reefing C@& main

[John]

I am a new C27 owner and have been wondering about my reefing setup, such asit is. My main has one set of reefing points, but all I have on the boom for thereefing line is a plastic clam cleat well forward on the port side. There are some light clips to hold the reefing line to the boom as it's run to the clam cleat. I have no cleat to hold the "short end" of the reefing line on the starboard side, and no block available for reefing. Am I missing something, or do I need a trip to the marine supply store, at least for the block (assuming I can use a stop knot to hold the reefing line to the main)?

 

[Peter Hine]

I'm confused......

I don't understand your description of your setup... I'll describe the basic setup I would expect you should have, given you have the port side cam cleat. From that cleat, the reef line should run aft on the boom to a cheek block. This turns the reef line vertical, and it then goes thru the aft reef cringle on the leach of the main. Thence, down on the starboard side of the sail to a padeye where it is secured by a bowline or other knot. On the forward end of the portside of the boom near the gooseneck you should have a hook (a "tack hook") that you can hook the forward reef cringle on the luff of the sail (the "tack cringle") onto. To reef, you slack the main sheet, go forward to the mast, loosen the main halyard until you can hook on the tack cringle (this may take one person at the mast on the halyard, and one at the tack reef cringle). Then haul in on the reef line that goes from the cam cleat aft to the cheek block at the leach until the leach cringle is snug against the boom. Then sheet in. Sounds much easier than it is in practice....BUT, if you really want a trick setup, you go to single line reefing like I have. I reef in 30 seconds or less without ever leaving the cockpit! But that's for another posting!Peter

 

[Dave]

Reefing Outline

John: I, too, am not sure of your set-up. Take a look at page 157 of "The Best of Sail Trim" by Charles Mason and you will see a "Jiffy Reef" outline. Also, swing by Ballard and talk with the Halsey Lidgard and North Sails folks and they should give you some tips on your situation. DAVE

 

[John]

Two line system?

I think you're describing the back end of a two-line system. There should be only a pad eye or similar fitting on the starboard side. The line (with a stopper on the bottom of the eye) goes up through the leech grommet and down to the boom end sheave and out the boom to a cleat mid boom. The sheave is the "block" you seem to be missing. IIRC, the boom has two end sheaves - one for topping lift and the other for reefing and the outhaul sheave is internal.The front end is a jam cleat or two on the mast that can be used with or without a cunningham hook through the luff grommet.