I had an opportunity to use the "boom roller reefing" on my V222 this weekend, for the first time. What a joke! I was not impressed, in fact it almost caused a big problem. I have looked though the archives and noticed the Jiffy Reefing System mentioned. The only place I can find this system for sale is at Sailrite. The question is: Is this the only product available? Are there other systems under different names? Has anyone installed one, and what's the pros and cons? For the cost ($50) I figure it's worth a try. Eric
Jiffy Reefing System
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Jiffy Reefing
is just a name for (slab reefing) being able to quickly reef the main sail. First your sail has to have a reef point (a cringle at the luff, and leach with reinforcement a couple of feet above the boom) for jiffy reefing to be used. There are many ways to rig a jiffy reefing system, a line at the clew end to pull down, and back on the leach and secure it, another line to pull down on the luff, and secure it, or a single line to do both (usually led to the cockpit).
is just a name for (slab reefing) being able to quickly reef the main sail. First your sail has to have a reef point (a cringle at the luff, and leach with reinforcement a couple of feet above the boom) for jiffy reefing to be used. There are many ways to rig a jiffy reefing system, a line at the clew end to pull down, and back on the leach and secure it, another line to pull down on the luff, and secure it, or a single line to do both (usually led to the cockpit).
Hated our in-boom roller furler....
it was virtually impossible to raise or lower our main with it. We converted it to a lazy jack system with jiffy reefing. If you already have reef points installed in your sail, Google "jiffy reef" and you can see how to rig this yourself. This site I've attached has some good step by step pictures.
it was virtually impossible to raise or lower our main with it. We converted it to a lazy jack system with jiffy reefing. If you already have reef points installed in your sail, Google "jiffy reef" and you can see how to rig this yourself. This site I've attached has some good step by step pictures.
Whoever invented boom roller furling should be forced to use it .
This was a system that was universally abandoned in 60s & 70s because of it propensity to create a hugely 'powered-up' sail shape even with its reduced sail area. The 'modern attempts' as the same method require the use of overly FLAT cut sails. The same principals of 'roller furling' apply to boom rollers as well as those system that roll up along the luff ...... they can only be rolled down by ~30% of the full sail area; ....... then develop 'god-awful' powered-up shapes which is the direct opposite of what you want when reefing. Nothing beats 'jiffy/slab' reefing as one can still have a flattened (not powered-up) sail shape.
This was a system that was universally abandoned in 60s & 70s because of it propensity to create a hugely 'powered-up' sail shape even with its reduced sail area. The 'modern attempts' as the same method require the use of overly FLAT cut sails. The same principals of 'roller furling' apply to boom rollers as well as those system that roll up along the luff ...... they can only be rolled down by ~30% of the full sail area; ....... then develop 'god-awful' powered-up shapes which is the direct opposite of what you want when reefing. Nothing beats 'jiffy/slab' reefing as one can still have a flattened (not powered-up) sail shape.
Original Sails
The boat still has it's original sails, so it does not have any reef points already installed. I would be looking for a kit or a DIY.
The boat still has it's original sails, so it does not have any reef points already installed. I would be looking for a kit or a DIY.
One rarely sees a mainsail without cringles for reefing.
Even my 1973 original main had the reef cringles on the luff and the leech, and that was with boom roller reefing. After using the roller system once, I put on my own single line reefing system led back to the cockpit - simple and works great. If you don't have reefing cringles, they are easy to find and install. While at it, install some smaller cringles for the nettles.
Even my 1973 original main had the reef cringles on the luff and the leech, and that was with boom roller reefing. After using the roller system once, I put on my own single line reefing system led back to the cockpit - simple and works great. If you don't have reefing cringles, they are easy to find and install. While at it, install some smaller cringles for the nettles.
reply to this old spouce on Jiffy /Slab reefing
You can make your own 2 point slab reefer you dont have to buy a kit Its Easy First you need 2 gromets for each reef point you have to measure how deep you want the reefs to determine where the gromets should go usually 10 to 15% of the sail area for the first point and 20-30% for the 2nd point maybe more It depends how deep you want your reefs. You can either go to a sailmaker or buy a gromet kit and do it yourself The gromets should be at the luff and leach 2. These are the supplies you will need to install the jiffy reefer. 2a. A reef hook to be placed at the forward end of the boom. either Tie or screw it on. 2b 2 cheek blocks 1 for each point 2 cleets to be screwed to the boom. 2c enough 1/4 " line for two reefs depends on the size of the main sail and how deep the points are. Thats it. 3. Lets put it together: with the main sail up measure from the gromet down to the boom at right angles NOT along the leach. Move foreward a couple of inches so the cheek block will be on the starboard side of the boom foreward of the Gromet. mark the spot for the cheek block, Do the same thing for the second point. The gromet will be higher so the 2nd cheek block will be foreward of the first. Drill tap and screw both cheek blocks onto the boom. Drill tap and screw both cleets onto the boom. The further forward the better form the cleets JUst keep them separated. 4 Your ready to put the reeflines on and reef. Take 1/4 inch line tie a bowline on to the becket in your aft cheek block. Take the line under the boom up on the port side of the mainsail thru the gromet down thru the sheave on the cheek block and forward to the cleet. NOt to tight leave a little slack after you have the line cleated off whip the end and cut it off. Do the same thing for the 2nd reef. 5 To reef underway luff up your main sail drop your halyard to the gromet. put your hook through the gromet. reflatten your luff and tie it off. Take your line off the cleet pull it through the cheek block and drag it tight down on the boom. Thats it your done. pull your reefed main in. whole operation should take less than 5 min. 6 ONe more thing I dont use point ties. What I do with the dead area is pull half of it through to the port side so it hangs 1/2 & 1/2 on either side of the boom. Thats up to you If you want ties your gonna have to put 3 small gromets across the middle of the sail If you have any Questions e mail me
You can make your own 2 point slab reefer you dont have to buy a kit Its Easy First you need 2 gromets for each reef point you have to measure how deep you want the reefs to determine where the gromets should go usually 10 to 15% of the sail area for the first point and 20-30% for the 2nd point maybe more It depends how deep you want your reefs. You can either go to a sailmaker or buy a gromet kit and do it yourself The gromets should be at the luff and leach 2. These are the supplies you will need to install the jiffy reefer. 2a. A reef hook to be placed at the forward end of the boom. either Tie or screw it on. 2b 2 cheek blocks 1 for each point 2 cleets to be screwed to the boom. 2c enough 1/4 " line for two reefs depends on the size of the main sail and how deep the points are. Thats it. 3. Lets put it together: with the main sail up measure from the gromet down to the boom at right angles NOT along the leach. Move foreward a couple of inches so the cheek block will be on the starboard side of the boom foreward of the Gromet. mark the spot for the cheek block, Do the same thing for the second point. The gromet will be higher so the 2nd cheek block will be foreward of the first. Drill tap and screw both cheek blocks onto the boom. Drill tap and screw both cleets onto the boom. The further forward the better form the cleets JUst keep them separated. 4 Your ready to put the reeflines on and reef. Take 1/4 inch line tie a bowline on to the becket in your aft cheek block. Take the line under the boom up on the port side of the mainsail thru the gromet down thru the sheave on the cheek block and forward to the cleet. NOt to tight leave a little slack after you have the line cleated off whip the end and cut it off. Do the same thing for the 2nd reef. 5 To reef underway luff up your main sail drop your halyard to the gromet. put your hook through the gromet. reflatten your luff and tie it off. Take your line off the cleet pull it through the cheek block and drag it tight down on the boom. Thats it your done. pull your reefed main in. whole operation should take less than 5 min. 6 ONe more thing I dont use point ties. What I do with the dead area is pull half of it through to the port side so it hangs 1/2 & 1/2 on either side of the boom. Thats up to you If you want ties your gonna have to put 3 small gromets across the middle of the sail If you have any Questions e mail me
Take it to a sailmaker
It cant cost that much for a MacGregor 22 and have it done right. This is one of those deals where if you have to ask, you will be better off with a sail maker. Its very simple and they will explain it to you. Tony B
It cant cost that much for a MacGregor 22 and have it done right. This is one of those deals where if you have to ask, you will be better off with a sail maker. Its very simple and they will explain it to you. Tony B
Roller boom DOOM
I agree with Tony B completely. Have it done right, with all due respect, there are no 'grommets' in a sail, they are 'Cringles' as someone pointed out and they are heavily reinforced for obvious reasons. I have disdain for all roller-furlers. Especially for the jib and main, they will always cause trouble. Many say, "no not mine" but at days end you find out that 1) they are fond of un-truths for short-cuts. 2) do not get into adverse weather. 3) sail much less than they claim. Boom furlers can be troublesome, but at the very least you can wrap the damn sail round the boom in an emergency, can't try that with the main in mast furlers, and try going out on the foredeck to wrestle with a jib furler that is in full revolt! Best to cut the jib sheets and do circles till it is wound up round the forestay. It is a simple task to raise and lower a jib on hanks, easy to pull it to the deck with a downhaul with 1/2" nylon for good grip too; tighten the jib sheets when hauling her down and she'll fall right onto the deck neatly.
I agree with Tony B completely. Have it done right, with all due respect, there are no 'grommets' in a sail, they are 'Cringles' as someone pointed out and they are heavily reinforced for obvious reasons. I have disdain for all roller-furlers. Especially for the jib and main, they will always cause trouble. Many say, "no not mine" but at days end you find out that 1) they are fond of un-truths for short-cuts. 2) do not get into adverse weather. 3) sail much less than they claim. Boom furlers can be troublesome, but at the very least you can wrap the damn sail round the boom in an emergency, can't try that with the main in mast furlers, and try going out on the foredeck to wrestle with a jib furler that is in full revolt! Best to cut the jib sheets and do circles till it is wound up round the forestay. It is a simple task to raise and lower a jib on hanks, easy to pull it to the deck with a downhaul with 1/2" nylon for good grip too; tighten the jib sheets when hauling her down and she'll fall right onto the deck neatly.
thisoldspouse, You do not have boom reefing, you have in boom furling
Roller reefing On a roller reefing boom was abandoned a long time ago as RichH said. The roller reefing boom was usually a wood boom that was shaped thicker in the center with a gooseneck/boom end fitting that was cut away in extreme relief so that the luff tape wound not bunch up and increase the draft in the sail as it rolled around the boom. To allow the sail slides to remain on the track the lower slides were generally mounted on jack lines, and the whole system was poor. To prevent the draft from increasing as you rolled in a reef you inserted long pieces of foam into the roll to absorb the extra draft. Be glad you don't have such a system. Your roller furling system is for furling and not reefing, and I don't think a lot of good things about that system either, because there is too much sail to roll up. I would prefer conventional furling on the boom or in mast furling. As for reefing, either use 2 point slab or jiffy reefing with reef points across the sail. I prefer the latter. The reef points distribute the load a little better than just slab reefing but two things should be mentioned. They should be put in by a sailmaker, because the sail should be reinforced before any cringles are installed, and 2) you should learn to tie a slippery reef knot. it's like a square knot but instead of pulling both tails through you pull only one and pull a loop through with the other one. It makes it quicker to shake a reef out. Have fun Joe S
Roller reefing On a roller reefing boom was abandoned a long time ago as RichH said. The roller reefing boom was usually a wood boom that was shaped thicker in the center with a gooseneck/boom end fitting that was cut away in extreme relief so that the luff tape wound not bunch up and increase the draft in the sail as it rolled around the boom. To allow the sail slides to remain on the track the lower slides were generally mounted on jack lines, and the whole system was poor. To prevent the draft from increasing as you rolled in a reef you inserted long pieces of foam into the roll to absorb the extra draft. Be glad you don't have such a system. Your roller furling system is for furling and not reefing, and I don't think a lot of good things about that system either, because there is too much sail to roll up. I would prefer conventional furling on the boom or in mast furling. As for reefing, either use 2 point slab or jiffy reefing with reef points across the sail. I prefer the latter. The reef points distribute the load a little better than just slab reefing but two things should be mentioned. They should be put in by a sailmaker, because the sail should be reinforced before any cringles are installed, and 2) you should learn to tie a slippery reef knot. it's like a square knot but instead of pulling both tails through you pull only one and pull a loop through with the other one. It makes it quicker to shake a reef out. Have fun Joe S
Joe - methinks you may wish to reword your comments.
He has boom roller reefing. It is not "in boom furling".
He has boom roller reefing. It is not "in boom furling".
iI have the sailrite kit
am going to install it as soon as I can sneak the admiral's sewing machine into the garage, looks like a good kit, has reinforcement sail material and shockcord for furling, cheaper than buying the parts separately. I will put pics when I get it done. ps put those pics of your boat up it looks nice, I may paint mine next year. Tim
am going to install it as soon as I can sneak the admiral's sewing machine into the garage, looks like a good kit, has reinforcement sail material and shockcord for furling, cheaper than buying the parts separately. I will put pics when I get it done. ps put those pics of your boat up it looks nice, I may paint mine next year. Tim
jimq26, If in fact he has it as you say, then I am wrong to deny it.
However, as I pointed out, and as RichH said it was abandoned a long time ago by knowledgeable sailors. It was a terrible system even when it had specially shaped gooseneck and boom and it wouldn't be any better now. If it were advertised and sold as such it probably was just a marketing gimmick for the unsuspecting. So I do rethink my comments. Please ignore the first part, and consider only the last. Thanks Joe S
However, as I pointed out, and as RichH said it was abandoned a long time ago by knowledgeable sailors. It was a terrible system even when it had specially shaped gooseneck and boom and it wouldn't be any better now. If it were advertised and sold as such it probably was just a marketing gimmick for the unsuspecting. So I do rethink my comments. Please ignore the first part, and consider only the last. Thanks Joe S
You're right Joe about it being a terrible system.
Many boats out there (early '70's vintage etc.) still have the original roller furling booms on them (me included), but I don't see anyone using them anymore. So much easier with jiffy or slab reefing eh? Anyone interested in an original hand crank that fits these contraptions? Maybe I should donate it to a museum. Might do for a fish club?
Many boats out there (early '70's vintage etc.) still have the original roller furling booms on them (me included), but I don't see anyone using them anymore. So much easier with jiffy or slab reefing eh? Anyone interested in an original hand crank that fits these contraptions? Maybe I should donate it to a museum. Might do for a fish club?
From "thisoldspouse"
I'm not sure what to call the system, however on my 77 V222 the sail wraps around the boom. The boom has a gooseneck fitting which allows it to be turned then locked in place. No crank handle , lost long ago I'm sure. Thrown away by somebody who knew better. Whatever it's called it doesn't work. Thanks to all for the advice. I'll most likely try the Jiffy Reef, I'll let you all know how it goes. With a thirty year old sail on inland lakes, I'll save my money and take my chances ( I'm not fearless or stupid). Eric
I'm not sure what to call the system, however on my 77 V222 the sail wraps around the boom. The boom has a gooseneck fitting which allows it to be turned then locked in place. No crank handle , lost long ago I'm sure. Thrown away by somebody who knew better. Whatever it's called it doesn't work. Thanks to all for the advice. I'll most likely try the Jiffy Reef, I'll let you all know how it goes. With a thirty year old sail on inland lakes, I'll save my money and take my chances ( I'm not fearless or stupid). Eric
My V-21 was originally equipped with roller reefing.
Someone changed the gooseneck long before I got it so it no longer works. I know what ya mean about using 30 yr old sails as mine are original from '76.
Someone changed the gooseneck long before I got it so it no longer works. I know what ya mean about using 30 yr old sails as mine are original from '76.
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