I've had it with the single-line reefing system on my '95 336. Most of the time, I can't get a reef in without having the boom droop down to where it's dangerous to those in the cockpit. Since I think getting clocked in the head with the boom is much more dangerous than going forward to hook the tack, I am going to convert to a simple jiffy-reefing arrangement. Obviously, this means that I'll have to install the so-called "ram's horns" near the gooseneck. Does anyone have any idea how these should best be installed? Should I tap the boom and attach them with machine screws? Or should I secure them with rope? There are two metal loops on the mast right in the area where the ram's horns are typically installed. What are these metal loops for? Could I just hook on the ram's horns there? We should stop buying boats with these stupid single-line systems installed. Do they still install them on the new Hunters? When my main finally needs replacing, I'm going with Leisure Furl! Thanks for any ideas and opinions Paul sv "Escape Artist"
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Mike Webster
Single Line Reefing System Works!
I have only occasionally had problems with my single line reefing system, and with experience have grown to love it. Looking at your comments I'm assuming you have a soft vang. My Vision 32, which I've owned for 12 years now, has a rigid vang, which supports the boom while I'm reefing. Your problem with the boom drooping down into the cockpit while reefing would still be present with any reefing system unless you installed a rigid vang or had an easily adjustable topping lift that can raise & support the boom while you reef. The rigid boom is the safest system and doesn't need adjustment during reefing. The only problem I've had with the single line reefing system has been with the shuttle blocks in the boom hanging up on each other while reefing. Thinking about it, the hang up normally doesn't happen during reefing, but when I'm pulling the reefing lines out in preparation to raise sail. Anymore, I wrap the excess reefing lines around the end of the boom when I put the sail away, and I don't have the hang up problem anymore. I have successfully reefed alone in building winds, and wouldn't want any other system. I've reefed several dozen times over the years, and, after sorting it out and understanding the system, find it a very simple system to use. Once, on Lake Michigan, the winds built to about 20 knots in about 5 minutes and I tucked in the first reef, only to have the winds continue to build, forcing me to tuck in the second reef. I did the reefing alone, while a friend steered, in a very short time without any problems. You don't mention hangups in the boom, so I'm supposing your main problem is again with a low boom causing havoc in the cockpit. Seriously consider the rigid vang. You'll still need it with the jiffy reefing system. The two metal loops on the mast near the front of the boom are leads for the reefing lines. The reefing lines lead out the bottom of the boom, around a turning block, and then back up thru these metal loops to the reefing cringle on your sail. Without using these metal loops, the foot of your mainsail cannot be drawn tight while reefing. These metal loops allow the forward reefing lines to pull the tack of the sail forward against the pull of your reefing lines at the clew of your sail. This puts tension on the foot, drawing it tight. Its pretty important you use them. Good luck with your system.
I have only occasionally had problems with my single line reefing system, and with experience have grown to love it. Looking at your comments I'm assuming you have a soft vang. My Vision 32, which I've owned for 12 years now, has a rigid vang, which supports the boom while I'm reefing. Your problem with the boom drooping down into the cockpit while reefing would still be present with any reefing system unless you installed a rigid vang or had an easily adjustable topping lift that can raise & support the boom while you reef. The rigid boom is the safest system and doesn't need adjustment during reefing. The only problem I've had with the single line reefing system has been with the shuttle blocks in the boom hanging up on each other while reefing. Thinking about it, the hang up normally doesn't happen during reefing, but when I'm pulling the reefing lines out in preparation to raise sail. Anymore, I wrap the excess reefing lines around the end of the boom when I put the sail away, and I don't have the hang up problem anymore. I have successfully reefed alone in building winds, and wouldn't want any other system. I've reefed several dozen times over the years, and, after sorting it out and understanding the system, find it a very simple system to use. Once, on Lake Michigan, the winds built to about 20 knots in about 5 minutes and I tucked in the first reef, only to have the winds continue to build, forcing me to tuck in the second reef. I did the reefing alone, while a friend steered, in a very short time without any problems. You don't mention hangups in the boom, so I'm supposing your main problem is again with a low boom causing havoc in the cockpit. Seriously consider the rigid vang. You'll still need it with the jiffy reefing system. The two metal loops on the mast near the front of the boom are leads for the reefing lines. The reefing lines lead out the bottom of the boom, around a turning block, and then back up thru these metal loops to the reefing cringle on your sail. Without using these metal loops, the foot of your mainsail cannot be drawn tight while reefing. These metal loops allow the forward reefing lines to pull the tack of the sail forward against the pull of your reefing lines at the clew of your sail. This puts tension on the foot, drawing it tight. Its pretty important you use them. Good luck with your system.
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Paul
so THAT's what they're for
The boom droops even AFTER the main halyard is retightened. That's because the single-line system pulls on the clew and tack at the same time, and you have no control over what gets pulled in first. If the tack is pulled down too far, that leaves a sloppy leech. Your comments about the loops are right on the money. I've never led the reefing lines through them (they weren't rigged like that when I bought the boat, always wondered what they were for...). If I did, these would act as a stopper for the tack reef cringle, which now gets pulled down too far, causing the reefed leech to be too long relative to the reefed luff, which causes the boom to droop. That's the cause of my problem! Like you, I reef all the time. That's the way of things with the B&R rig. I'd say I have the first reef in 50% of the time here on LI Sound. I pull in the second reef two or three times a season. Thanks so much, Mike. I'll go over to the boat tonight and re-rig the reefing lines. p.s. I still think that single-line reefing systems are undesirable. If I had the energy, I'd install a double-line system, at least for the first reef.
The boom droops even AFTER the main halyard is retightened. That's because the single-line system pulls on the clew and tack at the same time, and you have no control over what gets pulled in first. If the tack is pulled down too far, that leaves a sloppy leech. Your comments about the loops are right on the money. I've never led the reefing lines through them (they weren't rigged like that when I bought the boat, always wondered what they were for...). If I did, these would act as a stopper for the tack reef cringle, which now gets pulled down too far, causing the reefed leech to be too long relative to the reefed luff, which causes the boom to droop. That's the cause of my problem! Like you, I reef all the time. That's the way of things with the B&R rig. I'd say I have the first reef in 50% of the time here on LI Sound. I pull in the second reef two or three times a season. Thanks so much, Mike. I'll go over to the boat tonight and re-rig the reefing lines. p.s. I still think that single-line reefing systems are undesirable. If I had the energy, I'd install a double-line system, at least for the first reef.
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Mike Webster
I understand your problem!
As always, when we get a new boat (new to us, or whatever) we think that the boat manufacturer, or the last owner, knew what he was doing. The system MUST be rigged right. A lot of years of racing taught me the fallacy of that viewpoint. When I bought my boat, a year old, I was on the Chesapeake Bay. I went on a weekend trip and woke up to 20 knot winds. Having to get back, I decided to reef, but lo and behold the reefing lines weren't installed properly and I couln't reef. Obviously the previous owner had never reefed. It wasn't a picknic getting home that day. I re-rigged the reefing system later, learning a lot about how it worked in the process. I had a similar experience with the rigid vang, that had also been rigged wrong, installed upside down, and had hence had too little purchase. I've also rerigged the mainsheet. The 3-1 from the factory, lead back to the cockpit, wouldn't work in anything but very light winds without using the winch. The current system works in any wind without a winch. Anyway, sounds like you have a good handle on your system. Those metal loops would have had me puzzled as well if I hadn't seen them already rigged. I think you'll find that with the metal loops in the system, you won't have the problems you now see about which end gets pulled in tight first. Your tack is pulled down tight against the metal loops, while the clew is then pulled down and back by the rear reef line. They don't seem to bind against each other, but it does take a winch to get them tight, especially in heavy winds. Let me know how it goes.
As always, when we get a new boat (new to us, or whatever) we think that the boat manufacturer, or the last owner, knew what he was doing. The system MUST be rigged right. A lot of years of racing taught me the fallacy of that viewpoint. When I bought my boat, a year old, I was on the Chesapeake Bay. I went on a weekend trip and woke up to 20 knot winds. Having to get back, I decided to reef, but lo and behold the reefing lines weren't installed properly and I couln't reef. Obviously the previous owner had never reefed. It wasn't a picknic getting home that day. I re-rigged the reefing system later, learning a lot about how it worked in the process. I had a similar experience with the rigid vang, that had also been rigged wrong, installed upside down, and had hence had too little purchase. I've also rerigged the mainsheet. The 3-1 from the factory, lead back to the cockpit, wouldn't work in anything but very light winds without using the winch. The current system works in any wind without a winch. Anyway, sounds like you have a good handle on your system. Those metal loops would have had me puzzled as well if I hadn't seen them already rigged. I think you'll find that with the metal loops in the system, you won't have the problems you now see about which end gets pulled in tight first. Your tack is pulled down tight against the metal loops, while the clew is then pulled down and back by the rear reef line. They don't seem to bind against each other, but it does take a winch to get them tight, especially in heavy winds. Let me know how it goes.
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Bill Murray
other things to consider.....
when reefing try these additional strategies: - if you do not have a hard vang, set the topping lift to carry the weight of the boom so it won't flop into the cockpit when you reef, - with single line reefing you can pull in the reef before/as you lower the halyard. This will cause the foot of the sail to reef first. When it is mostly in position, then lower the halyard so the tack pulls down into position. Fianlly, re-tighten the halyard. works for me Good Sailing Bill Murray S/V Good Faith H29.5 #175
when reefing try these additional strategies: - if you do not have a hard vang, set the topping lift to carry the weight of the boom so it won't flop into the cockpit when you reef, - with single line reefing you can pull in the reef before/as you lower the halyard. This will cause the foot of the sail to reef first. When it is mostly in position, then lower the halyard so the tack pulls down into position. Fianlly, re-tighten the halyard. works for me Good Sailing Bill Murray S/V Good Faith H29.5 #175
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