We have a CDI FF4 for 140% genoa on our O'day 26. We have never been able to reef the sail without getting wrinkles near the luff. Tightening the halyard and tack line do not seem to help. Does anyone else have this problem? Thanks
Problems reefing with CDI
- Thread starter Mike8088
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I've got an Oday 26 with a CDI FF and it seems to work fine with the sheets running straight back to the track by the winches. Perhaps you're funning yours through the front blocks?
Without a 'top swivel' FURLERS have difficulty in reefing without putting a lot of wrinkles along the luff. Furlers intended for reefing usually have 'top swivels'.
A 140%, even with a foam luff and relatively flat-shaped luff shape (racing sail), wont be able to be 'reefed' even on a top-class furler/reef system much beyond a 30% reduction of SA (ie.: reduction to ~100% LP).
"Recreational" cut sails, sails that have a 'rounded' shaped luff, will also produce wrinkles 'earlier' during the reefing process.
If your sail doesnt have a foam luff, consider to have one added. Before taking the sail to a loft to have a foam luff added, take pics of the luff section when sailing beating and under varying amounts of 'roll-up' on the foil .... will aid the sailmaker in arriving at how much foam luff to add and how thick the foam luff (multiple 'patches' of foam in strategic areas), etc.
If the backstay isnt sufficiently taught (tightens the forestay), this will also 'enhance' the amount of luff wrinkles when reefing.
Even the latest state-of-the-art hard-core reefing furlers will sometimes produce wrinkles .... one has to remember that you are rolling an essentially 'spherical' shape onto a 'straight' foil.
hope this helps.
A 140%, even with a foam luff and relatively flat-shaped luff shape (racing sail), wont be able to be 'reefed' even on a top-class furler/reef system much beyond a 30% reduction of SA (ie.: reduction to ~100% LP).
"Recreational" cut sails, sails that have a 'rounded' shaped luff, will also produce wrinkles 'earlier' during the reefing process.
If your sail doesnt have a foam luff, consider to have one added. Before taking the sail to a loft to have a foam luff added, take pics of the luff section when sailing beating and under varying amounts of 'roll-up' on the foil .... will aid the sailmaker in arriving at how much foam luff to add and how thick the foam luff (multiple 'patches' of foam in strategic areas), etc.
If the backstay isnt sufficiently taught (tightens the forestay), this will also 'enhance' the amount of luff wrinkles when reefing.
Even the latest state-of-the-art hard-core reefing furlers will sometimes produce wrinkles .... one has to remember that you are rolling an essentially 'spherical' shape onto a 'straight' foil.
hope this helps.
Rich,
Thanks, your post was good info, especially the tip about backstay tension. But, I have one question - doesn't the CDI design, due to its internal halyard, have what is effectively a top swivel?
Tks, OC
No, the foil top doesnt let the halyard connection swivel 'independently', for every 'one turn' on the drum you get 'one turn' (also) on the head/halyard connection.
On a true 'reefer' one turn on the drum doesnt necessarily get you one turn on the head connection. Most top swivels on 'true reefers' have two independent bearings in the 'top swivel' - one for the head connection of the sail, the other for the halyard.
On a true 'reefer' one turn on the drum doesnt necessarily get you one turn on the head connection. Most top swivels on 'true reefers' have two independent bearings in the 'top swivel' - one for the head connection of the sail, the other for the halyard.
i found when i didnt keep tension on my sheet while reefing with the furling line, then i had wrinkles whether i was reefing or stowing sail........
oh yeah--and this is a huge sail, plain and simple, no extras no fancy dancies...lol.....in the wind........at sea.....with a broken rudder ,,LOL......yada yada yada....
oh yeah--and this is a huge sail, plain and simple, no extras no fancy dancies...lol.....in the wind........at sea.....with a broken rudder ,,LOL......yada yada yada....
cdi reefing
Ive got an ff4 with bearings on my P26W No problems I use a 125 genoa no foam luff
but I dont furl the sail down that often. If I need to shorten sail I reef the main. If I need even less sail I take the main down. If you partially furl a genoa on a cdi your gonna get wrinkles no matter where you put the sheets. I dont like the Idea of moving the luff of a jib up toward the center of a sail. but these are my choices. If things are looking breezy I change down to a smaller jib before leaving the mooring
Ive got an ff4 with bearings on my P26W No problems I use a 125 genoa no foam luff
but I dont furl the sail down that often. If I need to shorten sail I reef the main. If I need even less sail I take the main down. If you partially furl a genoa on a cdi your gonna get wrinkles no matter where you put the sheets. I dont like the Idea of moving the luff of a jib up toward the center of a sail. but these are my choices. If things are looking breezy I change down to a smaller jib before leaving the mooring
i am glad you ALWAYS have that option---of shortening sail PRIOR to leavig your mooring ball....there are some occasions during which life isnt just that easy......pretend you are out sailing--cruising under sail, i believe is the proper term this week,...and a big wind comes from no where--was not predicted nor any signs on weather or any signs in sky----you are essentiallyu naked to the big wind---you and your full main and your full genny. the seas have not as yet grown--just a big wind. you are going to be ready for this when you leave the ball, correct?? or you are 100 miles off shore, the seas are growing and the wind freshening and you have full main and full genny flying----what will you do to compensate for the weather that is coming fast to make sure you have to douse sails and reef genny---how willyou do that--or were you prepared from the mooring balll??? there are many situations which will catch you as you prepare to cruise under sail--there are many conditions which change after you leave the mooring ball......unless you only sail for a couplafew hours at a time, you WILL be caught in the open with too much sail.
many times, with the sloop configuration, one will sail using only the genoa, partially furled on the headstay.....the speed over ground will pick up as the main is no longer shadowing the genny-----it can fly full and proud and not have to have the wind blocked by another sail.
with a ketch, there are more sail options--but with a sloop, you will find yourself using just the headsail in many occasions--enjoy and have fun....just be ready to shorten sail--even if you DO leave the ball ready for big winds----and lightning storms--
i have found cdi is a very good and easy to troubleshoot piece of equipment. we only had problems when the furling line was tooo long.....then i went forward to roll the drum by hand due to binding at the drum........
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