Hunter Legend Mainsail Reefing

Feb 2, 2006
470
Hunter Legend 35 Kingston
The boat your looking at has Isomat spars. Isomat has diagrams to a similar "single line" internal car based system (uses a "boom shuttle block" ... see below). My boat is a 35.

The Isomat boom can be set up with the car (like the seldon), or with a single line all the way through (no car). The internal car based system has much lower friction that a signle line variant but it make your boom insides very busy.

After some experimentation I determined that a single line system had too much friction (not pictured), and I ended up with reefing lines that only draw down the clews, and use reefing horns at the goosneck. Yes, it requires going forward out of the cockpit, but it's still pretty quick to reef and has minimal friction.



Chris
 
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Feb 16, 2024
25
Hunter Legend 37 Gig Harbor
The boat your looking at has Isomat spars. Isomat has diagrams to a similar "single line" internal car based system (uses a "boom shuttle block" ... see below). My boat is a 35.

The Isomat boom can be set up with the car (like the seldon), or with a single line all the way through (no car). The internal car based system has much lower friction that a signle line variant but it make your boom insides very busy.

After some experimentation I determined that a single line system had too much friction (not pictured), and I ended up with reefing lines that only draw down the clews, and use reefing horns at the goosneck. Yes, it requires going forward out of the cockpit, but it's still pretty quick to reef and has minimal friction.



Chris
Thanks. I’ve seen diagrams like the one you showed. And the mast on the Hunter legend has that fairlead but not the sheave below it. I’ll have to inspect the boom more to see if there is something in it.
my Ranger 33 has all reefing at the mast and has horns for hooking the cringle on.
 
Feb 2, 2006
470
Hunter Legend 35 Kingston
My boat didn't come with any reefing rigged, and given my boom ends were rivited, it likely never had the internal shuttles and didnt have the blocks on the mast (just the fairleads). I have some confidence that having two shuttle blocks in the boom would have over crowded the inside with my outhaul purchase system.
 
Feb 16, 2024
25
Hunter Legend 37 Gig Harbor
Thanks Walmsleyc.
Since you now use reefing horns at the gooseneck (I do to on my Ranger 33), how do you handle the main halyard? The Hunter is led aft. So do you release the halyard in the cockpit, then go forward and do the mast work, then return to cockpit and snug up the halyard?

On my Ranger with San Francisco Bay winds, when I release the halyard and hook the cringle on the hook, I have to tension the main halyard at the same time, else the sail comes off the horn.
 

DYFLWD

.
Feb 20, 2016
51
Hunter Legend 35.5 Lake Texoma
I have a 1993 Legend 35.5 and the previous owner pulled reefing lines straight through bypassing internal blocks. Both the ends of the mast are screwed in so I do have access but wonder how I get to the blocks in the middle of the boom. Than I wonder if its worth it. Does the system work or does it bind too much?
 
Jun 4, 2024
27
Hunter Legend 35.5 Charleston SC
I have a 1993 Legend 35.5 and the previous owner pulled reefing lines straight through bypassing internal blocks. Both the ends of the mast are screwed in so I do have access but wonder how I get to the blocks in the middle of the boom. Than I wonder if its worth it. Does the system work or does it bind too much?
I have a 94 35.5, it was missing the first reef line when I got it. I was lucky enough to find the shuttle car at the back of the boom, inside, just lying there... We were able to use a fish tape to run the lines thru, the only tricky part was getting the fish tape around the correct pulley at the front of the boom. Took a few tries, but we got it. First we fished the forward reef line thru to the back of the boom, and attached the shuttle car, then fished it back to the front over the correct pulley. Then threaded the aft reef line thru the shuttle, and pulled it back into the boom with the forward reef line. All together it was probably close to two hours of fiddling, we work slow..... We didn't even take off the end caps, and it seems to work very well.
 

DYFLWD

.
Feb 20, 2016
51
Hunter Legend 35.5 Lake Texoma
I have a 94 35.5, it was missing the first reef line when I got it. I was lucky enough to find the shuttle car at the back of the boom, inside, just lying there... We were able to use a fish tape to run the lines thru, the only tricky part was getting the fish tape around the correct pulley at the front of the boom. Took a few tries, but we got it. First we fished the forward reef line thru to the back of the boom, and attached the shuttle car, then fished it back to the front over the correct pulley. Then threaded the aft reef line thru the shuttle, and pulled it back into the boom with the forward reef line. All together it was probably close to two hours of fiddling, we work slow..... We didn't even take off the end caps, and it seems to work very well.
Thanks for the info. My boom is off now and I removed both end caps since they were screwed in (allen). I saw one shuttle block and I hope the other is in the boom somewhere. I thought the blocks were mounted in the boom but thanks to this forum I see they see they just attach to the sheets. I'll check for the other shuttle block next trip to the marina. The reefing block at the bottom of mast that I believe attaches to the vang block assembly is missing so gotta sort that out also.