Jib Reefing

[browndog]

How can I properly reef a jib without purchasing a roller furler? anyone have ideas? sail bag configuration? Your help would be appreciated

 

[Tom s/v GAIA]

Jib reefing.

I may be wrong, but as far as I know, the only way to 'reef a jib' with out a furler is to take the big one down and hank on a smaller sail. That's why furlers are sooooo-nice, you don't even have to go forward!!The ice is almost out of the harbor!!!!yeeeeehaawwww!!!tom s/v GAIA

 

[Trevor - SailboatOwners.com]

You can reef a larger headsail such as a genoa or flapper by installing grommets in a horizontal line above the foot (much like the reef holes in a mainsail). You can run reef lines into these holes and reduce the hoist by bunching the foot together and securing with these lines. This does produce significant strain at the cringle on the leech, but does work.However, as Tom mentioned below, it would be preferable to add a few different sized sails to your inventory. Smaller headsails are usually used in higher wind conditions and thus made of thicker material for durability.Best of luck,Trevor

 

[Scott Mathey]

jib

Brown dog, I agree with Tom and Trevor, a few differant size sails are the way to go with out a roller furling. When I used hanked on jib I rigged up a downhaul for the jib sail so I could lower the jib from the cockpit. A 1/4" line will do, I used a pulley at the base of the front stay and hooked the line to the jib hallyard through the pulley and through the sail clips so when the sail goes up it also pulls the downhaul line up with it. To lower the jib sail then all you have to do is release the jib hallyard pull the downhaul line through the pulley from the cockpit. By the time one needs to reduce sail going up on deck can be a real challenge. Hope this helps. Let me know.

 

[browndog]

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I keep trying to find an alternative cheap solution and coming to realize that a roller furler is probably the only safe way to go, as well as the easiest from a single-handing standpoint.bd

 

[Don Evans]

It's Doable

I had a set of reefing points, sail ties, and a second cringle added to my 150 deck sweeper jib. It would reduce the sail to about a 120. Had to roll the bottom up and tie it off with the ties, and refasten the jib sheets (I have snap shackles at the sheet ends). It worked fine for me. I have since added a RF to the jib. Going to a RF has other advantages, mainly safety and sail shape was better than the reefed jib.Don

 

[Joe]

I think the cut of the headsail's clew would determine the type of reefing solution. On a "deck sweeper" racing cut 150 you would need tack and clew cringles with an extra set of sheets and perhaps some reef tie points, because there will be surplus sail the full length of the foot. On a higher clewed cruising type headsail, where the clew and foot rise dramatically above the deck and lifelines for visibility, I suspect all that is needed is a tack reef point, and adjustable lead blocks. A reefing line run through the reef tack point and a deck block then back to the cockpit would sufficiently shorten the luff, and also realign the foot to a more parrallel relationship with the deck. No need to change sheets or have a clew reef point. The surplus is mostly at the front of the sail and remains hanked-on. So the end effect is: For those that prefer hank-on sails, (and there are many) reducing sail size by 15-20 percent does not require a trip forward. Does that make sense?