Single Line Reefing

[iainmillett]

Has anyone experience of single line reefing??

I had trouble with the 2 lines my Kemp system uses - they kept pulling out in any kind of blow. A local yard is renewing the lines - I live in hope.

BUT........

I need to use the top reefing line in extremis too. This has no reefing lines, slab or otherwise.

Any ideas?

 

[tony_brighton]

We've got single line reefing - totally recommend it. One person can reef from the safety of the cockpit really easily. Works every time and very simple.

We went with a third deep reef in the main - but the boom doesn't have a slot for the extra line so its rigged as per traditional slab reefing.

 

[vyv_cox]

What pulls out? My original arrangement was converted from a traditional arrangement, so the sail had cringles at the luff, the stopper knots in the pennant ends occasionally pulled through until I learned to do double figure 8s in them. Otherwise I have never had a problem in almost ten years, always do-it-yourself systems in Kemp booms. You could always have the correct loops added to the sail, in which case you can tie a bowline in the luff pennant.

We kept the original ramshorns and have a separate tackle for the third reef, this has worked OK but is, of course, not ideal. I have considered installing a third reef external to the boom but have so far never seen a need to do it.

 

[iainmillett]

The leech lines in the single line reefing are so short that I cannot tie bowlines onto the boom. In a number of instance the lines have pulled out completely and I have asked a local boatyard to replace ALL lines through the boom with correct (and longer) lengths.

As to the 3rd reef, I am proposing taking out the outhaul and using a narrower gauge/stronger line for the leech line whilst installing a block to take the luff line back to the cockpit. Effectively a standard 2 line slab reefing system.

I note that you seem NOT to tie the single ends around the boom first but take the line directly from the leech through the boom end pullies. Do you not use the eyes in the main provided for this??

My Vic 26 is very tender with her sloop rig and I feel thst I need all 3 points!

I have a asked a Kemps dealer and this is his recommendation - but I have a bill of some £450 to sort the thing out

 

[Miker]

Re: third reef - How will you tension the outhaul?

I ,too, have two reefing lines and am wondering how best to connect a third.
I did think of using the outhaul but concluded that I would just be swapping one problem for another. Will you now have to put external blocks etc on your boom for the outhaul?

 

[iainmillett]

Re: third reef - How will you tension the outhaul?

We are using a 6mm extra strong line through the old outhaul line via the boom and adding a block to the base of the mast to allow the luff line to be fed aft to the cockpit.

The outhaul will be replaced - instead of through the boom, this will be set on departure using a small block or line fastened to the end of the boom.

 

[Miker]

Do I need an adjustable outhaul?

Thanks. I was thinking along those lines as I never play with the outhaul as I did in the old days when I sailed a dinghy.

I wonder if anyone does adjust the outhaul for light airs and whether it makes much difference.

 

[iainmillett]

I've just spoken to the marina at Hoo who have completed the work.

Apparently, they have found a spare set of pulleys within the boom so that my outhaul now runs within the boom as before but ends at the foot of the main by the mast and is clamped using a spring device already fitted to the mast end of the boom!

No need for an external outhaul to run to the back end of the boom!

Hoo have advised I fit a winch at some point for the 3rd reefing linethough.

A near happy ending.