Webbing reef points

[stevd]

hello,

Looking for a bit of advice. The reefing points on my main sail are made out of a bit of webbing shaped into a V and attached to the sail. I am only used to reefing points with a clew in the sail.

Should I put a shackle through the reefing point and run the reefing line through that so it runs smoother, or just run the line through the webbing?

What is the most common way of doing this?

Cheers

 

[TimBennet]

Is this on the luff or leach? Either way, the rule is you never run rope directly across nylon tape - you would expect them to have a stainless ring sewn in, but a shackle will make an excellent alternative.

 

[stevd]

Its on both. I am not too concerned about the luff as that will go over the gooseneck OK, I think. I was more concerned about the reefing lines going through the leech.

The other concern would be chafing from the shackle pin on the sail itself.

 

[TimBennet]

I can't exactly picture the arrangement, but a piece of 'leather' might well be your friend.

 

[prv]

Definitely don't just run the clew pendant through the tape. Apart from chafe, the friction will also make it very difficult to pull the reef down properly.

It sounds as if maybe the sail was designed to have blocks attached to the tapes?

Pete

 

[stevd]

II was just about to ask about the suitability of blocks being attached.

 

[stevd]

Is that a common way of doing it? I think a block could be ideal.

 

[rogerthebodger]

It sounds as if maybe the sail was designed to have blocks attached to the tapes?

Pete

Thats what I did with my reef points and it reduces the friction on my single line reefing to next to nothing.

 

[prv]

Is that a common way of doing it? I think a block could be ideal.

It's quite common for larger sails to have a special kind of cheek block sewn directly onto them, where the loads are too high to just pass the line through the usual pressed ring. I suspect yours might be an attempt to do the same without the expense of special parts.

Pete

 

[savageseadog]

Blocks are overkill in my opinion, unless you're talking about a 40ft plus yacht a shackle is quite adequate

 

[prv]

Blocks are overkill in my opinion, unless you're talking about a 40ft plus yacht a shackle is quite adequate

Agree that that's the sort of size where you start to see blocks sewn to the sail. Not sure I'd go with just a shackle though - the turning diameter of a likely shackle size is quite a bit less than the typical pressed ring. And since the sail seems to have been designed for blocks - even though they may not be strictly necessary - why not fit them? They don't need to be big or fancy, so needn't be expensive.

Pete

 

[stevd]

Thankfully the boat has come with a fair few blocks, there are two that had been left in a galley draw which I didnt know what they were for, I am guessing they are probably perfect and what the previous owner used.

Thanks for the replies

 

[oldbilbo]

Your use of small blocks to facilitate reefing will probably prove 'a labour-saver'. May I encourage you to consider chafe on your sail from the blocks rubbing on the fabric? There are simple preventive measures - such as a patch of sacrificial sailcloth simply glued on with suitable adhesive..... a 10-minute job!

 

[stevd]

Thats a great idea, cheers. I was thinking along the lines of a bit of gaffa tape but I suppose I could go down the sail cloth route

 

[prv]

I suppose I could go down the sail cloth route

You can buy patches of self-adhesive sailcloth for chafe protection. The sailmaker gave us a pack (circles about 10" in diameter, but they come in different shapes and sizes) to stick on our new sail where it chafes against the shrouds. Would do the job nicely under your blocks, I would think.

Pete