Something to support reefing lines along boom?

LittleSister

LittleSister

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There should be a common or blindingly obvious simple solution to this - either a type of fitting or a technique - but I'm a bit stumped. Perhaps I'm just being dense.

I have two reefing lines (about 8mm dia) running along the outside of the (originally roller-reefing) boom to the aft end. Unless these are each carefully adjusted in length and secured they hang down from the boom, threatening to garrotte anyone in the way, and being unsightly. Too tight and they mishape the sail, even just slightly loose and they hang down. Get them just right and then lower the sail and they hang down again. Tuck the spare length into the sail cover when the sails down and they soon slide out a bit and hang down again.

There is surely an easy way to deal with this? (And how have previous owners put up with this nuisance for the past decades?!) I am not sure what a gadget solution would be called. I have searched for rope guides, cord guides, lacing eyes, etc.

I could rivet a number of lacing eyes to the boom, but these are usually stainless steel, may tend to catch on hands and other things, and could cause a nasty wound if someone were clouted on the head by the boom. (I'm also assuming there's not any reefing mechanism inside the boom, apart from near the gooseneck, that would scupper riveting - does that seem right?)

Plastic fittings (bullseye fairleads etc.) seem to all assume a flat, not sharply curved, surface for mounting.

I could buy some aluminium strip and make my own lacing eyes, but this seems a bit of a faff.

I could glue (or rivet) some plastic P clips to the boom, but wonder how long these would last in the UV light.

Ideally, I think, I want something plastic, UV resistant, flexible, shaped like a wide 'n' with feet either side, and a clear space underneath to take both ropes (i.e. about 10mm high and 20mm).

Any suggestions? How do others deal with this?
 
LittleSister said:
There should be a common or blindingly obvious simple solution to this - either a type of fitting or a technique - but I'm a bit stumped. Perhaps I'm just being dense.
I have two reefing lines (about 8mm dia) running along the outside of the (originally roller-reefing) boom to the aft end. Unless these are each carefully adjusted in length and secured they hang down from the boom, threatening to garrotte anyone in the way, and being unsightly. Too tight and they mishape the sail, even just slightly loose and they hang down. Get them just right and then lower the sail and they hang down again. Tuck the spare length into the sail cover when the sails down and they soon slide out a bit and hang down again.
Any suggestions? How do others deal with this?
Click to expand...
Pressed stainless steel eye straps ( I expect thats what Slowtack has in mind) Feet can be bent to fit a curved surface

A selection of sizes here Eye Straps & U Bolts | Eye Straps & U Bolts for Fitting Decks | Coast Water Sports
 
LittleSister said:
There should be a common or blindingly obvious simple solution to this - either a type of fitting or a technique - but I'm a bit stumped. Perhaps I'm just being dense.

I have two reefing lines (about 8mm dia) running along the outside of the (originally roller-reefing) boom to the aft end. Unless these are each carefully adjusted in length and secured they hang down from the boom, threatening to garrotte anyone in the way, and being unsightly. Too tight and they mishape the sail, even just slightly loose and they hang down. Get them just right and then lower the sail and they hang down again. Tuck the spare length into the sail cover when the sails down and they soon slide out a bit and hang down again.

There is surely an easy way to deal with this? (And how have previous owners put up with this nuisance for the past decades?!) I am not sure what a gadget solution would be called. I have searched for rope guides, cord guides, lacing eyes, etc.

I could rivet a number of lacing eyes to the boom, but these are usually stainless steel, may tend to catch on hands and other things, and could cause a nasty wound if someone were clouted on the head by the boom. (I'm also assuming there's not any reefing mechanism inside the boom, apart from near the gooseneck, that would scupper riveting - does that seem right?)

Plastic fittings (bullseye fairleads etc.) seem to all assume a flat, not sharply curved, surface for mounting.

I could buy some aluminium strip and make my own lacing eyes, but this seems a bit of a faff.

I could glue (or rivet) some plastic P clips to the boom, but wonder how long these would last in the UV light.

Ideally, I think, I want something plastic, UV resistant, flexible, shaped like a wide 'n' with feet either side, and a clear space underneath to take both ropes (i.e. about 10mm high and 20mm).

Any suggestions? How do others deal with this?
Click to expand...
Bullseye Fairlead With Stainless Steel Inner
That's what I used, then I read you'd already dismissed them so no.
 
Hi, have got lacing eyes along my boom, still have lines everywhere when the main is dropped, either sail ties or stuff in the sail cover or coil once slack taken up and loop around mast cleats remembering to undo before raising they they main, Sarabandes idea sounds very good may look in to that one
 
Best option is to put the reefing lines inside the boom. Use exit sheaves at the top of the boom near clew and anoother under the boom at the gooseneck. Of course take reefing line(s) back to cokpit. Stainless steel fittings on side of boom would be horrible if it was the first part to hit a skull. A smooth round boom would be a lot less injurous to a skull. I can recall at least one death on Swan River from boom hitting a skull. I don't know if there were protrusions to exacerbate the injury in this case but it worries me especially for a small boat. We have had several head injuries from boom hitting crew of recent times at our club. ol'will
 
Hissy, I am not sure that having bags for the reefing lines on the boom is conducive to taking in or letting out a reef without getting a jam. Bags always seem to tangle ropes and sheets, however carefully one puts the lines inside.

There's a lot of line, especially from reefs #2 and #3 to be controlled and stored neatly. I must admit I have not found a 'best' solution on my boom, and end up stuffing spare reef lines into the folds of the unused sail, or on one of the spare cleats at the base of the mast.
 
sarabande said:
Hissy, I am not sure that having bags for the reefing lines on the boom is conducive to taking in or letting out a reef without getting a jam. Bags always seem to tangle ropes and sheets, however carefully one puts the lines inside.

There's a lot of line, especially from reefs #2 and #3 to be controlled and stored neatly. I must admit I have not found a 'best' solution on my boom, and end up stuffing spare reef lines into the folds of the unused sail, or on one of the spare cleats at the base of the mast.
Click to expand...
You're obviously on the ball when reading the forum; I deleted that suggestion within five minutes of putting it up, but not for that reason. I realised that I hadn't taken account of the location of LittleSister's control point, so bags at the reefing points would not suit. Bags are often used in cockpits to tidy lines, so there is no particular issue with bags per say. If lines are coiled consistently by reversing the direction of each loop then there is less likelihood of them tangling. It floored me when I was first shown that technique. It has also saved me much cursing when dealing with long power and instrument leads. They should teach it in schools.
 
sarabande said:
Hissy, I am not sure that having bags for the reefing lines on the boom is conducive to taking in or letting out a reef without getting a jam. Bags always seem to tangle ropes and sheets, however carefully one puts the lines inside.

There's a lot of line, especially from reefs #2 and #3 to be controlled and stored neatly. I must admit I have not found a 'best' solution on my boom, and end up stuffing spare reef lines into the folds of the unused sail, or on one of the spare cleats at the base of the mast.
Click to expand...
The best way to store lines in bags is to just stuff them in randomly, as you would a MOB heaving line.
 
I fitted plastic fairleads along my boom to support my reffing lines. Yes the curve of the boom did distort the plastic by the lines still run through the fairleads quite easy.
 
Thank you all for your suggestions and advice. Keep them coming.

I don't think I need bags, as the spare rope would be fine tucked into the sail cover or folded sail if the lines were supported along the boom - it's only the weight of the unsupported line along the boom that pulls it out again.

tillergirl said:
TG reefing by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr
Click to expand...

What are the fittings you have used, Roger?

Rogershaw said:
Or a 20mm plastic conduit fixing clip
Click to expand...

That's led me to a further range of potential fittings and potential fittings' names from the plumbing and electrical world, thanks.
 
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