Reefing Methods; Pros and Cons

Chief RA · Nov 21, 2014

I rigged mine like the middle picture. I have a top set at about 6' up and a lower set. I only rigged the upper set as I think if you need to reef you may as well get it all. If for some reason you want the short set just pull down on the upper and tie off at lower grommets and then release pressure on upper reefing line. Chief

justsomeguy · Nov 21, 2014

McIntoshUSA said:
We bought our boat in April 2014 and I have never reefed it yet. I have read how to reef the mainsail, but I am not sure which method is best.

I have a track and pulley on the end of my boom like the one in the first attached photo. There is a line attached to the last reefing point and is ran down through the pulley and can be cleated when I need it. There is also a line attached to the reefing point on the mainsail close to the mast. There is also a reefing hook and a cleat where it can be cleated.

I also have other reefing points in the middle section of the mainsail that do not currently have a line attached, but I could use these as well. I have read how to reef it using All the reefing points and also a single line method.

My question is should I use the single line method ( and if yes which of the 2 methods - see second and third attachments please)or use All the reefing points? Mine currently is not setup where I can reef the mainsail from the cockpit, but it appears that I could add a couple pulleys/blocks and then reef it from the cockpit. But then It would only be using the forward and aft reefing points. What is best?

Thanks Mike

Single-line reefing can introduce a lot of friction to the process.

Not sure what you mean when you state "All the reefing points".

Essentially, a mainsail is reefed using the fore and aft points (tack and clew). The grommets in between those points are used only to gather up the excess sail loosely, not under tension, or you will tear them out.

I'd recommend a double-line reefing system, but it's quite easy to test out both systems.

Joe · Nov 21, 2014

Well, before you make any decisions..... why don't you practice reefing with what you have now.... It is actually quite simple, as long as your clew reef line is led forward along the boom to a jam/horn cleat, where you can set both points from the same position.

I suggest you google "reefing the mainsail" and look for a YouTube video or two... there's like... thousands... You'll get the idea. With two people it's even easier.

I never changed my reef set up... I've left it with two lines cleated near the mast.. I set the auto pilot, adjust the halyard to a preset mark, go forward and set the tack, then clew, go back to the cockpit and re adjust the halyard.. it takes like 30 seconds.

Justin_NSA · Nov 21, 2014

justsomeguy said:
Single-line reefing can introduce a lot of friction to the process.

I agree - sounds good in theory but in practice, not so much. And there is line everywhere when you flake the mainsail. I removed mine until I figure out a better system. More than likely going back to manually reefing.

justsomeguy · Nov 21, 2014

Justin_NSA said:
I agree - sounds good in theory but in practice, not so much. And there is line everywhere when you flake the mainsail. I removed mine until I figure out a better system. More than likely going back to manually reefing.

As opposed to automatic?

To the OP, what Joe recommended, practice, will tell you what works best for you.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Nov 21, 2014

Again-

Here's a link to a sail makers site, discussing reefing. They are not fond of single line (nor am I)

http://www.pineapplesails.com/articles/reefing.htm

Chief RA · Nov 21, 2014

Posted points are well taken with regard to single reefing like mine. I have not decided whether I will leave it as rigged or not. As Joe suggests I am trying it out and so far I am not optimistic that it would draw down well with a good blow. There seems to be lots of friction with such a long reefing line. My Clipper Marine 26 had fore and aft reefing and it did work well and had lots of leverage. We shall see. Chief

Scotty C-M · Nov 21, 2014

Practice, Practice, Practice.

Some systems have the clew line attached to the mid-boom. That is very hard to get to in a blow. Bring it at least to near the gooseneck. Many people prefer to bring all the control lines, including the halyard, back to the cockpit so that they can do the whole evolution from the cockpit. Single line or double line systems work. The single line is easier, the double line gives a bit better control. Sail on some boats that have both to see what they are like.

Look at all the YouTube videos, they are very informative. Practice your system (a lot) in very light air, and progressivly heavier conditions. If at some point you wish to modify your boat, the addition of the hardware is actually a pretty easy installation.

Have fun!!

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Nov 21, 2014

Scotty C-M said:
Practice, Practice, Practice.

Some systems have the clew line attached to the mid-boom. That is very hard to get to in a blow. Bring it at least to near the gooseneck.
Have fun!!

Agree totally with both of these points.And the first can't be stressed enough. When you can pull down a reef in around a minute, you are pretty much there.

seanshine · Nov 21, 2014

With the single line system, there is a lot of chafe on the sail at the cringle as the line moves. This can easily be changed by installing a pulley for the line to pass as opposed to going through the sail. Works for me. SS

Joe · Nov 21, 2014

If you look for such a thing as a "pulley" in a marine hardware catalogue... there's a good chance you won't find one..... if you do... I'd recommend finding another supplier. However, if you search for a "block" you may have better luck. Just sayin' for all you new people, anyway.

Stu Jackson · Nov 21, 2014

Reefing 101

Most books as well as discussions on this and other sailing forums include:

1. If you think you need to reef, do so
2. Learn how to do it at the dock, not when you first need to when you're out there
3. If it's hard to do, find an easier way
4. Double line reefing is better than single line reefing - most boats come factory supplied with double line reefing: a horn at he tack and a separate clew line; running them back to the cockpit is a good idea
5. In most cases, a first reef in the main is what's called for; too often with roller furling skippers reef the jib first - a lot depends on the boat
6. With masthead rigs, the jib's the driver; fractional rigs, it's the main
7. No reason not to sail with jib alone or main alone: practice what works best for your boat depending on conditions

There's also always this:

http://www.pineapplesails.com/articles/reefing.htm

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Nov 21, 2014

Kinda disagree with running lines to the cockpit. Reason is WHEN (not if) you MUST go forward to untangle something, or unfoul something, you will not be familiar with the places to grab to keep yourself there and not at all familiar with BEING up there.

MY own opinion, and it is of course just that, is that it's far better to be used to all the motions, and just deal with it, AT the mast.

Never mind all the extra friction and additional line to deal with. My tether allows me to go TO the mast, where I sit, legs around it, pull down the reef, and return to the cockpit, in a minute or less ( once practiced of course)

I happen to have three reef points on my main ( and one on the jib) 1st reef, 2nd reef and OH MY GAWD!! I hope to never use the last in anger

Also- on older boats like my 1961 CCA era boat, the mast head jib is NOT the driver - the main is. 11 foot boom, low aspect ratio main, smaller jib. Later, as in SORC boats, would be very different The era of the design makes a huge difference here.

Chief RA · Nov 22, 2014

A Clipper Marine 26 masthead rig sails better with the main alone, not the jib. It could be because the mast is over 10' from the bow. Seems to always be an exception to the rule.

Chief

Scott T-Bird · Nov 22, 2014

Single line reefing for clew and tack has friction ...

McIntoshUSA said:
There is also a reefing hook and a cleat where it can be cleated.

Not sure what you mean by the reefing hook. Do you have an upside down hook at the tack end of the boom called a "rams horn"? Also, do you have a strap through the reefing cringles at the tack points with rings? This is a common set-up on many boats and it makes it very easy to hook the tack to the rams horn when you drop the sail. Then all you need is a single line system for the clew only.

Basically, I have 2 reefing lines, one for each clew cringle, and the tack hooks to the rams horn. These photos may help explain the tack. The red line is my reefing line for the clew of the 1st reef point.

Gunni · Nov 22, 2014

Scotty describes your likely OEM set up. Slack the halyard, drop the sail, hook the tack point to that mast horn, and with the clew reefing line led forward tension the reefed clew, cleating it at the mast. You should come up with some way to run a line to your second reef point, otherwise you will find yourself doing so on a heaving deck during a second reefing. You can rig a single or double reef line system, but start by understanding how your sail system reefs with the existing geometry and hardware.

Daydreamer · Nov 22, 2014

Re: Reefing Methods

Plenty of good ideas for reefing here to sort through.

I just wanted to mention, the grommets in the "middle" of the sail are not designed for a load. They are there to secure the loose portion of sail after reefing. The reef is made at the tack and clew. Secure the loose foot of the sail with the middle grommets, not tightly but enough to keep it from flogging.

Stu Jackson · Nov 22, 2014

Gunni said:
Scotty describes your likely OEM set up. Slack the halyard, drop the sail, hook the tack point to that mast horn, and with the clew reefing line led forward tension the reefed clew, cleating it at the mast. You should come up with some way to run a line to your second reef point, otherwise you will find yourself doing so on a heaving deck during a second reefing. You can rig a single or double reef line system, but start by understanding how your sail system reefs with the existing geometry and hardware.

The clew line usually is cleated off on the forward part of the boom.

If you think about it, this is essentially double line reefing, whether the tack is done with line or a reefing hook on the boom. It MEANS that there are two SEPARATE reef points: tack and clew.

If you read the link I provided earlier, it discusses the advantages of double line reefing.

Reefing Methods; Pros and Cons

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.