Mainsail reefing
- Thread starter clinton_edmonds
- Start date
Hello and thank you to all who have responded to my many questions. Sorry for the delay in replying. i have uploaded a couple of photos of my gooseneck and roller reefing crank arrangements.
My sail track is integral to the mast. It is not an external track. The entry point for the slugs terminates about 18-24 inches (photo 2903) above the gooseneck (Photo 2899). Both the entry point and the gooseneck fitting are recessed into the mast so they cannot be moved in a vertical direction. There are no screw holes etc., on the entry point fitting for installing a cover plate. Anyway, I would think that such a plate, unless it aws in two pieces (one for each slide thereby leaving a slot) would act just the same as the 'stop' slug that I use. maybe I am not seeing something here?
Many thanks again for the replies
Clinton Edmonds,
V 3326, Gladwyena
pjacobs55 prjacobs@... wrote:
Walt,
Thanks! That's interesting. My Series I has a riveted track for the
gooseneck and has an internal extrusion in the mast for flat sail
slides.
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
My sail track is integral to the mast. It is not an external track. The entry point for the slugs terminates about 18-24 inches (photo 2903) above the gooseneck (Photo 2899). Both the entry point and the gooseneck fitting are recessed into the mast so they cannot be moved in a vertical direction. There are no screw holes etc., on the entry point fitting for installing a cover plate. Anyway, I would think that such a plate, unless it aws in two pieces (one for each slide thereby leaving a slot) would act just the same as the 'stop' slug that I use. maybe I am not seeing something here?
Many thanks again for the replies
Clinton Edmonds,
V 3326, Gladwyena
pjacobs55 prjacobs@... wrote:
Walt,
Thanks! That's interesting. My Series I has a riveted track for the
gooseneck and has an internal extrusion in the mast for flat sail
slides.
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
Hey Clinton,
Doesn't look anything like my vega goosneck. Mine is #1493 and I
think standard original equipment.
Larry
"Kemanalea"
hull 1493
SF Bay area
Doesn't look anything like my vega goosneck. Mine is #1493 and I
think standard original equipment.
Larry
"Kemanalea"
hull 1493
SF Bay area
Yes Larry,
It is giving me pause for thought. It is not like the one on my first Vega either, which was in the 2000 series. Would it be due to later version of the roller reefing gear? However, the entry point for the sail slugs is the same as in my earlier Vega.
Clinton.
V 3326, Gladwyena
Larry Bissell albinvega1493@... wrote:
Hey Clinton,
Doesn't look anything like my vega goosneck. Mine is #1493 and I
think standard original equipment.
Larry
"Kemanalea"
hull 1493
SF Bay area
It is giving me pause for thought. It is not like the one on my first Vega either, which was in the 2000 series. Would it be due to later version of the roller reefing gear? However, the entry point for the sail slugs is the same as in my earlier Vega.
Clinton.
V 3326, Gladwyena
Larry Bissell albinvega1493@... wrote:
Hey Clinton,
Doesn't look anything like my vega goosneck. Mine is #1493 and I
think standard original equipment.
Larry
"Kemanalea"
hull 1493
SF Bay area
Clinton
I'm a bit surprised that there is such a difference in the
reefing systems on the various Vegas. I wonder if it was the builder
that offered different systems as options, or if owners made changes
to their boats. In any case, your system does not resemble mine. On
the Columbia I had it was similar however, in that the sail would
slide out of the extruded groove at the insertion point while reefing.
The goal was to keep tension on the halyard and slowly lower the
sail, removing only enough slides to get the tack earing onto the
reefing horn and then haul back on the halyard, this while not
dropping all the slides and sail off the mast, losing the pliers in my
pocket or choking on the sail stop in my mouth.
We fixed this by partially closing the gap at the insertion point
with two pieces of aluminum plate about 4" wide and a bit longer than
the gap. These were bent across the width by hammering against a pipe
so they would fit snugly on the mast. By drilling mounting holes
through the plate and small holes in the mast, and self taping screws,
these were secured on the mast leaving enough room for the slides to
slip between. Files and sandpaper were used to smooth rough edges.
I don't know if this would help you or not though. I will try to get
back on the boat and take a picture.
Craig
I'm a bit surprised that there is such a difference in the
reefing systems on the various Vegas. I wonder if it was the builder
that offered different systems as options, or if owners made changes
to their boats. In any case, your system does not resemble mine. On
the Columbia I had it was similar however, in that the sail would
slide out of the extruded groove at the insertion point while reefing.
The goal was to keep tension on the halyard and slowly lower the
sail, removing only enough slides to get the tack earing onto the
reefing horn and then haul back on the halyard, this while not
dropping all the slides and sail off the mast, losing the pliers in my
pocket or choking on the sail stop in my mouth.
We fixed this by partially closing the gap at the insertion point
with two pieces of aluminum plate about 4" wide and a bit longer than
the gap. These were bent across the width by hammering against a pipe
so they would fit snugly on the mast. By drilling mounting holes
through the plate and small holes in the mast, and self taping screws,
these were secured on the mast leaving enough room for the slides to
slip between. Files and sandpaper were used to smooth rough edges.
I don't know if this would help you or not though. I will try to get
back on the boat and take a picture.
Craig
Craig,
You have dsecribed my difficulty almost to a Tee, except you did not mention 'one hand for the boat and one for yourself'' in the type of sea and wind condition requiring a reef to be taken in. i would sincerely appreciate photos of your fix.
Thanks,
Clinton,
Gladwyena
vegatern vegatern@... wrote:
Clinton
I'm a bit surprised that there is such a difference in the
reefing systems on the various Vegas. I wonder if it was the builder
that offered different systems as options, or if owners made changes
to their boats. In any case, your system does not resemble mine. On
the Columbia I had it was similar however, in that the sail would
slide out of the extruded groove at the insertion point while reefing.
The goal was to keep tension on the halyard and slowly lower the
sail, removing only enough slides to get the tack earing onto the
reefing horn and then haul back on the halyard, this while not
dropping all the slides and sail off the mast, losing the pliers in my
pocket or choking on the sail stop in my mouth.
We fixed this by partially closing the gap at the insertion point
with two pieces of aluminum plate about 4" wide and a bit longer than
the gap. These were bent across the width by hammering against a pipe
so they would fit snugly on the mast. By drilling mounting holes
through the plate and small holes in the mast, and self taping screws,
these were secured on the mast leaving enough room for the slides to
slip between. Files and sandpaper were used to smooth rough edges.
I don't know if this would help you or not though. I will try to get
back on the boat and take a picture.
Craig
You have dsecribed my difficulty almost to a Tee, except you did not mention 'one hand for the boat and one for yourself'' in the type of sea and wind condition requiring a reef to be taken in. i would sincerely appreciate photos of your fix.
Thanks,
Clinton,
Gladwyena
vegatern vegatern@... wrote:
Clinton
I'm a bit surprised that there is such a difference in the
reefing systems on the various Vegas. I wonder if it was the builder
that offered different systems as options, or if owners made changes
to their boats. In any case, your system does not resemble mine. On
the Columbia I had it was similar however, in that the sail would
slide out of the extruded groove at the insertion point while reefing.
The goal was to keep tension on the halyard and slowly lower the
sail, removing only enough slides to get the tack earing onto the
reefing horn and then haul back on the halyard, this while not
dropping all the slides and sail off the mast, losing the pliers in my
pocket or choking on the sail stop in my mouth.
We fixed this by partially closing the gap at the insertion point
with two pieces of aluminum plate about 4" wide and a bit longer than
the gap. These were bent across the width by hammering against a pipe
so they would fit snugly on the mast. By drilling mounting holes
through the plate and small holes in the mast, and self taping screws,
these were secured on the mast leaving enough room for the slides to
slip between. Files and sandpaper were used to smooth rough edges.
I don't know if this would help you or not though. I will try to get
back on the boat and take a picture.
Craig
Clinton,
I got back to the Columbia and posted a picture of the change we made
to the sail track. It's a bit different than I remembered it (but
that sort of thing should not surprise me anymore ;-). The aluminum
pieces just close the gap so that the slugs wouldn't slip out. I
still went forward to the mast and pulled in the tack and clew from there.
I've also posted a photo of the bilge pump in the cabin. (in Tern's album)
Craig Tern#1519
I got back to the Columbia and posted a picture of the change we made
to the sail track. It's a bit different than I remembered it (but
that sort of thing should not surprise me anymore ;-). The aluminum
pieces just close the gap so that the slugs wouldn't slip out. I
still went forward to the mast and pulled in the tack and clew from there.
I've also posted a photo of the bilge pump in the cabin. (in Tern's album)
Craig Tern#1519
Thanks for going to the trouble Craig. it looks like a possible solution.
Clinton,
V 3266, Gladwyena
vegatern vegatern@... wrote:
Clinton,
I got back to the Columbia and posted a picture of the change we made
to the sail track. It's a bit different than I remembered it (but
that sort of thing should not surprise me anymore ;-). The aluminum
pieces just close the gap so that the slugs wouldn't slip out. I
still went forward to the mast and pulled in the tack and clew from there.
I've also posted a photo of the bilge pump in the cabin. (in Tern's album)
Craig Tern#1519
Clinton,
V 3266, Gladwyena
vegatern vegatern@... wrote:
Clinton,
I got back to the Columbia and posted a picture of the change we made
to the sail track. It's a bit different than I remembered it (but
that sort of thing should not surprise me anymore ;-). The aluminum
pieces just close the gap so that the slugs wouldn't slip out. I
still went forward to the mast and pulled in the tack and clew from there.
I've also posted a photo of the bilge pump in the cabin. (in Tern's album)
Craig Tern#1519