Reefing the Mainsail H290/306

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Rob Anderson

We have a new 306 with a "classic" main (ie not roller furling)and for the first time this weekend wanted to reef the main. Should have checked this out at delivery but to my surprise there are no hooks on the boom or mast(as was the case on my previous boat) on which to secure the rings for the two reef points at the tack of the main. Are you supposed to undo the shackle at the tack and attach the ring there ??? That seems a bad situation ...typically when you reef the seas are not calm and I started with this avenue and gave up. Also thought maybe you could put the ring around the outhaul lever. Ended up not reefing and the winds moderated. Anyone out there have an answer to this ?
 
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Bruce Grant

Is it not setup with single line reefing?

On my 320, it is single line reefing, this allows for 1 line to hold the reefing points to the boom. Simply by lowering the main and tensioning the line, the foot of the sail is tensioned and that is all that is required to reef. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
 
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Rob Anderson

Questions to Bruce

Thanks for your response. Not sure how this would work .....I see how the line would pull down the clew or aft end of the sail but how would it secure the luff or the front of the main as it lowers and why are there metal rings at the luff at the two points of reefing ? On my previous boat the ring at the chosen reef point would go on a hook right where the boom met the mast ...after that was secured then you pulled in the line which brought down the clew to the appropriate level. So...you are telling me the total job can be done from the cockpit with no other preparation ? Thanks, Rob Anderson H306 Sails Call
 
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Dan

Reefing

Rob, Our 290 delivered set-up for single line reefing. I suspect that during commissioning, the crew may have not run the reefing lines to allow for the single line reefing. Some people prefer to not use the system that way. In that instance, they should have installed the hook as you expected to see to allow you attach the mainsail at the reeef point. Either way will work, but the boat delivered from Hunter (in my opinion) with the intent to have single line reefing. I would ask the dealer to set it up for single line reefing and see if you like doing it that way. If you do not, install the hook. There is a little more friction in the single line reefing system than in the hook system. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
 
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Rob Anderson

Questions for Dan

How can I tell if my boat is properly set up for single line reefing ? Seems to me the reef lines would have to be attached to those rings some how , then run back down the boom ? Rob Anderson H306 Sails Call
 
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Crazy Dave Condon

single line reefing

YOur boat with the standard main should be set up with single line reefing led back to the cockpit. Look at the reef line and see. IF you do not have it, suggest that you go back to the dealer to show you. Crazy Dave Condon
 
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Bruce Grant

As I recall....

Basically, the reefing line is tied off the the aft end of the boom, up to the reefing point and back down to the boom. Then forward to the front of the boom, through a sheave, up to the ring, then back down to the base of the mast and then back to the cockpit. My older H28 was setup with the hook and ring reefing setup and single line is much nicer to use. Basically you drop the main down to a pre-set level (you do this by finding out where the main should be when reefed and mark the halyard). Pull in the reefing lines and then tension the halyard. Quick and easy with no need to run to the mast. Hope this helps, there should be a diagram in the user manual that shows how to rig this. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
 
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Paul

Not quite, but close

Each reefing line runs from a bail near the aft end of the boom, straight up and through the leech cringle, down to a sheave at the aft end of the boom, and forward through to boom. The line exits the front of the boom and goes DOWN to the upper sheave of a fiddle block, then UP through a small metal bail attached to the mast (this is important, make sure the *ascending* line runs through this metal loop) and through the luff cringle. From the luff cringle, the line runs down to the lower sheave of the same fiddle block, then back to the cockpit. You should rig this properly for both reef points and practice using it at the dock before you go sailing again. To make reefing easier, mark the main halyard with color-coded, water-proof markers showing the halyard position for each of the two reef points. You must use a winch to tension the reef lines in a single-line system. There are too many twists and turns and blocks for you to pull this in by hand.
 
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Palmer King

Should have single-line reefing

You should have two single-line reef points installed by the dealer as standard. Others have described the reef line routes, with the first reef line coming back to the cockpit through the inboard starboard latch, and the second reef line throught the inboard port latch. My ASA instructor showed me that by heaving to, with a little muscle, one can actually reef down without using the winch. Then winch the main back up for tension. The real point of the exercise was to show how reduced the tension on the main was when in a heave to position, so winching down is a lot easier. The reef lines hold just fine. On a recent sail to Key West, we were caught in a thunderstorm with 31kn winds, were reefed to second reef on main and furled the jib about half-way to form a storm jib. Turned up about 35 degrees off the wind when the storm arrived, the boat settled in like nothing was happening, and I merrily cursed the storm gods as I passed through sheets of rain.
 
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