I am considering purchasing an old 30 foot boat (70's) that has a rooler reefing boom. I have no experience with this type of reefing. Can anyone give me some thoughts on the pros and cons of this type reefing system? Thank you. Bud
Boom Roller Reefing
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No pros - many cons!!
I suspect that if you type "boom roller reefing" into the archives here you will find your answer. We have kicked this topic around over the years. Dangerous to have to go forward and crank, lousy sail shape (the opposite of what you need when reefed), and you lose your boom vang. If it worked don't you think you would see it around???
I suspect that if you type "boom roller reefing" into the archives here you will find your answer. We have kicked this topic around over the years. Dangerous to have to go forward and crank, lousy sail shape (the opposite of what you need when reefed), and you lose your boom vang. If it worked don't you think you would see it around???
In the late '70's
I owned and sailed a 25ft C&C (a truly great boat!) that had a roller furling main. I found that if I maintained the cranking gears at the gooseneck -- and could find the crank when I needed it -- the system worked ok. As mentioned below, you will not be able to use your vang when you reef. I found that wrapping the main around the boom was really hard on the main as I had cheek blocks, horn cleats, bales, etc. on the boom that the sail was wrapping around. I eventually changed over to a two-point slab reefing system -- an easy mod that worked much better.
I owned and sailed a 25ft C&C (a truly great boat!) that had a roller furling main. I found that if I maintained the cranking gears at the gooseneck -- and could find the crank when I needed it -- the system worked ok. As mentioned below, you will not be able to use your vang when you reef. I found that wrapping the main around the boom was really hard on the main as I had cheek blocks, horn cleats, bales, etc. on the boom that the sail was wrapping around. I eventually changed over to a two-point slab reefing system -- an easy mod that worked much better.
If you like the rest of the boat
buy it and add the jiffy reefing, just lock the roller reefing gear, as Warren did.
buy it and add the jiffy reefing, just lock the roller reefing gear, as Warren did.
Mine gave me a fright!
I've just disabled mine and replaced it with a slab system. I'm with Stu. If you like the boat, go for it. You're not stuck with the roller system. I'd no idea I even had roller reefing. I'd attached a rigid vang. Then, in heavy weather, the roller lock released, the vang pushed up, the boom rotated 180 degrees to an upside down position. Extremely unpleasant! Vang and outhaul disabled; and a lot more bag in the sail than I'd like in those sorts of conditions. So, after getting back to the dock, I killed the roller system! In my case - a 20 footer - there was a spring inside the boom - at the 'inside the boom' end of the goosehead attachment. You had to pull the boom forward 1/4" towards the mast to 'unlock' the boom, then roll it by hand (no crank handle). I took the boom end off, and replaced the spring with a bunch of washers. Its rolling days are over! Dick
I've just disabled mine and replaced it with a slab system. I'm with Stu. If you like the boat, go for it. You're not stuck with the roller system. I'd no idea I even had roller reefing. I'd attached a rigid vang. Then, in heavy weather, the roller lock released, the vang pushed up, the boom rotated 180 degrees to an upside down position. Extremely unpleasant! Vang and outhaul disabled; and a lot more bag in the sail than I'd like in those sorts of conditions. So, after getting back to the dock, I killed the roller system! In my case - a 20 footer - there was a spring inside the boom - at the 'inside the boom' end of the goosehead attachment. You had to pull the boom forward 1/4" towards the mast to 'unlock' the boom, then roll it by hand (no crank handle). I took the boom end off, and replaced the spring with a bunch of washers. Its rolling days are over! Dick
Been there done that
I have used both systems - slab and roller. The roller is a bad idea that somehow got popular in the 70s. Put reef points on your main and forget the roller. One bad thing about rolling the boom is that one does not get a nice flat main, but a main with a big bag in it - just what you don't want as the wind kicks up.
I have used both systems - slab and roller. The roller is a bad idea that somehow got popular in the 70s. Put reef points on your main and forget the roller. One bad thing about rolling the boom is that one does not get a nice flat main, but a main with a big bag in it - just what you don't want as the wind kicks up.
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