Need to set up a reefing line on O'27

[JonnyQuest]

Need help setting up a reefing line on O'27

Let me describe what I assume is the standard reefing rigging that is on my Oday 27 (1975) and then ask a.) how to set up the reefing lines, and b.) how to modify it to a single line leading back to cockpit.

On the port rear of my boom I have a cheek block below and aft of the rear reefing cringles (2 sets of reefing points on this sail). On the port front of my boom I have a standard horn cleat below the two forward reefing cringles. I also have a hook on the starboard side of my gooseneck and another hook rigged to a cunningham on port side--which runs aft to cockpit.

It appears to me that usage is as follows:

1. For initial reefing point, attach forward cringle directly to starboard hook on gooseneck. Next run a line that is tied off to the boom up through rear cringle and down to port cheek block, then forward to the port horn clean and cleat off to match the forward cringle positioning.

(alternately, the rigging manual floating around the forum describes as follows: run line that is attached below boom and on port side of mast, up through reefing tack cringle and down to cleat used for boom Downhaul. Tighten this line and cleat.)

2. For the second reefing point I assume that I instead need to use the cunningham rigged hook in the forward upper cringle, and .... I'm at a loss as to how the upper reefing line is supposed to be rigged in the rear now.

OK, so I'm stumped on how to rig the existing "jiffy reefing" setup was originally set up, and it does not seem to be designed for to reefing points. But then I am still step on the learning curve!

Now if I were going to rig a single reefing line, I'd need to add a turning block below the forward reefing points and possibly attach it to the horn cleat? and then run it down and aft to the cockpit in place of the current reefing horn cunningham. That's my idea, though I'm not sure this is a good idea.

So I am turning this project and my education over to the braintrust for guidance, please. I'd like to most easily and cost effectively run a single reefing line back to the cockpit. --and just how is this done with two sets of reefing points anyway?

Thanks in advance!

JQ

 

[JonnyQuest]

Bump. Don't see it showing up in the new messages forum.
Any help on how reefing line should be set up? Thanks. JQ

 

[the_alpine]

My 302 is rigged as follows: reef line tied to end of boom below aft reef cringle. Line runs up through cringle and back down to end of boom, through (cheekblock on) boom to (cheekblock on) front of boom. Down to double block at base of mast, up to single block on a d-ring at the forward reef point of sail, down to standup block at base of mast, aft to clutch in cockpit. Repeat for 2nd reef.

 

[HukilauMike]

Here's a thread from a month ago where I described how I set up my jiffy reefing system (see post #19 in the thread). Only one reef point, but maybe you can get some ideas on to make it work with two.

http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=141140

 

[JonnyQuest]

Thanks for the two responses. I too would need to turn my reefing line up at the fore end of the boom to include the forward reefing point. Currently the cleat is there however.

I am thinking about attaching a swivel block to the cleat to turn the line up, do you think this would put too much sideways stress on the cleat/boom connection? Im pretty sure it was screwed on to the boom.

I'll then route the line down the opposite side and under the boom either back to the same cleat or alternately to turning blocks that would bring the reefing line back to the cockpit.

Does this sound adequate?

Mike, your thread sounds similar.

 

[the_alpine]

My reefing lines run inside the boom. They go down to the base of the mast from the front of the boom then up to the forward reefing point on the sail then back down to the base of the mast and back to the cockpit.

 

[FastOlson]

In the short list of "horrible ideas that sound good in theory" the single-line-reefing scheme is pretty near the top.


Yes, it works OK when done at the dock in no wind.... but not out on the water. Too many friction points.

 

[JonnyQuest]

I have heard of stories of people who tied their dock lines off to their winches and having the winch get ripped out because the forces pulling on the winch were lateral as opposed to longitudinal. The boom cleat in question is placed to accept the load of the reefing line running from aft forward on the boom (longitudinally), while my new rigging would instead have the line running down from the cringle attaching to the cleat laterally instead.

 

[the_alpine]

In the short list of "horrible ideas that sound good in theory" the single-line-reefing scheme is pretty near the top.


Yes, it works OK when done at the dock in no wind.... but not out on the water. Too many friction points.

I'd have to strongly disagree. I can reef and do reef singlehanded in 30+ knot winds regularly.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Fastolsen,
Understood. What about running two separate reefing lines back to the cockpit, with that in her too much friction as well?

 

[JonnyQuest]

Looks like this would be a good weekly polling question after all! If single-line reefing works for some people and not for others what are the important factors to make a good working single line system ?

 

[JonnyQuest]

Double line reefing chosen

First off, thanks to all for your input.

It appears to me that successfully setting up a single line reefing system depends on having good turning blocks and on proper angular placement of these blocks. The prepackaged kits all seem to have the reefing lines run outward from the reefing cringles--that is the reefing line runs through the fore cringle forward to the mast, while the line runs through the aft cringle backwards/outwards to a block furhter back on the aft end of the boom. My current hardware does not do this.

At a minimum I'd need to mount turning blocks on the mast to go up one side to the fore cringle, and then turning blocks on the opposite side to run the line back down and then turn it to the cockpit. I also believe my aft cheek block is too far backwards and would contribute too much to friction or inefficiency due to the flat angle of attack.

So for now the verdict is that since my current hardware is not properly placed (for my replacement main sail which is not the right sail for an O27), a single line reefing system woudl not likely be efficient enough. I'm going to simply rig the fore and aft reefing lines for adjusting at the mast.

Thanks again for batting ideas around, helping me understand better what I am presently dealing with, and how it would be more involved that I want to get into for now. I'll post some photos of my two jiffy reefing lines when I get them in place.

Thanks again.

JQ

 

[FastOlson]

Fastolsen,
Understood. What about running two separate reefing lines back to the cockpit, with that in her too much friction as well?

That's how our former 26 footer was rigged. It worked fine. You just had to remember to get the tack all the way down tight and then re-tension the halyard. And only then tension the clew reef. You still had to go up on deck to tie the reef points to tidy up the excess sail, though.
Modern roller bearing blocks would help a lot, also. Check Garhauer for best prices. Have the lines led aft go thru some well-engineered Lewmar clutches and then to your housetop ST winch.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Wow! Is it hot. Mercury says 101. I was going to rig the reefing lines today but didn't want to burst into flames in the process.

Im thinking about using shock cord on the reefing points instead of braided line. Maybe could double as built in sail ties as well.

 

[jboffa5474]

Alpine,
Don't suppose you have any pictures of your 2-reef line setup? Was trying to figure this out yesterday... My seller left me with both reef lines coiled nice,y in cockpit and ran through clutches through double blocks, up the mast, into the boom and they both surface at aft end of boom with stopper knots. It appears I'd need to take each respective reef line and run up and through their respective cringle point in the sail. But where it gets confusing (assuming this first step is correct) is how does this reef line bring down the forward section of the sail? I see a cringle on the forward sail section that looks like its for the reefing line but not sure how reefing line gets to that from where it's at in the aft end of the boom. My one thought was that they put the line in wrong and that it should first run up mast to forward cringle, back down and through the inside of the boom and then up to aft cringle where it's tied off thereby allowing the reef line to pull down forward and aft reef points together nicely.
Sorry for long-winded reply but this is a little confusing to this noob...

 

[anchorclanker]

Yeah, pictures would be awesome.

 

[the_alpine]

Here's a diagram from the manual, which I think is more descriptive than a photo.