reef or new size sail

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Gary Britton

I live in central Oklahoma where the "winds come sweeping down the plain". Seems as if any time I am able to get out to sail, the winds are anywhere between 15 and 25mph. I have a 1966, 17' Daysailer, and I can roll the boom in order to reef the main sail, but when that is done, the mainsheet block in the middle of the boom cannot be used. I have been considering purchasing either a new or used sail of smaller deminsions to be used instead of reefing the regular mainsail, in order to be able to use the block in the middle of the boom for the main sheet. Does this seem like a good idea and does anyone have any idea what the smallest size sail deminsions that would work well for my daysailer? My present sail is approx. 16' on luff and 8' foot. I was thinking or one approx. 12-14' luff and 6' foot. Any suggestions? Thanks. Gary
 
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Rod Johnson,

Switch to slab-reefing

You could get a smaller sail, perhaps a Javelin mainsail would work (foot same length, but luff is shorter. But if this were my boat, and especially if the present mainsail is in good condition (no immediate reasons to replace), I'd take the sail to a sailmaker and have a set of reefpoints added. I did that on my DS II and it was the best $67 that I ever spent on the boat! Reefpoints allow you to reduce the sail area just as roller-reefing does, but allows much better sail shape control when reefed since the foot of the reefed sail can be tightened using an outhaul (reefing line) just as the full sail can be, the boom vang can still be used, the mainsheet can still be rigged through the mid-boom block. I rigged my boat with a "single-line" reefing set up, meaning that to reef I slack the halyard and pull on a line that runs from the end of the boom up through the clew end of the reef, down to a cheek block on the boom postitioned just aft of where the clew of the reef meets the boom, forward along the boom to another cheek block at the tack end of the boom, up through the tack end of the reef, then down to a cleat at the tack (mast) end of the boom. Easier to use than describe! There are then 3 lines that tie around the boom to gather up the excess sail after the sail is reefed. Yo could bolt a hook to the gooseneck to take the tack of the reef, and use a shorter line to secure the clew end, but I would recommend still rigging a line like what I have for the clew even if you use a hook instead of the line for the tack. Sail-Rite Kits sells a do-it-yourself reefpoints kit if you want to add the reef to the sail yourself and have access to a good sewing machine, cost is around $45.
 
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Gary Britton

thanks

Thanks for the info. I will look into it. Have a good day and fair winds. It is a grat day to sail today, even though it is cloudy. Winds good. Thanks again Gary
 
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