Finally got the chance to really test the new mainsail in reefed conditions. Before raising, I put maximun hand tension on the reefline at the clew which exits the end of the boom and tied the reef points along the foot with no tension. I was getting alot of leach flutter and the reefed clew was riding several inches above the boom. I don't want to change from my internal boom reef line but I've noticed that the external systems usually have a track that brings the diagional pull to a streighter purchase. Any reason I can't run a small line through the leach clew reef point and tighten down on to the boom?
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Steve S
Tie them all...
Andy, The reason to reef is to reduce the sail area. If you reduce a flat sail with a smaller one with a big belly, it can make you heel even worse than before. When I am running into the wind for a period of time, I use sail ties on every point to get the sail flat, and that includes the clew. Steve
Andy, The reason to reef is to reduce the sail area. If you reduce a flat sail with a smaller one with a big belly, it can make you heel even worse than before. When I am running into the wind for a period of time, I use sail ties on every point to get the sail flat, and that includes the clew. Steve
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Chandler Clark
Reef ties
Steve I have used the reef tie points only to tidy up the reef, not flatten the sail. What you say makes sense if the sail is designed for stress at that point. Chan
Steve I have used the reef tie points only to tidy up the reef, not flatten the sail. What you say makes sense if the sail is designed for stress at that point. Chan
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Cliff Ruckstuhl
Are you using a winch
If you are not useing a winch for the reefing line than you are wasting your time. You will never get it tight enough by hand. You need to run the line coming our of the boom at the goose neck to a winch. Also the sail ties are not meant to keep the sail tight they are only meant to keep the sail up out of your way and tight around the boom. Put allot of preassure on them to flatten the sail and you will rip out the sail. The reefing line that exits the aft en of the boom goes through the sail and back into the boom is supposed to take all the pressure of reefing the sail. Some boat's would have a cleat at the forward end of the boom that you are supposed to pull on the reefing line and attach it to this cleat. With this system you will NEVVVVVER tighten the sail. Now throw in reefing conditions and it just won't happen. This line needs to go to a winch to make it work. That can be done simple enough. Cliff H 28.5 "Red Dog"
If you are not useing a winch for the reefing line than you are wasting your time. You will never get it tight enough by hand. You need to run the line coming our of the boom at the goose neck to a winch. Also the sail ties are not meant to keep the sail tight they are only meant to keep the sail up out of your way and tight around the boom. Put allot of preassure on them to flatten the sail and you will rip out the sail. The reefing line that exits the aft en of the boom goes through the sail and back into the boom is supposed to take all the pressure of reefing the sail. Some boat's would have a cleat at the forward end of the boom that you are supposed to pull on the reefing line and attach it to this cleat. With this system you will NEVVVVVER tighten the sail. Now throw in reefing conditions and it just won't happen. This line needs to go to a winch to make it work. That can be done simple enough. Cliff H 28.5 "Red Dog"
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keith
properly routed lines
It sounds like your lines aren't routed properly . Mine come out the aft end of the boom thru the leach clew back down to the boom loop under the boom & tie off on the opposit side of the boom. To pull tight I usually hold the line with a loop hanging down at the foward end of the boom & step on it to tighten.
It sounds like your lines aren't routed properly . Mine come out the aft end of the boom thru the leach clew back down to the boom loop under the boom & tie off on the opposit side of the boom. To pull tight I usually hold the line with a loop hanging down at the foward end of the boom & step on it to tighten.
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Alan
Cliff is absolutly right,
Your reefing line has to have hundreds of pounds of tension on it and you could never do this without a winch. Tieing the reefed clew to the boom is a very good thing to do. I would suggest that you have a length of spectra webbing with some velcro on it. It's real easy to thread through the clew and holds very well.
Your reefing line has to have hundreds of pounds of tension on it and you could never do this without a winch. Tieing the reefed clew to the boom is a very good thing to do. I would suggest that you have a length of spectra webbing with some velcro on it. It's real easy to thread through the clew and holds very well.
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Andy Howard
A winch it is
Thanks for the help guys. It will be simple to run the reef line back to a winch for extra tension and a line around the boom through the clew which is designed to carry the load will be OK. And never use the reef points to try to shape the sail. A reefed main is simply a loose footed main.
Thanks for the help guys. It will be simple to run the reef line back to a winch for extra tension and a line around the boom through the clew which is designed to carry the load will be OK. And never use the reef points to try to shape the sail. A reefed main is simply a loose footed main.
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Alan
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Eugene
Track on the boom
I have installed a track on the boom and have cars with what looks like a small circle steel loop on the cars. The reefing line is tied to the car on the track, then up through the reef clew and then down to the end of the boom over a roller and then through the boom toward the mast where it is secured inside the boom with a jam cleat. I have a flatening reef and two reef points. I usually leave one line through the first reef and one line through the second reef. I seldom need the flatening reef and can usuall flaten the sail sufficiently by just pulling on the outhaul. I have never needed a winch to reef tha sails and I am 68 years old. If I am racing and want to get a little better shape I will tie a small line through the reefing tack and around the boom and pull the tack closer to the boom. The reef points are just to tidy up the sail and not for shape. If you tie them tight you will usually rip the sail. Fair winds,
I have installed a track on the boom and have cars with what looks like a small circle steel loop on the cars. The reefing line is tied to the car on the track, then up through the reef clew and then down to the end of the boom over a roller and then through the boom toward the mast where it is secured inside the boom with a jam cleat. I have a flatening reef and two reef points. I usually leave one line through the first reef and one line through the second reef. I seldom need the flatening reef and can usuall flaten the sail sufficiently by just pulling on the outhaul. I have never needed a winch to reef tha sails and I am 68 years old. If I am racing and want to get a little better shape I will tie a small line through the reefing tack and around the boom and pull the tack closer to the boom. The reef points are just to tidy up the sail and not for shape. If you tie them tight you will usually rip the sail. Fair winds,
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Alan
My outhaul is 6:1 and...
..I need every bit of it when the wind builds. Must be over 600#'s of force when fully loaded. With a single line reefing system, you are loading the clew and tack at the same time. There is no way anyone can get enough force on that line without help (unless you're Superman). Without a full pull the sail shape is going to be awful. The worst thing in a big blow.
..I need every bit of it when the wind builds. Must be over 600#'s of force when fully loaded. With a single line reefing system, you are loading the clew and tack at the same time. There is no way anyone can get enough force on that line without help (unless you're Superman). Without a full pull the sail shape is going to be awful. The worst thing in a big blow.
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