Reefing H260

[Sublime]

Alright, I still haven't quite figured out the reefing system on the main of my H260 and the manual isn't helping me much.

I've got the reefing line tied to the bottom of the boom towards the aft end. It goes up through a ring in the sail, back down and into the boom where it comes out on the fore end of the boom in the jam cleat. This area is where I'm scratching my head.
I have a d-ring on the tack. Do I move that to the loop/reef point of the sail with the reef line tied to the d-ring? Or just tie the end of the reef line to the loop (reef point) on the sail and leave the tack with the d-ring as it is?
What do you use those two "hooks" for on the forward end of the boom? The manual says they're for reefing. Huh?

 

[Kivalo]

Your reef line should go through the boom from end to end. Tie the line off at the ring attached to the boom which will be on the side of the boom as opposed to the bottom. Loop it through the reef eye at the leech side of the sail, there should be two if its stock. From there it should enter the boom next to where the outhaul does. It exits the boom at the mast and then normally it ties off there with a jam cleat to adjust simply free the line from the jam cleat and re-cleat when adjusted.. Many people route the line to the cockpit or back on the boom to make it easier to reach though. Make sense?

Brad

Alright, I still haven't quite figured out the reefing system on the main of my H260 and the manual isn't helping me much.

I've got the reefing line tied to the bottom of the boom towards the aft end. It goes up through a ring in the sail, back down and into the boom where it comes out on the fore end of the boom in the jam cleat. This area is where I'm scratching my head.
I have a d-ring on the tack. Do I move that to the loop/reef point of the sail with the reef line tied to the d-ring? Or just tie the end of the reef line to the loop (reef point) on the sail and leave the tack with the d-ring as it is?
What do you use those two "hooks" for on the forward end of the boom? The manual says they're for reefing. Huh?

 

[soling42]

The two hooks on the boom at the mast(gooseneck) are to hold the nylon loops at the reef point on the main sail. To reef the main sail, with the vang and mainsheet loose, simply release the main halyard and lower the main until the nylon loop can be laid onto the hook, then re-tighten the main halyard and pull on the line that runs through your boom to the other end of the mainsail(clew) and take up the slack. Technically you're done.

Ideally you will then have 2 short lines(3') in the mainsail grommets which should now be at the height of the boom. You'd use these to roll up and stow the baggy extra sail material that'd be hanging below the boom(don't over tighten these lines or the main will tear them out while underway).

Have a great season, Mike

 

[cephius (Dave)]

soling42 is correct for the luff. You are not done until you bring the leech reefing cringle down to the boom, causing a tight new 'foot' on the main. Kivalo's discussion of the reefing line through the boom is used for that.

The hook, or horn, bail on the gooseneck has a tendency to rotate down making it seem wrong for connecting to the reef strap on the main luff. You may need to disconnect the boom to get the clearance needed to rotate it back into the up position. While the bail forms a hook on both sides of the boom, there is only one strap on the port side of the main.

Once you have both the luff and leach points secure you have a reefed main. Roll the excess main up and secure it to the boom with small line through the intermediate cringles.

Search my earlier posts. I listed step-by-step instructions for reefing a H260.
Link found http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=120092&#post728918

 

[John23883]

Single line reefing

I completely reworked the reefing line into a single line and do not use the ramshead hooks. I added blocks to both reefing eylets because the line will not run smoothly or easily through them. I drilled a hole in the top of the boom near the goosneck and reversed the direction of the reefing line to go up not down. So.. the line attaches at the boom with a simple knot, goes up to the reefing block at the rear of the sail (leach), returns to the boom as normal and through the boom to the mast but goes up to the reefing block at the front of the sail (luff), back down to the cabin top at the mast base, then is led back to the cockpit and a cleat. Because I do not use the hook at the mast I can do it all from the cockpit. If it is really nasty, as in I waited too long to reef then I do not go up and tie the small llines that gather the sail in tightly, and if I do go up on the cabin top those lines have hooks on them so I can gather the sail and hook quickly not taking a long time to tie a knot.

 

[soling42]

Ah yes, the single line reef mod sorta like this Harkin diagram, except utilizing the internal boom blocks. Two small blocks on the sail are certainly needed on the 260/26. I also did this simple mod and it's a nice perk. Great pics to tell the tale.
Mike

 

[inarathree]

I like that reefing mod! I may only have a H22, but most of my sailing is solo, and never liked climbing up on the cabin to reef, so I tend not to, when I probably should. I also have the problem of my reefing eye wont reach the bail without pulling out the sail track screw thing (forgot what its called - but it keeps the sail slides from coming out of the mast).

 

[dkdoyle]

Ah yes, the single line reef mod sorta like this Harkin diagram, except utilizing the internal boom blocks. Two small blocks on the sail are certainly needed on the 260/26. I also did this simple mod and it's a nice perk. Great pics to tell the tale.
Mike

Interesting. I have 26 footer and even though i have practiced reefing i really don't like going forward in ruff seas sailing solo. Not sure how well this would work on a little bigger boat