Single Line Reefing - reducing drag when hoisting Main Sail

[smokey73]

It seems I get a lot of drag from the single line reefing line where it feeds through the sail (at the aft end of the boom). I have a block at the fore end at the #1 Reef Tack Clew but it feeds directly through the eye at the aft end as shown on the attached drawing (from my Hunter 40.5 Owners Manual). When I hoist the Main Sail is seems to drag heavily at eye and increases the effort to raise the from the point where the reef starts to unfurl.

I have it rigged exactly as in the manual. What am I missing? I don't think my boom is too low but maybe there is something else going on. Would there be any harm with putting a block at this reefing eye to reduce the friction? Any insights or recommendations/experience would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Smokey

 

[PGIJon]

Smokey... What size line are you using?

 

[smokey73]

Smokey... What size line are you using?

Not at the boat right now but the line is at least 3/8. It fits through the mast and down to an organizer in the cockpit. Its smaller than the Main Halyard but not by much.

 

[jssailem]

Line size is a great question. How old is the line? Have you washed out - with fresh water - and then dried the boom blocks? The lines? The sail? (After continuous salt water sailing the amount of accumulated salt deposits will astound you.) Spray a bit of SailKote on the reefing grommets. Check that the grommets are smooth and no grooves have developed from use. (not likely because most sailors don't reef - they stay home when it gets hairy) Let your single reefing line out.

My reef plan using a single reef line and same setup as in your drawing, is to not run the reefing line through the sail reef out-haul grommet. Leave it with a stop knot tied and pulled snug to the end of the boom. When deciding to reef run the out-haul reef line up through the grommet and bring it down and tie securely to the boom. Then drop the main to reef the sail at the tack clew. Pull in the reef line snugging up the Tack and Out-haul to the boom. The sail should be positioned at the reef points. Tie off the halyard, secure your reef line, and gather the sail along the boom as you return to the cockpit.
Hope that helps.

 

[TEM58]

Smokey,
I've added blocks at those same locations on a couple of boats with the same setup. It helps, but there could be other factors also. May want to check the sheaves where the line enters/exits the boom. Also is the portion of the line exposed at the reef cringle soiled or chafed? If you have enough to spare you could pull "fresh" line out of the boom and cut off the older line.

Tim

 

[Joe]

Don't snug down the reef line... unless you have a reef in the sail. Always leave the reef line loosened, tuck the slack into the fold of the sail to clean it up. Re route the line through a cheek block on the mast and get it out of the gooseneck fitting.

 

[smokey73]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have it going through a cheek block and it does not go through the gooseneck. Its just the tension at the aft end of the boom that is the problem. I have been leaving the reefing line loose and just tucking it in as a interim measure so maybe I'll just keep doing that. One thing I was worried about in putting a block in instead of running it through the eye was having a different pull angle that might mess up the reefing.

Any thought on that?

Smokey

 

[Pat]

I wish I had seen your concern before we left the lake.....I'm nearly certain that the single line reef system on our O'Day 272 has a harken block at the forward end of the boom/sail that is not shown on your picture from the manual.....other than the lack of that block yours setup looks exactly like hours....your line has to bind at the forward end of the sail where it exits to come back to the line stopper at the carpet.....I'll look at mine as I'm going back tomorrow....Ours is easily reefed by one person...(.me ).....I just head dead into the wind locking off the wheel and make sure the main halyard will will allow the sail to come down; and I use the cabin-top winch and of course the line stopper so I can stop it in it's track if some is not right, i.e. a wind guest or whatever....can take a picture, but I don't know how to post a picture.....

 

[Pat]

I think our line size is like 5/16th inch..certainly not the size of the mainsheet...the block at the forward end is what I think
may make the difference....I will look in my boat manual. Pat

 

[smokey73]

I think our line size is like 5/16th inch..certainly not the size of the mainsheet...the block at the forward end is what I think
may make the difference....I will look in my boat manual. Pat

I have a block at the forward end. Mine is nor exactly like the picture. As I said, I have the block at the forward end and it does not go through the gooseneck but to a turning block and back to the cockpit. Its not hanging up at the forward end but at the aft end where the line goes through the eye.

Smokey

 

[walmsleyc]

Single line reefing systems, particularly as in the picture, are notorious for having too much friction. The evolution of the diagram you show is one that includes "shuttle" blocks inside the boom, and divides the reefing line in two and does balance the load applied to the tack and clew more evenly. That system (while otherwise the same) does further reduce the friction, but correctly sized, free running line is essential as are ball bearing blocks everywhere. Struggling with friction while reefing is not what you need at an already stressful time.

I tried the above system for a season (it is what my boat was designed to use), and changed to using a reefing line for the clew only, and tack horns for the tack. While someone has to go forward to hook the reefing point onto the tack horn, the remainder so the system is easy to reef and can be done quickly.

Chris

 

[NYSail]

I have the same setup and have no problems. Make sure when sail is up the reef line aft had slack and leave it in that position.

 

[alexco38]

Mark the reef line on the aft end with a thread stitch. Pull it out before raising the main. Alternatively never snug up the reef after dropping the main as someone already posted.

 

[Pat]

NYSail above is right....the reefing line has to be slack and left like that until used again...Pat

 

[Cayennita]

Used to have a Legend 35 with the same setup. I alway pulled a lot of slack in the back of the boom before raising it.

 

[Gunni]

Yes, you can have sail cheek blocks attached to replace those reefing eyes. In fact that is how Neil Pryde builds their sails. Any competent sail loft should be able to do it for you, it will greatly reduce friction, and is much more robust. See attached.

 

[alexco38]

http://www.southernseasmarine.com.au/reefing-systems/goiot-quick-reef-system

Goiot made a block that fits inside a Cringle, but I don't think it is necessary if you pull out the reef line at the back before raising the main. It's over $100.

 

[Padrone]

I do not have "in boom" reefing. So on the Catalina 30 I have rigged it with small blocks attached with small shackles through the grommets to a stainless ring on the other side of the sail.
The line runs from: attached to the aft end of the boom, up to the aft grommet/block, down to a check block near the aft end of the boom, forward to a block attached to the gooseneck, up to the forward grommet/block and back down to a block at base of mast back to the cockpit via organizer.
It has minimum friction, the disadvantage if any, is that the "pull" is down one side of the sail/boom, however the lazy jacks contain the folds until sail ties are applied.

 

[smokey73]

Thanks all for the replies and suggestions. It seems the consensus is to leave the line loose just stuff it in with the sail when it is doused. That's no problem and I can certainly do that. I may try a cheek block at the aft end but that can wait.

 

[Ward H]

I do not have "in boom" reefing. So on the Catalina 30 I have rigged it with small blocks attached with small shackles through the grommets to a stainless ring on the other side of the sail.
The line runs from: attached to the aft end of the boom, up to the aft grommet/block, down to a check block near the aft end of the boom, forward to a block attached to the gooseneck, up to the forward grommet/block and back down to a block at base of mast back to the cockpit via organizer.
It has minimum friction, the disadvantage if any, is that the "pull" is down one side of the sail/boom, however the lazy jacks contain the folds until sail ties are applied.

How much of a detriment is it to having the pull of the reef line to one side of the boom?