Reefing the Main

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atwhite2

atwhite2

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Dec 14, 2008
92
Tartan 30 Bayfield, WI
Good Day Ladies and Gentlemen...
After some basic searching, there is a lot of information on this site on the topic of "Reefing". So, I thought that I would add one more post about it...

I have a beautiful new main sail for my Macgregor 26S, it is a fully battened sail, but it has no reefing points and it is loose footed. Is there a convenient (easy) way to install a reefing system for it, or do I have to have grommets professionally installed and reinforced?
Any advice would be helpful,

Thanks guys

-Abe
 
HukilauMike

HukilauMike

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May 31, 2004
858
Catalina 28 Branford
Harken and other manufacturers sell jiffy reefing kits with all of the blocks, hardware and lines you need. However, they all require reefing grommets in the sail. If you don't have those grommets, you will have to put them in yourself or have them installed. The other options I can think of aren't realistic; they are either too expensive (in-boom, in-mast), unreliable, discredited and unavailable (roller booms) or really old fashioned and difficult (using reef points to secure the sail to the boom).
 
David in Sandusky

David in Sandusky

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Nov 8, 2007
1,616
Hunter 27_75-84 Sandusky Harbor Marina, Ohio
Reefing is high stress...

Sometimes when we are reefing, we are feeling the stress of high winds or waves. For certain, the sail will be stressed on your reef points to hold a good shape in high winds.

So I recommend that this is a job you want a professional sailmaker to do for you. If you choose a good one, he will also give you some good advice about which reef to place.
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
You say you have a new main. Why on earth would you buy a new main without reef points? Not only will you want the grommets but the reef cringles on the sail will need reinforcement to be able to handle the load without destroying the sail cloth. It's not as simple as adding grommets.
 
Sam Salter

Sam Salter

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May 20, 2004
151
C&C 26 Ghost Lake, Alberta
It's not just a matter of putting in grommets. The tack and clew reefing grommets will need reinforcing patches, as will the reefing nettles too!
Deciding where to put the grommets isn't just a matter of drawing a line across the sail at some convenient point. The clew grommet is usually higher than the tack grommet and the nettle grommets are all lower to avoid stressing the centre of the sail. Grommets need dies to put them in too!
I'd get a sailmaker to do it.
sam :)
 
cephius (Dave)

cephius (Dave)

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May 25, 2004
978
Catalina Capri 14.2 1670 Rochester, MN
I was taught that the cringles on the leech and luff carried all the load. The intermediate reef points are used just to secure the excessive sail.

In any case I agree with the others that the cringles need to be professionally installed.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Not so sure. based on my reefing experience only, not theory, the reef points carry all the load on the leech and luff and the intermediates carry the foot. But, maybe I'm wrong too! Wouldn't be the first time.
OOPS! Just re-read your post and I understand you were referring to the reef point cringles. I would agree the foot points are largely for tidiness, but I think they do actually provide some luff support too.
 
Warren Milberg

Warren Milberg

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Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
FYI, it costs about $200 for a sailmaker in this area to add reef points to a main. Well worth it, IMHO.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
You really need to have a sail loft add the reefing points unless you have the skill and tools to do so yourself, which it doesn't sound to be the case.

Then setup slab reefing. At a minimum you'll want to have a reefing rams horn at the gooseneck and a line for each reefing clew.
 
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