
I have led both a luff line (threaded thru the luff cringles) and the leach lines back to jammers on the cabin top. Reefing is now very easy and all done from the cockpit. i.e. Tighten topping lift, release main halyard, pull down luff line followed by leach line, take up slack on main halyard, release topping lift and away we go. If second reef is required, just repeat procedure and pull down second slab...
It works very well, no jamming, inexpensive (additonal clutches required and longer lines)
Well worth considering!! - even the mate approves...

Good luck, Tony P

 

[peterk]

slab reefing?

hi Charles,

Is slab reefing the same as
'jiffy reefing'
north of the Carribbean ?

...peter, www.juprowa.com/kittel