Hunter 23 Jiffy Reef rigging

[Erictheboatman]

Hello to all my fellow boaters and let me thank you in advance for any and all information to help me solve this problem. This past winter I got a Hunter 23 (1986). The mast was down and most of the rigging removed. I picked up a New Halyards and Sheets and was able to figure that part out but this Jiffy Reef had me baffled! If anyone has photos they would be willing share with me on how this is set up that would be amazing! I've searched Google and many a forum but I still don't really know how this rigging should go.



Eric

 

[Joe]

Eric... I found the H23 owner's manual for you... you can find more info by googling "Hunter 23 reefing setup". From looking at the mainsail reefing comments on Page 18, it appears your boat's clew reefing line runs internally through the boom. It is secured at the forward end of the boom by a built in cleat. On the clew end...if you have a loose foot main you can tie the line around the boom, makes it easier to change. The tack end is secured with a reef hook on the gooseneck.

You must go to the mast with this system.

Here's a discussion on this forum from a few years back that might help... note that many owners have modified their reefing systems to improve on the factory set up....

 

[Erictheboatman]

Joe,

Thank you for the fast reply. I have read the owners manual and that post and I'm still at a loss for how the Jiffy Reef should be rigged. The boat has the Kenyon mast (white very heavy) if that matters. A picture really is worth a 1000 words. I've done many a Google search but still have not found a clear photos of how it is rigged.

 

[isaksp00]

I have no photos as mine is under a cover 150 miles away, but let me try to explain it.
There should be a sort of w shaped fitting on the fitting on the mast that the boom attaches to. That should be positioned so that the open ends of the "u" on either side face down before you attach the boom. To reef you lower the main and attach the cringle near the tack (assuming 1st reef) to the hook on either side, then tighten the halyard.
The "jiffy" part is what runs through the boom. The reefing line starts by being tied to the strap under the boom aft of the strap for the main sheet attachment (I forgot what those are called - sliding eye pads?). It goes up and through the cringle in the main near the clew, then down the other side of the sail. Then it goes into one of the three sheaves at the end of the boom (I don't know as it matters which - the other two are for the outhaul and the topping lift; I use my outhaul in the center sheave). If you know what lines are the outhaul and topping lift and have a 3rd that comes out the rear of the boom, use that. Then forward through the boom and out the corresponding jam cleat at the fore end of the boom. Once you tighten the halyard, you tighten that jiffy reefing line while up by the mast to pull the clew down and jam it in the cleat. Then use the lines in the sail to tie around the boom.
My sail has two reefing points, so if yours does you'd obviously have to move the jiffy reefing line between the two if you use the 2nd reef. I am on a lake and if the wind got to where I needed a 2nd reef I'd go in, so I just leave mine drooped through the lower (first) reef cringle.
By the way, I don't have a Kenyon - so the setup of the reef hook and pad eye on the boom may differ.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Eric;
It is always helpful for a photo but since you mentioned Kenyon, it is actually Kenyon Isomat once located in Charlotte, NC. a good friend of mine now retired ran that company when I was a Hunter dealer.
At the gooseneck or where the boom attaches to the mast, you should see a one piece with hooks on each end. Sometimes when attaching the mast, folks would forget about making sure the hooks stood up. You will want to attach the forward clew or designated as #1 on page 19 to either side of the hook. Just be careful when raising the sail, that the hook does not hook the sail itself as you will rip the sail. Please forgive me on my nomenclature here so I will refer to the aft end of the boom. Again looking at the diagram that line will attach to a pad eye on the side of the mast and go thru the other hole in the aft portion of the sail down to the end of the boom and run internally exiting thru one of three levers on the bottom of the boom close to the gooseneck and out. When reefing, you have to pull that line and jam that lever in place.

Some folks would choose to go to a single line reef system bypassing what came with the boat. Place a padeye on the back of the boom and a turning block on the other side on the aft of the boom. Attach another turning block on the same side of the boom with the turning block aft as far forward on the boom. Place a cleat on the opposite side of the mast as forward as you can on the same side that you installed the padeye. Raise the sail and measure from the aft pad eye to the rear reef point back down to the turning block and then going to the forward turning block and thru the other turning block forward and then up and down to the cleat. Suggest 5/16 inch line adding several feet to the length and again measuring with the sail uup. Hopes this will helpl.

 

[Erictheboatman]

Now that spring has sprung (ice should be off all the lakes in MN by this weekend!) I was wondering if anyone would be able to take a few photos of their Kenyon mast/boom jiffy rigging? I would really appreciate it and the photos would be a good addition to the forum.

Thank You, Eric

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

can you face time? if so send me a private email and we can set up a time which to go over that with you. Like I said, I was a former dealer and maybe I can walk you thru this.