Rhodes 19 reefing question

[Tashi]

Hi,

This is a question for any rhodes 19 owners. I have recently acquired a 1978 Mariner and am trying to figure out the reefing mechanism on the Main sail. I have figured out how to roll the sail around the boom but where do you connect the main sheet?

Any info would be really appreciated,
Tashi Armstrong
West Bath, Maine

 

[yukonterr]

reefing

Hi: I do not own a Rhodes, but I do own a Daysailer I, 1966 model. I have the same system for reefing, as do many others. What you need is a reefing claw that is placed in the center of the boom with the pulley for the main sheet. I happen to have two of them that I ordered from Trident-UK, several years ago. BUT...I did not like the set up as many others on the forum have expressed in other posts. I strongly suggest that you have reefing points placed on your main sail. Cost of reefing points is actually about the same as purchasing a reefing claw. Reefing the main with reefing points will maintain the shape of the sail much better than the roller reefing with the boom.

My two cents worth. Hope this helps

Gary

1966, DS I
"Dancing Girls II", #3235

 

[Sunbird22358]

I have a 1979 DS II and will echo the advice to get reefpoints added to your sail! I would expect that the cost to do this on a Mariner would be very close to the $60 that I paid for reefpoints on my DS mainsail (Harding Sails, 1999) price will most likely be a bit more now, inflation, but still worth it. Figure about another $40.00 +/- for hardware and you will be set. Harken has drawings of jiffy-reefing set-ups on their web site, but it looks too complicated and $$ for my taste. I'll attach a drawing of the set up for a DS III, this is basically what I have on my DS II.....well, close enough! I have a camcleat on the side of the boom to secure the reefing line, it would mount as close to the forward end of the boom as possible, on the port side in the diagram.