Does anyone have their Widgeon mainsail modified for reefing? If so, how did you do it? Alternatively, I'm considering trying a custom "storm mainsail" that is smaller, enabling sailing in higher wind conditions.
Roller boom reefing is less than satisfactory. Requires a rod and jaw system to make the vang work. Gives poor sail shape. If I stumbled across a boat with roller boom furling, I'd ignore it and rig slab reefing like I described above. So much easier to use and much better results.It's been more than 30 years since I've sailed a Widgeon but I think I remember tolling the sail up around the boom to shorten it.
For any following this thread, the original poster does have a key plate mounted on the Widgeon boom (which is "age appropriate" to the boat.) I agree that shackles are a good way to attach the vang to a given boom - I have same on my Force 5. But with the Widgeon already having a key plate, shackles would require new hardware. It's just easier to build a vang with components that support the key and key plate.I use shackles at both blocks to attch. to boom and mast very much like the bottom block in the diag. above. I confess that when I set up the vang I was unaware of the key type attachment for the boom. It is a nice way to do it, but if you have blocks that can be attached w/ shackles they will work well.
Get a copy of Emiliano Marino's book: Sailmaker's Apprentice. This is a very good resource and I used it extensively to add reefs to my Widgeon mail-sail. I love the results. Learning to sail in high winds will never happen if you must overcome intense and well-founded fear. Moreover, sometime the 'mate' won't go out there with you if you are too daring. Emiliano once wrote (in Small Craft Advisor) that sailing without reefs is like driving a car without brakes. Notes on the sail work: to make the patches where the reef clew and tack will go just copy what is in the full-sail position. It is nice to have a sewing machine and for Widgeon size sail clothe a small one will do, but it may be quite possible, with plenty of patience, to hand sew all this. For hand sewing I would first glue the patches down with something tenacious, 3M 4000 or something stronger like 3M 5200. For the grommets you may want to experiment with some of the stuff offered in Emiliano's book, or you can buy (from Sailrite or ???) a grommet setting tool. That is expensive. Alternatively you could sew in some webbing. I spent so much time experimenting with making my own grommets and metal (copper) inserts that I could have taken a part-time, mini-wage job and bought the Sailrite tools with less effort. In any case: have fun!!Does anyone have their Widgeon mainsail modified for reefing? If so, how did you do it? Alternatively, I'm considering trying a custom "storm mainsail" that is smaller, enabling sailing in higher wind conditions.