Slab reefing setup question.

[BAD ORCA]

I am setting up basic slab reefing on my sailboat for first time. Have never done this before. One thing still confuses me that I have no been able to find definitive answer to yet.

My setup is two reefing lines (two reefing points on sail) that run through the boom. They are controlled from the mast end. They exit the end of boom at stern on pulleys, one reef on stbd side of boom end. The other reefing line comes out port end of boom on pulley.

I think its going to be more comfortable for me to secure the luff side sail cringles at the mast on their reef hooks on the stbd side and let the loose part of the reefed sail fall off to the port side.

If I reef this way from stbd side at mast, should my reef lines come out of the end of the boom and then run up the port side of the mainsail, exit the rear cringles on the starboard side and then come down the starboard side of the sail and attach to the boom? Will this setup prevent any interference between the reef line and the loose part of the sail that hangs off the boom?

I'm trying to imagine it in my head and it seems like if i do it the opposite way, run the reef lines from the end of the boom, up the starboard side of sail, through cringles and back down to the boom, the sail will get tangled up between the back of the reefing line and no hang loose.

Am i imagining this correctly or do i have it backwards? I tried to experiment with it today, but the wind at the dock came up enough that it got to difficult to play around with the sail up. Will try again next weekend in the early morning.

 

[Tally Ho]

I don’t really think it matters which side of the sail the clew cringle is run though.

Now, with 2 reefing lines, maybe it is better to have the on opposite sides of the sail, but only if they interfere with each other.

I only have 1 reefing line in use, but I have tied the end of the reefing line on both sides of the mast over the years, and I haven't noticed any difference.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I agree with Tally Ho. When we had slab reefing I never paid any attention to which side the reefing line was on, and I never noticed any harm from it. Even which side the sail would fall on varied depending on the day, wind direction, and how it happened to fall.

 

[Tally Ho]

The other thing I would note, but your mileage may vary, is that I have never used my second reefing point.
I originally had 2 reefing lines rigged. I tested various methods of reefing, mostly using a reef hook for the tack and a line to pull down the clew, or using the tack and clew crinkles for pulling down the sail.

I originally liked using the reefing hook and then pulling the clew tight with a single line. This eliminated a lot of friction and made a nice, tight reef. But that meant going to the mast. So today I am using 2 small blocks on the tack and clew crinkles, and a single-line to pull both down. I have used this for a few years now and can reef pretty quickly (before raising the sail, or hove to in a blow).
I can move the reef blocks to the 2nd reef point if I needed to, but at that point, I think I would just drop the sail and sail under reefed jib or fire up the motor.

Greg

 

[BAD ORCA]

Great, thanks for replies. Maybe then I will run stbd reef line up stbd side of sail and port reef line up port side and see how I like it.

 

[BAD ORCA]

I agree with Tally Ho. When we had slab reefing I never paid any attention to which side the reefing line was on, and I never noticed any harm from it. Even which side the sail would fall on varied depending on the day, wind direction, and how it happened to fall.

Do you always hook the luff cringle on the same side of boom at the mast, or does it depend?

 

[Davidasailor26]

Do you always hook the luff cringle on the same side of boom at the mast, or does it depend?

It’s been a few years, but I think I just pulled the luff down and put it on whichever hook the sail fell to. I don’t remember having any kind of routine for that.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Great, thanks for replies. Maybe then I will run stbd reef line up stbd side of sail and port reef line up port side and see how I like it.

Yes, I think having the reef line enter the sail in the side that it came from makes a bigger difference than the side the loose sail falls to.

 

[kappykaplan]

Do you always hook the luff cringle on the same side of boom at the mast, or does it depend?

It’s been a few years, but I think I just pulled the luff down and put it on whichever hook the sail fell to.

Same here.

 

[Allan12210]

Here is an old link to the Kenyon Jiffy Reefing system. My 1985 H34 used this system.

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/attachments/kenyon-jiffy-reefing-jpg.26266/

On my 1985 H34 the first reef cringle on the luff was secured over the starboard side horn at the gooseneck. The second reef was attached to the port side horn. That was just the natural fold of the sail.

Regarding the routing of the reefing lines on my boat, the second reef was tied off on the starboard side of the boom via a small stainless strap then passed through the cringle at the leech then down to the sheave at the end of the boom on the port side. Make sure that strap is behind where the cringle will lie when reefed so the tension applied is back and down tensioning the new foot of the main. It is now a new outhaul. The first reef was tied at the port side of the boom (same kind of strap aft of the first reef cringle) and routed through the sail to the starboard boom end sheave. Both reefing lines were routed forward internally within the boom and exited at a hole at the cap on the front of the boom past the repective lever teeth of a cam and over a little sheave. The levers act as sheet jammers to secure them in the tensioned, reefed position. The excess line just hung there. When not reefed, I left the jammers open and coiled the extra line securing it with a loop through the coils. When it was time to reef, I'd dump the mainsheet, raise the topping lift to take any tension off the leech, drop the main halyard and then go forward to the mast. I'd then hook the luff cringle to the proper horn based on the natural lay of the sail and pull the appropriate reefing line tight. That last little bit of tension needed was by making a loop in the line and using my foot to tension it. I could lean against the boom for balance. Lock the lever to hold it in place. The extra, longer line was re-coiled to make it neat. I'd return to the cockpit, fully tension the halyard, release the topping lift which would tension the leech and sheet the main in for proper trim. Adjust the traveller as needed. Once the leech of the sail is tensioned by the reefing line it presents no obstruction to the rest of the sail. The excess slab just lays flat against the boom on which ever side it will naturally lie based on which of the two horns are being used (1st or 2nd reef). If you have those little reefing ties along the sail, I was taught to never tie them around the boom. Otherwise you can rip the main if the breeze picks up. Instead, tie them around the sail passing them between the boom and the bottom of the mainsail.

 

[sailcapt340]

Not sure if this will help you, it comes from the pages of my 340 Manual. Thought I would add it though for you to see a diagram and Hunters instructions. It‘s all that was given in the form written instructions. Hope this helps

.

 

[BAD ORCA]

Here is an old link to the Kenyon Jiffy Reefing system. My 1985 H34 used this system.

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/attachments/kenyon-jiffy-reefing-jpg.26266/

On my 1985 H34 the first reef cringle on the luff was secured over the starboard side horn at the gooseneck. The second reef was attached to the port side horn. That was just the natural fold of the sail.

Regarding the routing of the reefing lines on my boat, the second reef was tied off on the starboard side of the boom via a small stainless strap then passed through the cringle at the leech then down to the sheave at the end of the boom on the port side. Make sure that strap is behind where the cringle will lie when reefed so the tension applied is back and down tensioning the new foot of the main. It is now a new outhaul. The first reef was tied at the port side of the boom (same kind of strap aft of the first reef cringle) and routed through the sail to the starboard boom end sheave. Both reefing lines were routed forward internally within the boom and exited at a hole at the cap on the front of the boom past the repective lever teeth of a cam and over a little sheave. The levers act as sheet jammers to secure them in the tensioned, reefed position. The excess line just hung there. When not reefed, I left the jammers open and coiled the extra line securing it with a loop through the coils. When it was time to reef, I'd dump the mainsheet, raise the topping lift to take any tension off the leech, drop the main halyard and then go forward to the mast. I'd then hook the luff cringle to the proper horn based on the natural lay of the sail and pull the appropriate reefing line tight. That last little bit of tension needed was by making a loop in the line and using my foot to tension it. I could lean against the boom for balance. Lock the lever to hold it in place. The extra, longer line was re-coiled to make it neat. I'd return to the cockpit, fully tension the halyard, release the topping lift which would tension the leech and sheet the main in for proper trim. Adjust the traveller as needed. Once the leech of the sail is tensioned by the reefing line it presents no obstruction to the rest of the sail. The excess slab just lays flat against the boom on which ever side it will naturally lie based on which of the two horns are being used (1st or 2nd reef). If you have those little reefing ties along the sail, I was taught to never tie them around the boom. Otherwise you can rip the main if the breeze picks up. Instead, tie them around the sail passing them between the boom and the bottom of the mainsail.

Good stuff, thank you!

I was thinking of probably using those eyes to secure the end of the reef line to the boom, but was unsure how strong they would be, or needed to be. For now I was just going to tie a bowline, but that would slip and move on the boom, so likely does not provide the best angle to the cringle. I think once i have it set the way i like it, i'll ditch the bowline for something else.

Do you reef hove to or just stay on course, or do you tack to one side or the other depending on which reef you are going to set?

 

[BAD ORCA]

Not sure if this will help you, it comes from the pages of my 340 Manual. Thought I would add it though for you to see a diagram and Hunters instructions. It‘s all that was given in the form written instructions. Hope this helps

.View attachment 239554 View attachment 239555

Interesting. It says to head into the wind to reef. That would mean starting the engine if sailing solo. Is it possible to reef hove to, or would the boat go out of control once the main is lowered?

 

[kappykaplan]

Interesting. It says to head into the wind to reef. That would mean starting the engine if sailing solo. Is it possible to reef hove to, or would the boat go out of control once the main is lowered?

The purist in me says to pinch into the wind so the jib is just maintaining the boat's headway (and this is how I was trained). Drop the traveler to leeward so the main is not driving the boat (and is probably getting backwinded by the jib) and do your thing to take the reef. On the other hand, if the seas are high enough that going forward is unsafe, I'll furl the jib, start the engine, and drive into the wind to take the reef.

 

[BAD ORCA]

The purist in me says to pinch into the wind so the jib is just maintaining the boat's headway (and this is how I was trained). Drop the traveler to leeward so the main is not driving the boat (and is probably getting backwinded by the jib) and do your thing to take the reef. On the other hand, if the seas are high enough that going forward is unsafe, I'll furl the jib, start the engine, and drive into the wind to take the reef.

Thanks! Maybe i will bring a friend on the day i start practicing my reefing

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

In my opinion, the reef should be set up so that you are on a starboard tack and are the stand on vessel when reefing.

George

 

[jssailem]

Your thinking of tying off on the boom opposite the side of the sheave maintains a fair lead to the sheave and optimizes the function of the reef line.

I, too, prefer the first reef on Starboard. One of those unthought-about reasons. On starboard tack (the controlling tack), the sail falls to the port side of the boom. This means while working at the mast, you have the starboard side clear and optimum visibility to starboard. I do this because the most frequent reef action is the first reef. It is when other boats could be in proximity. When it is time for a second reef, most boats are home in port.

 

[BAD ORCA]

Your thinking of tying off on the boom opposite the side of the sheave maintains a fair lead to the sheave and optimizes the function of the reef line.

I, too, prefer the first reef on Starboard. One of those unthought-about reasons. On starboard tack (the controlling tack), the sail falls to the port side of the boom. This means while working at the mast, you have the starboard side clear and optimum visibility to starboard. I do this because the most frequent reef action is the first reef. It is when other boats could be in proximity. When it is time for a second reef, most boats are home in port.

Ha! Good point. I hadn't thought about it that way. That makes a lot of sense though.

That just happens to be my strongest side physically that its easy to brace myself with my body directly facing the mast and all of the controls. Its also where my winch is and main halyard exit the mast. Also, my first cringle seems to naturally fall/fold onto the stbd side. I do have a reefing hook on the port side as well though so can reef from port side as well.

 

[kappykaplan]

In my opinion, the reef should be set up so that you are on a starboard tack and are the stand on vessel when reefing.

This is correct. Plus, with most boats having the main halyard on the starboard side, this puts you on the windward (high) side when taking a reef.

 

[JBP-PA]

Interesting. It says to head into the wind to reef. That would mean starting the engine if sailing solo. Is it possible to reef hove to, or would the boat go out of control once the main is lowered?

I frequently reef without the engine by sailing close hauled on jib alone. I find this is enough head to wind for me to raise/lower the main even with full battens. I often do it on autopilot, but having a human at the helm is best as they can pinch up as necessary.