My first reefing line slipped through the boom. A big OOPs what an idiot thing to have happen. Has anyone had to tackle this problem before? Before I detach the second reefing lines and send a leader through, I wanted to see if anyone has any good advice on this one. I have also been looking for a schematic on how the pulley system works on the self reefing system.
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Mike Webster
Isomat Single Line Reefing System
Neil, you've got yourself a pretty good job ahead of you. I don't know how you can rerun this line without removing the boom. I have schematics from Isomat, but will be out of town until late this week. Isomat has been bought out by Charleston Spars. You might try calling them at Charleston Spars, 5600 Pine Grove Cir., Charlotte, NC 28206. Phone: 704-597-1502 I'll do my best to describe the system. I will only talk about one of the reefs. The other is identical. The single line reefing system is actually two lines. The line at the end of the boom ties off to a bale under the boom, leads up an thru a cringle in the sail, back to a sheave at the rear of the boom, into the boom, around a shuttle car (two blocks attached together), and back to the end of the boom. If you look at the back of the fitting at the end of the boom, you will see a couple of lines coming thru holes in the fitting and tied with stopper knots. These are the ends of the reef lines at the back of the boom Now lets talk about the front of the boom. This reefing line starts at the cringle in the sail, where its tied in a stopper knot. It leads down thru a SS eye on the mast about the level of the boom, down to a turning block mounted on the rigid boom vang support on the mast, and back over a sheave in the front of the boom. This line goes into the boom, and AROUND THE SAME SHUTTLE CAR THE REAR REEFING LINE GOES THRU. From their, it comes back out the front of the boom, and leads back to the cockpit thru the turning blocks at the foot of the mast. When the sail is up, this shuttle car is at the back of the boom. As you reef, by pulling on the single reefing line, the line going into the front of the boom pulls the shuttle car forward, pulling the back of the sail down until the rear reefing cringle is on the boom. The forward line also pulls the front of the sail down, since that end of the line goes thru the shuttle car and is attached to the front reef point. Hence, by pulling the one line, you are pulling down both the front and the rear of the sail at the same time. Complicated description. If you still want a line drawing of this, and can't get one from Charleston Spars (Isomat), I can send it to you next week. Your job is going to be figuring out where the line is that slipped back into the boom. If its in just a little ways, you might be able to see it by drilling off the rivet heads that hold the end fitting on, removing that fitting, and looking into the boom. With luck you can reach this line and re-lead it thru the end fitting. If you've pulled the line all the way thru the shuttle car, you will need to remove both end fittings and use something like an electricians tape to re-lead you reef lines. This will all be tedious, but very possible to do with a friend to help. Good luck!
Neil, you've got yourself a pretty good job ahead of you. I don't know how you can rerun this line without removing the boom. I have schematics from Isomat, but will be out of town until late this week. Isomat has been bought out by Charleston Spars. You might try calling them at Charleston Spars, 5600 Pine Grove Cir., Charlotte, NC 28206. Phone: 704-597-1502 I'll do my best to describe the system. I will only talk about one of the reefs. The other is identical. The single line reefing system is actually two lines. The line at the end of the boom ties off to a bale under the boom, leads up an thru a cringle in the sail, back to a sheave at the rear of the boom, into the boom, around a shuttle car (two blocks attached together), and back to the end of the boom. If you look at the back of the fitting at the end of the boom, you will see a couple of lines coming thru holes in the fitting and tied with stopper knots. These are the ends of the reef lines at the back of the boom Now lets talk about the front of the boom. This reefing line starts at the cringle in the sail, where its tied in a stopper knot. It leads down thru a SS eye on the mast about the level of the boom, down to a turning block mounted on the rigid boom vang support on the mast, and back over a sheave in the front of the boom. This line goes into the boom, and AROUND THE SAME SHUTTLE CAR THE REAR REEFING LINE GOES THRU. From their, it comes back out the front of the boom, and leads back to the cockpit thru the turning blocks at the foot of the mast. When the sail is up, this shuttle car is at the back of the boom. As you reef, by pulling on the single reefing line, the line going into the front of the boom pulls the shuttle car forward, pulling the back of the sail down until the rear reefing cringle is on the boom. The forward line also pulls the front of the sail down, since that end of the line goes thru the shuttle car and is attached to the front reef point. Hence, by pulling the one line, you are pulling down both the front and the rear of the sail at the same time. Complicated description. If you still want a line drawing of this, and can't get one from Charleston Spars (Isomat), I can send it to you next week. Your job is going to be figuring out where the line is that slipped back into the boom. If its in just a little ways, you might be able to see it by drilling off the rivet heads that hold the end fitting on, removing that fitting, and looking into the boom. With luck you can reach this line and re-lead it thru the end fitting. If you've pulled the line all the way thru the shuttle car, you will need to remove both end fittings and use something like an electricians tape to re-lead you reef lines. This will all be tedious, but very possible to do with a friend to help. Good luck!
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Bud Harrell
Been there, Done that
Had the same problem. Also, have had problems with bird nests. If you back off one of the lines and move the internal block all the way back, you can actually touch the traveling block. To do this, you must remove the line from the sail -- actually, I removed both. Just make sure you do not let the line go into the boom -- you will never get it back. Also, make sure you do not twist the traveling block, it could interfere with the other block. Do this from the aft end of the boom, I tried to get mine to the mast end, but it didn't work. No need to remove the rivits on the end plate, you can do anything from the end once the traveling block is exposed. Yes, when I replaced the lines, I made sure there was a couple of extra feet so I could get the traveling block all the way back. I did make a drawing for future reference, but after doing so, you can see how simple the system is. The only trick is you may have to rebalance the lines so the blocks to not hit the end of the boom when reefing.
Had the same problem. Also, have had problems with bird nests. If you back off one of the lines and move the internal block all the way back, you can actually touch the traveling block. To do this, you must remove the line from the sail -- actually, I removed both. Just make sure you do not let the line go into the boom -- you will never get it back. Also, make sure you do not twist the traveling block, it could interfere with the other block. Do this from the aft end of the boom, I tried to get mine to the mast end, but it didn't work. No need to remove the rivits on the end plate, you can do anything from the end once the traveling block is exposed. Yes, when I replaced the lines, I made sure there was a couple of extra feet so I could get the traveling block all the way back. I did make a drawing for future reference, but after doing so, you can see how simple the system is. The only trick is you may have to rebalance the lines so the blocks to not hit the end of the boom when reefing.
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Neil Edwards
Thanks. Mike and Bud. WIll take your advice.
Mike and Bud, Thanks for your responses. I will take your advice. Sounds like an all day event in any case. Mike, I would love to get the schematic because I can visualize it, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks, Neil
Mike and Bud, Thanks for your responses. I will take your advice. Sounds like an all day event in any case. Mike, I would love to get the schematic because I can visualize it, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks, Neil
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matt
Schematic posting
Would you be so kind as to post the schematic when you can? The reefing lines on mine have been completely removed (ugh) and I will have to run new lines for both. I'd really appreciate the effort... thanks, matt
Would you be so kind as to post the schematic when you can? The reefing lines on mine have been completely removed (ugh) and I will have to run new lines for both. I'd really appreciate the effort... thanks, matt
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