Reef Ties
- Thread starter Tobydaisy
- Start date
No trick I know of. On your new sail the buntlines (Those are the lines that hang off the sail) do not go around the boom. They are only to keep the sail flakes orderly. Most mains are not built heavily enough in that area to hold the sail down in wind. I made my own from strips of dacron hanging off squares of dacron reinforcements. But you could use line too. I've been on many boats that don't bother tying them because they want to be able to shake the reef out more quickly. The reefing lines hold the sail down against the tension in the halyard along the luff, and the sail out. They have to be able to resist the strain, hopefully, with minimal stretch.
Sailmakers stopped putting buntlines on sails decades ago. They never worked that well anyway.
When reefing make sure you have lots of foot tension to flatten the sail. That will hold it mostly in place. Use sail ties through the eyes along the reef-line to loosely tie the sail and keep it out of your way. They should bear no load except the weight of the sailcloth.
Beyond the fact that they look like spats, I don't like them because you mostly cannot see them. We use sail ties in bright contrasting colors so we can see it when tied on. Shaking out a reef with the sail still tied to the boom is a great way to tear it in half.
When reefing make sure you have lots of foot tension to flatten the sail. That will hold it mostly in place. Use sail ties through the eyes along the reef-line to loosely tie the sail and keep it out of your way. They should bear no load except the weight of the sailcloth.
Beyond the fact that they look like spats, I don't like them because you mostly cannot see them. We use sail ties in bright contrasting colors so we can see it when tied on. Shaking out a reef with the sail still tied to the boom is a great way to tear it in half.
I made my lines extra long so that I can use them as sail ties on the boom when the sail is put away. I do not have to go into the cabin or a locker to find them and they are in the perfect location for tying up the sail, longer ones in front and shorter ones at the back.
My new sail is so stiff I don't need to tie up the loose sail when reefed. Planned on using some extra light line I had but I like the idea of using a color that stands out. I did try to shake out the reef on the old sail a few times and forgot to untie the buntlines.
I use these on my 25, and I have made some longer ones with heavier bungie cord for use on the 34... they keep the sail tucked in and still allow for some stretch if needed.... and have many other uses on the boat.
you can buy cheap ones that last for a season or less in the sun, or the uv resistant ones that can last 3 or 4 years, or more depending on how continuously exposed they are.... or until they slip out of your hand and shoot off the boat...
you can buy cheap ones that last for a season or less in the sun, or the uv resistant ones that can last 3 or 4 years, or more depending on how continuously exposed they are.... or until they slip out of your hand and shoot off the boat...
Don't put those frilly things in your sail... those were used in the wooden boat days before slab reefing.... keep a couple of blue or black webbing sail ties in the coaming box to clean up the sail if you plan to leave it reefed for a while.... otherwise don't bother to put them in.. won't hurt the sail. If you do use them.... keep it loose and use a slipped reef knot.. (it's like 1/2 of a bow tie)
BTW.... my boat came with some of those ball end stretch cord sail ties...... be careful ... they're dangerous if you're in the way when one accidently snaps free! .....
Honestly.... take John Rousmaniere's advice and only use flat webbing or short pieces of line for this..... and never go forward without a sailor's knife and a sail tie or two in your pocket. They are handy for many other things besides dressing up your reefed mainsail.
BTW.... my boat came with some of those ball end stretch cord sail ties...... be careful ... they're dangerous if you're in the way when one accidently snaps free! .....
Honestly.... take John Rousmaniere's advice and only use flat webbing or short pieces of line for this..... and never go forward without a sailor's knife and a sail tie or two in your pocket. They are handy for many other things besides dressing up your reefed mainsail.