The other day I put one reef on the mainsail. I have the Dutchman system which will hold the main in place automatically. After dropping the boom, I noticed that the aft portion of the reef sheet stands at a 45 degree angle when pulled my the main halyard. I also noticed some scallops on the main, largely because I did not continue to raise the main after dropping the boom. Questions: 1) should I have dropped the boom after reefing? 2) Should I have raised the main some more to get rid of the scallops? 3) Not doing so, would it have put a lot of strain on the main? 4 If the aft portion of the reef sheet is raised, wouldn't it allow wind to get underneath the reefed portion? Winds were blowing between 15 and 20 knots. thanks
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Dropping boom?
Richard: Do you not have a topping lift or a rigid boom? This is the second post regarding reefing problems in two weeks. Richard S. also had the same basic question. On our boat we do our reefing at the mast. We have someone in the cockpit lower the main halyard. Then we pull in the reef line. The we attach the cringle ring to the rams horn and lift the halyard to tighten the main again. Once the main is reset we tighty up the main with the lines in the main sail. We can usually drop the main and set the reef in 1-2 minutes (we also have a dutchman).
Richard: Do you not have a topping lift or a rigid boom? This is the second post regarding reefing problems in two weeks. Richard S. also had the same basic question. On our boat we do our reefing at the mast. We have someone in the cockpit lower the main halyard. Then we pull in the reef line. The we attach the cringle ring to the rams horn and lift the halyard to tighten the main again. Once the main is reset we tighty up the main with the lines in the main sail. We can usually drop the main and set the reef in 1-2 minutes (we also have a dutchman).
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Mickey Goodman
Reefing Main
I have a Legend 37 with a Dutchman flaking system. All my lines lead to the cockpit therefore not requiring anyone to go forward to the mast for the reefing operation. I have a topping lift which I have the Dutchman attached to. When I reef I do the following. Tighten the topping lift so the topping lift is supporting the end of the boom. Lower the main to the proper level of the reef you are putting in the sail. My sail is set up for two different reefing points. A hint, once you have determined on a non-windy day what the proper halyard position should me for each reef, mark the halyard with a pen or colored thread so you know exactly where you should stop the halyard. I then pull my single-line reefing system to get the main sail snug against the boom. I do have reefing lines on the sail but I never use them. Once I get the reefing line "set" I adjust the halyard with a few "cranks" to assure the main is set. I then release the tension on the topping lift and away I go. Hope this helps.
I have a Legend 37 with a Dutchman flaking system. All my lines lead to the cockpit therefore not requiring anyone to go forward to the mast for the reefing operation. I have a topping lift which I have the Dutchman attached to. When I reef I do the following. Tighten the topping lift so the topping lift is supporting the end of the boom. Lower the main to the proper level of the reef you are putting in the sail. My sail is set up for two different reefing points. A hint, once you have determined on a non-windy day what the proper halyard position should me for each reef, mark the halyard with a pen or colored thread so you know exactly where you should stop the halyard. I then pull my single-line reefing system to get the main sail snug against the boom. I do have reefing lines on the sail but I never use them. Once I get the reefing line "set" I adjust the halyard with a few "cranks" to assure the main is set. I then release the tension on the topping lift and away I go. Hope this helps.
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Richard Lanas
Do Have a topping lift
Yes, I have a topping lift. However, with my Dutchman I reef from the cockpit and don't have to use cringle rings at all. In other words, the main is held in place at two points: at the mast, by the gooseneck, and at the end of the boom. My issue is that this line doesn't quite hold the sail at the bottom of the boom; instead, it goes up in a 45 degree angle or about 6-7 inches above the boom. I don't think there would be anyway to bring the main all the way down to meet the boom. Does that present a problem?
Yes, I have a topping lift. However, with my Dutchman I reef from the cockpit and don't have to use cringle rings at all. In other words, the main is held in place at two points: at the mast, by the gooseneck, and at the end of the boom. My issue is that this line doesn't quite hold the sail at the bottom of the boom; instead, it goes up in a 45 degree angle or about 6-7 inches above the boom. I don't think there would be anyway to bring the main all the way down to meet the boom. Does that present a problem?
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Richard Lanas
Thanks, and...
Thanks for the advice. One question, are you able to bring the reef line at the end of the boom way down to be snug with the boom or is it higher than the boom? In my case I left it about 6-7 inches higher, believing that if I kept cranking the winch it would split the main. Also, once you lower the boom, by releasing the topping lift, do you then raise the main halyard to get rid of scallops?
Thanks for the advice. One question, are you able to bring the reef line at the end of the boom way down to be snug with the boom or is it higher than the boom? In my case I left it about 6-7 inches higher, believing that if I kept cranking the winch it would split the main. Also, once you lower the boom, by releasing the topping lift, do you then raise the main halyard to get rid of scallops?
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RREgge
Same issue
When we reef we never have the same beautiful sail shape as without a reef. DO NOT tighten the reefing lines with a whinch to try and tighten the sail on the end of the boom. We did and had to replace a u bracket on the mast. Ok one more question for everyone with more experience than I have, how many of you adjust the topping lift while you sail? We set it up in the spring and leave it all season long. No we don't have a ridged vang. Is this a major sin? RREgge S/V Allie Kat
When we reef we never have the same beautiful sail shape as without a reef. DO NOT tighten the reefing lines with a whinch to try and tighten the sail on the end of the boom. We did and had to replace a u bracket on the mast. Ok one more question for everyone with more experience than I have, how many of you adjust the topping lift while you sail? We set it up in the spring and leave it all season long. No we don't have a ridged vang. Is this a major sin? RREgge S/V Allie Kat
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Bob F
TOpping Lift
I rarely touch mine on my 376. I had a bimini installed and I had to adjust it to lift the boom while the main sail was down so it would clear the bimini. But other than that I dont worry about it much. When the main sail is up the sail supports the boom and the topping is slack. However, when reefed the main is tough to get "flat", so perhaps a topping adjustment may help a reeefed mainsail.
I rarely touch mine on my 376. I had a bimini installed and I had to adjust it to lift the boom while the main sail was down so it would clear the bimini. But other than that I dont worry about it much. When the main sail is up the sail supports the boom and the topping is slack. However, when reefed the main is tough to get "flat", so perhaps a topping adjustment may help a reeefed mainsail.
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Peter Milne
Reefing
Richard, Initially I had the same issue. When I reefed, the clew did not come down to the boom and the sail shape was too full. (Usually when you reef you want a flat sail.) Then I figured out the problem. On our boat (which has two reefs), the end of the reefing lines were tied to the cringles in the leech at the reefing points, which made it impossible to get the clew as low as the boom. Instead, I untied the reefing line from the sail and simply passed the lines through the cringles and down to the boom where I secured them by tying them around the boom. (Our main is now loose footed, but previously I tied the reefing lines off on the bails on the bottom of the boom.) This arrangements works much better. The clew is now drawn down to the boom and the sail is much flatter. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
Richard, Initially I had the same issue. When I reefed, the clew did not come down to the boom and the sail shape was too full. (Usually when you reef you want a flat sail.) Then I figured out the problem. On our boat (which has two reefs), the end of the reefing lines were tied to the cringles in the leech at the reefing points, which made it impossible to get the clew as low as the boom. Instead, I untied the reefing line from the sail and simply passed the lines through the cringles and down to the boom where I secured them by tying them around the boom. (Our main is now loose footed, but previously I tied the reefing lines off on the bails on the bottom of the boom.) This arrangements works much better. The clew is now drawn down to the boom and the sail is much flatter. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
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Mickey McHugh
The Vang!, The Vang!
Just kidding, but be sure to fully release the vang as well as the mainsheet when you reef. A tight vang WILL keep you from getting the reef clew down to the boom. The boom end must be allowed to rise up as you tension the reefing line. On our 40.5 we use a rigid vang to help lift the heavy boom. When you finally raise the main halyard to it's final height it will flatten the sail as will retensioning the vang.
Just kidding, but be sure to fully release the vang as well as the mainsheet when you reef. A tight vang WILL keep you from getting the reef clew down to the boom. The boom end must be allowed to rise up as you tension the reefing line. On our 40.5 we use a rigid vang to help lift the heavy boom. When you finally raise the main halyard to it's final height it will flatten the sail as will retensioning the vang.
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fred miller
35.5 Reefing Makes Me Nuts
Rich; Tell me about it. The reefing system on my 35.5 makes me nuts. It does every annoying thing you described. My fix is this. The Dutchman system is circa 1992. There have been improvements to the continous line system since then. My sailmaker up here swears he can straighten this whole mess out with the new improvements so the reefing lines won't tangle or catch when the sail is raised or lowered. He also told me the reefing lines in the boom do not run free enough. We checked and it was true There was a birds nest in there ! We cleaned it out and will go to some very smooth finish line for the reefing lines next season. Fred Miller
Rich; Tell me about it. The reefing system on my 35.5 makes me nuts. It does every annoying thing you described. My fix is this. The Dutchman system is circa 1992. There have been improvements to the continous line system since then. My sailmaker up here swears he can straighten this whole mess out with the new improvements so the reefing lines won't tangle or catch when the sail is raised or lowered. He also told me the reefing lines in the boom do not run free enough. We checked and it was true There was a birds nest in there ! We cleaned it out and will go to some very smooth finish line for the reefing lines next season. Fred Miller
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Richard Lanas
Thanks guys
Fred, Barry, Mickey, Pete: Thanks so much for your input. Pete and Mickey, in my case I think you hit it right! I was not releasing the vang, and a friend had untied the reefing line from the cringle. thanks, again
Fred, Barry, Mickey, Pete: Thanks so much for your input. Pete and Mickey, in my case I think you hit it right! I was not releasing the vang, and a friend had untied the reefing line from the cringle. thanks, again
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