Harken Reefing Kit....yeah or nay?

Sumner · Jul 26, 2010

I just put single line reefing on our boat and like it so far, but have only tried it on the trailer. At the moment I just have it to the mast, but would only have to add the bottom block in the picture to run it back to the cockpit. I have way less than $216 in it and there are no trick parts. I'll try and post pictures and the parts I bought tonight.

I copied Bob's setup and have pictures of his here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/misc-pics-16.html

I used the small air blocks up at the reef points and they work really nice. I see Harken doesn't use them.

We are using it in conjunction with a sailpack that Ruth is about finished with. She is doing a great job on it. I put on lazy jacks to work with it and we have tried the reefing and flaking the sail into the sailpack and it is going to be really nice,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

timebandit · Jul 26, 2010

Ha!
I bet some of you thought thought the hand rails on top of the pop top slider were just for looks.

Not so, they are for going foward when the top is up and the boat is bouncing all around, or when it is calm.

Sumner · Jul 26, 2010

Sumner said:
.......... I'll try and post pictures and the parts I bought tonight.........

Well I thought I took pictures, but either I didn't or can't find them

I could take some tomorrow and post the parts if you are still interested. Let me know,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

MrBill_FLL · Jul 27, 2010

personally, I'm a fan of 2 line reefing.... and they can be run to the cockpit too.

'cause I've had too many jams on the single line reefing... but if anyone can perfect it, harken can...

good luck!

Justin_NSA · Jul 27, 2010

I have the BWY jiffy reef kit. It reefs okay but when you have the sail down there is excess line from the reef points and the blocks everywhere. The cleat is on the boom, I need to get a longer line and run it like the Harken setup :

Sumner · Jul 27, 2010

highdesertM26 said:
Sum,

I checked out Bob's set-up on your site. If you have the same setup, then I suppose I don't need to see photos. If it is different, then photos would be nice. Thanks for the help!

It is basically the same except I put a cheek block down on the mast vs. the swivel block he has there. His approach might be better, but the cheek block seems to be working well.

The cheek blocks I used on the one side of the boom and on the mast are

40mm Carbo AirBlock Item # : 614038 from Defender, but this site has good prices on them also.

The blocks up at the reef points are 29mm Carbo AirBlock Item # : 614638 also from Defender. I think having these blocks is a key component and reduces the friction versus running through the grommets at the reef points. I hated spending money on them, but I'm glad I did. Still all of this is way less than what Harken sells their stuff for and I feel better with the air blocks.

Bill I've tried this out on the trailer a few times and it seems to work really well. Were the problems you saw with single line reefing on larger boats? Our booms are pretty short and the sails pretty small. Bob recommended what he did to me and I don't remember him having problems with it. Maybe he will weigh in on it.

In the future I'd like to run this to the cockpit, but since my main halyard doesn't go there now and I'm running out of time I decided to leave it at the mast. For some reason my new main doesn't drop as easy as the old wore out sail. I'm going to lube the slugs and also put a second slug ....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/rigging-7.html

... like I did on the old sail at the head and see if that helps. Right now I have to pull it the first few feet before it just drops.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

MrBill_FLL · Jul 27, 2010

Hey Sum, yes, most reefing jam's have been on big boats, under racing conditions... and of course we won't reef until we REALLY needed to 5 knots ago...

Then something that should take 30 seconds becomes a few minutes... everyone yells, and sometimes someone gets hurt.

On my boat, I'll run the jiffy reef lines at the dock, or before I leave the anchorage. often leave reefed, and shake it out if needed...

sometimes I'm dropping the jib, and make do on just the full main, vs mess with reefing. but I have reefed a few times, on the bay... (I don't count on any help from my crew, or I'm singlehanding anyway.)

I've got 2 line (jiffy) reefing on the mac, (thanks to my PO), so not sure how well single line reefing works on the smaller mac main sail... (it should be easier to manhandle)

I'll take some pics... but basically, I have cheek blocks on the end of the boom, one for normal full main, and the other side in closer for reefing.

The tack side of the boom has a eye for the end of the front reef line, goes thru a grommet (cringle?) and down to a cheek block which leads the tack line to a mid boom cleat (also where the clew reef line goes.)

So I drop the main, ~4' pull on the outhaul, cleat it, pull on the tack line and cleat that, then gather up the middle and tie off (roll) the rest of the sail w/ square knots.... (but the middle 2 lines are not under load, so that can wait till I'm settled again.)

it may not be as fast, but it works everytime...
(and I don't pinch my fingers unjamming a knot)

just be sure the lines won't get jammed on you, when they are whipped about.

As it is my reef lines are pretty long.

Sumner · Jul 27, 2010

MrBill_FLL said:
Hey Sum, yes, most reefing jam's have been on big boats, under racing conditions..................

I'll take some pics... ..............ong.

Thanks and I'll look forward to the pictures. It wouldn't be hard for us to change anything we have now. What works on the trailer might not work so good on the lake. Ruth is on the last two seams on the sailpack, I'm excited to see how it works when all done with the lazy-jacks and the reef lines.

On another subject I didn't know Santa Clause lived in Florida and you were one of his elves

. We got the package today, thanks :dance:, from Ruth and me. I'll send you an e-mail or PM tonight about it and an idea I have,

Sum

MrBill_FLL · Jul 27, 2010

stb
boom end
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/ElliotKeySailing/P1010374.jpg

boom front
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/ElliotKeySailing/P1010387.jpg

^the cleat in the middle takes my reefing outhaul and the reef tack line.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/P1000520.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/P1010774.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/P1010777.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/P1010776.jpg

MrBill_FLL · Jul 27, 2010

Justin_NSA said:

my experience with this type of setup is the tack end gets tight but the outhaul still has slack and gets flogged. making it harder to pull in.
2 lines allow me to take care of the outhaul 1st where the main load is.

ymmv

ffaubert · Jul 27, 2010

In the diagram, doesn't the outhaul move forward and backwards on that track? That would be the outhaul tensioner, wouldn't it?

Hawk527 · Jul 28, 2010

I built my own that is a single line & runs back to the cockpit. It looks like Justin_NSA's except I have snatch blocks with short rope attached to the sail at the Luff and Leech reef points. I also have several Bullseye Fairleads on the boom to keep the line tight. It works well with little friction.
Jon
Jon@JonRickert.com

Justin_NSA · Jul 28, 2010

ffaubert said:
In the diagram, doesn't the outhaul move forward and backwards on that track? That would be the outhaul tensioner, wouldn't it?

This is Harken's kit. It looks like the aft boom guide is on a track to form a combination outhaul and reefing point. I'm not sure how it works or what comes in the kit. Mounting the boom point aft of the mainsail reef point should tension the roach.

Sumner · Jul 28, 2010

Justin_NSA said:
............ Mounting the boom point aft of the mainsail reef point should tension the roach.

That is what I did/do with the ......

..... old main and with the new single line reefing.

I don't think there is a "best" way that is for everyone. You need to figure where your lines run and how you are someone with you can get around the boat.

When we reefed in the past I'd lower the main. Move to the rear of the boom and reef down there, then back to the mast and.........

............. hook the reef point on the bolt at the gooseneck and then haul the main back up and finally tie the reef lines in along the boom. During this Ruth would man the tiller. A lot of moving around, but it worked.

It looks like Bill has his main halyard going back to the cockpit, so about where he is standing to control the main is also about where he needs to be to work his 2 line reefing, so that is a good deal for his setup.

I'm still managing for now the main at the mast, so if I had his 2 line reefing I'd have to move from the mast to the middle of the boom and then back to the mast and then back to the boom to tie things down. Not so good for me since I don't have the main halyard going to the cockpit.

For me now I can go to the mast, lower the main, pull in one line for the 1 line reefing and pull the main back up all in the same location. Also with the sailpack and loose footed main I don't have to tie the sail up along the boom.

When I get the main halyard back to the cockpit, maybe the single line reefing won't work so well with a couple more blocks to deal with and more friction.

My suggestion would be don't just decide if you want single line or 2 line reefing without considering how the other lines are run.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

MrBill_FLL · Jul 28, 2010

I can sure see only wanting to go to the mast once... so it that gets it done, great!:dance: