Slab reefing a 19ft boat

[VicS]

It depends how far away from "straight down" you make the pull.

Would it be possible for fittings to be on the mast below the boom ?

This one using horns on the gooseneck must be as close to ideal as possible

That's been added to an old roller reefing boom by the look of it. What you want to do would not be suitable for that boom


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[ianat182]

If you cannot buy a set of ram's horns to fit as in Vic'S suggestion, these can be made up from a couple of round st/stl bow shackles, cutting off the threaded ends of each and using a clevis pin and ring to secure, or alternatively a stainless bolt and locking nut, leaving the unthreaded end to be cut and deburred.

ianat182

 

[VicS]

If you cannot buy a set of ram's horns to fit as in Vic'S suggestion, these can be made up from a couple of round st/stl bow shackles, cutting off the threaded ends of each and using a clevis pin and ring to secure, or alternatively a stainless bolt and locking nut, leaving the unthreaded end to be cut and deburred.

ianat182

See also my improvised ramshorns pictured earlier in the thread .... made from a couple of st st shackles

 

[William_H]

Luff reefing eyelet

You don't want it pulling straight down in fact you want it pulling forward at about 45 degrees from down. This is necessary to counteract the pull aft of the foot of the sail in trying to tension the foot. You need a well tensioned foot of the sail for stronger winds. If you don't have a decent pull forward you will find all the load taken by the luff rope or lowest slug so giving the sail and aweful shape.
Fit your cheek block onto the mast at a point below the gooseneck. In fact I found that just a saddle is satisfactory on a much bigger mainsail than yours to guide the rope forward then down to the deck. In my case then to a pulley and back to the cockpit.
Fit a saddle on the other side of the mast to take the tail of the reefing rope so you get a 2 purchase through the luff eyelet.
Now this does mean you have to unreeve the luff reefing line to remove the boom. You may wonder if the luff reefing line when pulled down very tight will inhibit the range of motion of the gooseneck. No it does not although you may get some movement of the line through the eyelet on each tack especially if you are running boom way out. One side tightens one side loosens. Note here I am assuming 2 line reefing. olewill

 

[jswindel]

My 20ft Baycruiser has slab reefing as standard. The lines come through solid aluminium bulls eyes spliced into the ends of the reefing lines, rather than blocks, which eliminates problems of aligning cheek blocks. (Photo below hopefully shows how they fit) It works very well and is apparently impossible to jamb. The tack is hauled down by a single part line. There is no need for a purchase, you just ease off the halyard as you pull the line down. All lines cleat into clamcleats on the boom.

 

[Fallguy]

thanks

Thanks for the replies. Having brought some tack hooks it seems that I'm not able to mount them in such a way as to give me the best angle, so I'm going to try to an alternative method.

I propose to buy a ss hook that can be attached to a reefing line, I'll mount a block and cleat on the mast (at the best place) and use this to pull the luff cringle down to the mast. This way I should have to modify my boom or attach a hook to the mast etc. I have done this with my dinghy and it seems to do the trick.

I'll let you know the results