Instead of grommets my mainsail has two rings sewn in at the luff that attach to reefing hooks at the gooseneck. At the leech I have two grommets for reefing lines. I'm considering for my Catalina 27 a single line reefing setup such as the Harken small boat system. SailCare recommends using blocks sewn into the sail at the luff, instead of adding luff grommets and a reefing line through the sail. Can anyone comment on experiences with either of these systems?
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lots of line ...
Single line reefing requires a lot of line to be hauled in when you reef. Every turn the line takes adds friction. The system must run free enough so that after the tack is down you are still able to bring the clew down to the boom. The old Harken single line system used properly placed blocks at the tack to reduce the friction and make the system work better. The luff reef block was usually a bit higher and aft of the normal reef cringle. The old system required sail modification. The current system (Harken #430) does not require modification of the sail and is only recommended for sails up to 150 sq ft. Here is a link to the installation manual: http://www.harken.com/pdf/4171.pdf One of the challenges you face when you lead lines aft on a C27 is a lack of space on the cabin top because the main hatch is do large. With a bit of careful planning it can work.
Single line reefing requires a lot of line to be hauled in when you reef. Every turn the line takes adds friction. The system must run free enough so that after the tack is down you are still able to bring the clew down to the boom. The old Harken single line system used properly placed blocks at the tack to reduce the friction and make the system work better. The luff reef block was usually a bit higher and aft of the normal reef cringle. The old system required sail modification. The current system (Harken #430) does not require modification of the sail and is only recommended for sails up to 150 sq ft. Here is a link to the installation manual: http://www.harken.com/pdf/4171.pdf One of the challenges you face when you lead lines aft on a C27 is a lack of space on the cabin top because the main hatch is do large. With a bit of careful planning it can work.
I Did
on a 26' Thunderbird that had a large mainsail. I dead-eyed the aft on one side of the boom, went through the reefing eye down to a cheek block and up through another block at the front of the boom, through the eye and down through a block on the mast near the gooseneck and then to the base of the mast and back to the cockpit. Worked like a champ. Need to have the blocks set properly so as to have good foot tension when the reef is in. This wasn't a kit, just put together. Made it easier to reef, and therefore, I reefed more often when I should have. Rick D.
on a 26' Thunderbird that had a large mainsail. I dead-eyed the aft on one side of the boom, went through the reefing eye down to a cheek block and up through another block at the front of the boom, through the eye and down through a block on the mast near the gooseneck and then to the base of the mast and back to the cockpit. Worked like a champ. Need to have the blocks set properly so as to have good foot tension when the reef is in. This wasn't a kit, just put together. Made it easier to reef, and therefore, I reefed more often when I should have. Rick D.
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