I have a 2014 H22. The boom is a U S Spars z160. I cannot figure how to reef the front of the boom. The manufacturers website is no help. It appears I might have a line missing.
Help reefing
- Thread starter clnhse
- Start date
The two simplest ways are to use a reef hook or to use a line that is tied down to cleats or pad-eyes on each side of the mast.
I thought it had single line reefing but there is not a line exiting the front on the boom. I think a reef hook would work but I do not have one.
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A reef hook looks something like this:
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--tack-hooks--P002_062_005_505?recordNum=2
If you don't have one they are not hard to install and not expensive.
I favor using a reef hook, or reefing line at the front of the boom, and a separate reefing line at the end of the boom to haul the clew down and aft (Aft being important to keep the sail flat and de-powered.)
I like to get that in before the single reefing line proponents jump in.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--tack-hooks--P002_062_005_505?recordNum=2
If you don't have one they are not hard to install and not expensive.
I favor using a reef hook, or reefing line at the front of the boom, and a separate reefing line at the end of the boom to haul the clew down and aft (Aft being important to keep the sail flat and de-powered.)
I like to get that in before the single reefing line proponents jump in.
Is this the manual for your boat?:
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/help-reefing.196083/
Page 59 has a diagram which shows a single line reefing. If I understand it, the reefing line is supposed to exit the bottom of the boom through a jammer near the gooseneck. Also looks like the other end is supposed to exit at top of the gooseneck and go up through reefing eye then down to a pad eye on the mast. I see the pad eye in your picture but I don't see a line exiting the top of the boom. :
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/help-reefing.196083/
Page 59 has a diagram which shows a single line reefing. If I understand it, the reefing line is supposed to exit the bottom of the boom through a jammer near the gooseneck. Also looks like the other end is supposed to exit at top of the gooseneck and go up through reefing eye then down to a pad eye on the mast. I see the pad eye in your picture but I don't see a line exiting the top of the boom. :
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That is correct. I have the same Z-spar boom and that is how mine is set up. It is really easy to reef. You slack the halyard, pull the sail down until the reefing grommet can be put into the reef hook at the gooseneck then pull on the reefing line you are describing and the reefing clew will be hauled out by the line you describe... then tension the halyard and you are done.
Actually, I don't see a reef hook in the diagram. Looks like the line that goes through the eye in the luff also runs through a block inside the boom. That block is attached to a line that runs back to the leach to pull down that side of the sail. So one line is supposed to bring down both the tack and the clew.
I don't think the one in the manual is a Z-spar boom. The reefing hook I have looks like this
and you slip it into this hole here....
When you reef, the reefing grommet on the luff of the sail becomes the new tack. You simply hook the reef hook into the grommet and pull up on the halyard.
Then you pull on this line here....
That line goes to the back of the boom, and functions like an outhaul on the clew reefing grommet.
and you slip it into this hole here....
When you reef, the reefing grommet on the luff of the sail becomes the new tack. You simply hook the reef hook into the grommet and pull up on the halyard.
Then you pull on this line here....
That line goes to the back of the boom, and functions like an outhaul on the clew reefing grommet.
Suggest a photo of the complete boom to see if a line exits on the bottom side and held firm by a Jam cleat. Suggest going to the boat information for the 22. The first three are operators manuals but the page you are looking for is on 5.11 which appears to be a single line reef which is why I ask that you take another photo of the boom the entire length with emphasis on the bottom of the boom
I do my slab reefing different than most. I reef the clew first and then drop the tack down to the reef hook.
1. come to a close hauled or close reach course with jib trimmed properly for heading.
2. ease the traveler and boom vang and mainsheet so that main is slack. It will flog gently as long as the clew is tensioned by the boom. The boat will continue under jib alone.
3. use the slab reefing line on the clew to pull the boom up to the reef cringle. That keeps the tension on the foot of the main and minimizes the flogging.
4. Lower the haulyard to a premarked point that will allow the tack to be hooked onto the reef hook.
5. Retention the haulyard and retrim the main sheet and traveler. No need to tie in the little lines at each reef point because they add nothing to the shape of the sail and will tear the sail in two if you forget to untie them.
1. come to a close hauled or close reach course with jib trimmed properly for heading.
2. ease the traveler and boom vang and mainsheet so that main is slack. It will flog gently as long as the clew is tensioned by the boom. The boat will continue under jib alone.
3. use the slab reefing line on the clew to pull the boom up to the reef cringle. That keeps the tension on the foot of the main and minimizes the flogging.
4. Lower the haulyard to a premarked point that will allow the tack to be hooked onto the reef hook.
5. Retention the haulyard and retrim the main sheet and traveler. No need to tie in the little lines at each reef point because they add nothing to the shape of the sail and will tear the sail in two if you forget to untie them.
