Just purchased a 32' Irwin which has a boom roller reefing system. Does anyone know the sequence to reef the main, how much, and what effect does this have on the shape of the sail. Thank you for your help in advance, and happy sailing. Pacerow
Boom roller reefing
- Thread starter pacerow
- Start date
Would I be correct in assuming you are talking about the old worm gear at the gooseneck type rather than the $100k modern in-boom furling system?
If it is the former, I sailed 1/2 way round the world on a 37'er with that set up and do not understand why it fell out of use. It's dead simple. Loosen your halyard to however much you want to reduce sail, while the sail is luffing. Then open the track door so the slides can come off. Turn the crank until he sail is tight on the halyard again and pull the sheet in and you are done. Being head to wind will allow the sail to lay out on the boom and a little tension (pulling by hand) as the sail wraps around the boom will keep the luff forward. I never had a bit of trouble with sail shape, but I had no leach line, which I would imagine you should loosen. Like in mast furling, it is infinite reefing, so choose your reef as conditions require. The boom end fitting where the sheet attaches must be well lubricated to turn easily, as should the worm gear. Obviously, no vang is possible, so off the wind, I always ran a preventer from that boom end fitting (it has ears to attach it) forward.
My mast was in the cockpit, at the helm, so it was an incredibly easy system for me to handle. It took only a couple of minutes to reef her down, even in the worst conditions, and in time I could even do it on a bream reach, but it took more attention and some practice to get the hang of that.
Good luck; it is a great system.
If it is the former, I sailed 1/2 way round the world on a 37'er with that set up and do not understand why it fell out of use. It's dead simple. Loosen your halyard to however much you want to reduce sail, while the sail is luffing. Then open the track door so the slides can come off. Turn the crank until he sail is tight on the halyard again and pull the sheet in and you are done. Being head to wind will allow the sail to lay out on the boom and a little tension (pulling by hand) as the sail wraps around the boom will keep the luff forward. I never had a bit of trouble with sail shape, but I had no leach line, which I would imagine you should loosen. Like in mast furling, it is infinite reefing, so choose your reef as conditions require. The boom end fitting where the sheet attaches must be well lubricated to turn easily, as should the worm gear. Obviously, no vang is possible, so off the wind, I always ran a preventer from that boom end fitting (it has ears to attach it) forward.
My mast was in the cockpit, at the helm, so it was an incredibly easy system for me to handle. It took only a couple of minutes to reef her down, even in the worst conditions, and in time I could even do it on a bream reach, but it took more attention and some practice to get the hang of that.
Good luck; it is a great system.
Think you answered your own question. The inability to vang usually means terrible sail shape on most points of sail.
Forget the boom system. The boom furling system gives you a poorly shaped main. There is a reason no manufacturers offer that system today. I had a '73 Irwin 32 for a dozen years and went with slab reefing. Having had 2 other boats with the boom system I was only too familiar with the drawbacks.
Back in the day when these furling systems were popular they used a vang claw which was a yellow yoke sort of device that attached the vang purchase to the bottom of the round yoke. The yoke (or claw) could be fitted over the end of the boom and positioned where you wanted it. There were a couple of white rollers to protect the sail, which the claw rode on after the mainsail was reefed. Jiffy reefing is more efficient and some might say quicker. It certainly maintains mainsail shape better and the boom stays put as when you roll the main around the boom, the bias and cut of the sail will make the boom drop lower at the outboard end, which some might not like because it reduces headroom. One big company who made the roller furling boom for larger boats was Famet Marine - who I believe is now defunct. I probably have a claw around if interested.
I remember those older boom reefer/furler systems. However, the new systems are significantly different.
The modern boom reefer/furler pulls the sail into the boom. The boom itself does not roll, so the mainsheet and the boom vang are attached as on a conventional boom. The vang can be solid (which makes raising and setting easier) or adjustable. If adjustable, by marking the setting of proper setting (the boom should be at right angles to the mast) it is quite easy to roll the main in. The sail shape might be a bit flatter, but by no means is it a poor cut. The sail on my brother's boat is by Doyle (sp?), who are quite pleased with the shape. I've looked at the sail and I think it's pretty good too. I know that the boat performs very well (a Catalina 380) in a variety of conditions.
So, the boom furler may not be everyones choice. I've read a lot of pros and cons on this and other websites. It is not, however, a choice which should be rejected out of hand. It is, rather, one of the options available using modern technology. The ease of handling, the ability to furl by hand if the system jams, the ability to furl to any amount, and the great performance of the boat, make this a very good choice for us, and we are very happy with it.
The modern boom reefer/furler pulls the sail into the boom. The boom itself does not roll, so the mainsheet and the boom vang are attached as on a conventional boom. The vang can be solid (which makes raising and setting easier) or adjustable. If adjustable, by marking the setting of proper setting (the boom should be at right angles to the mast) it is quite easy to roll the main in. The sail shape might be a bit flatter, but by no means is it a poor cut. The sail on my brother's boat is by Doyle (sp?), who are quite pleased with the shape. I've looked at the sail and I think it's pretty good too. I know that the boat performs very well (a Catalina 380) in a variety of conditions.
So, the boom furler may not be everyones choice. I've read a lot of pros and cons on this and other websites. It is not, however, a choice which should be rejected out of hand. It is, rather, one of the options available using modern technology. The ease of handling, the ability to furl by hand if the system jams, the ability to furl to any amount, and the great performance of the boat, make this a very good choice for us, and we are very happy with it.
"the Claw"
Remember seeing them. Thanks, now I know what they did. Interested in yours. What do you have in mind?
My dad's Bristol 40 has this boom. We converted it to standard 2 line slab reefing. The problem was you could not get a good shape due to the absence if any means to get the foot tight. We used to pull aft on the leach to try to flatten the sail. Not very convenient or safe in bad weather and just not possible. The big belly in the sail kills your ability to point and increases heeling.