slab reefing

[clyst]

Just rigging the slab reefing lines on new (to me ) boat . On the side of boom are the usual track/sliding pullies however there doesn't seem to be any way of attaching the reefing lines to the other side of the boom . Presumably the lines should be fixed one side of the boom up thro' the cringle ,down to turning block on the other side of the boom and then forw'd . No problem with luff as the mast has the usual "horns" .

Help me out chaps

cheers

Terry

 

[MoodySabre]

One end of reefing line may tie off at the end of the boom, up through the cringle and down on to the fixing on the side of the boom. That's how they used to be on my Snappie.

 

[gandy]

If its a loose-footed sail, the line can just tie off round the boom. The up to the cringle, back down to the block you've mentioned and forwards to some form of cleat.

 

[DaveS]

Is the foot of your sail fitted with an eylet (like a cringle but without the reinforcement) below (and perhaps a little aft of) each of the reefing cringles? If so you can pass the line under the boom, thread the end through the eylet, and tie it to the standing part using a clove hitch.

The adjustable blocks should be set well aft so that the effective pull of the reefing line is outwards as well as downwards.

 

[William_H]

The tail end can be fed under the boom back to the block. (tied onto something) or tied onto the boom itself or have dedicated saddle on the other side of the boom which I use. You can also just take the reefing line to the eyelet and tie it there. However you miss out on the nenefit of a 2to1 purchase you get by returning the rope to the boom hence much higher reef line looad.
The thing to bear in mind is that the fixing of the tail (return) will affect the amount of aft pull you give to the sail. So just tied to the boom will mean all pull on that leg is only down while the pull aft comes from the line from the pulley. I reckon you need lots of aft pull to flatten the foot of the sail for the strong winds.
If you take it around the boom then to the pulley you will get some aft pull but the rope will slide forward as it rounds the boom so giving more down pull than the rope from the pulley.

There is no reason why the pull from both sides of the rope should be from the same direction I just reckon it looks more "right".

Often you see the reef come out of the end of the boom to the eyelet and down to (around) the boom. This gives one pulling down and one pulling out which is OK but not adjustable.

Note though that a saddle rivetted to the side of the boom is another bit of hardware to nail into your skull (as opposed to a smooth boom side) should you forget to duck.

good luck olewill

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
On the side of boom are the usual track/sliding pullies

[/ QUOTE ] If that has been supplied as reefing gear then there should be eyes below the blocks ("pullies"). Make off the end of the reefing lines to those, pass them under the boom, up and through the cringles in the sail and back down and round the blocks. As described at greater length by William H.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Just to reinforce what others have said in different ways.

It is quite possible (usual) for the reefing line to exit the aft end of the boom, go up to the reefing point in the leech of the sail, and just come down to the boom. Are you sure that the 'blocks' that you mention are not 'eyes' for the reefing pennant to be made off to?

In my experience it is rare for a reefing line to come out of the aft end of the boom and along the boom, round a block and up to the the reefing eye in the sail and back down again to be made off at the boom.

Remember that whatever you do, the reefing line should pull the sail BACK as well as DOWN. The reef flattens the sail as well as reducing the size.