Roller-Furler Question

[XPatriot]

Just purchased a Hunter 25 and took it out yesterday. It has a 150 jib on a roller-furler.

I understand the concept and pretty much the practice. A rope runs aft on the port side that rolls the jib in, and when this is released, the jib sheet pulls out the sail.

Question though...I have a winch and a cleat on each side of the boat (obviously for the jib sheet), but wouldn't it be practical to have another cleat on the port side to tie off the line that retracts the roller-furler so that I can reef the jib? At this point unless I share the cleat and or winch (which is a recipe for a mess) I can't do this. Can the roller-furler's reef a jib with this method.

Thanks!

 

[Ed Schenck]

On my boat there is a small cam cleat that the furler line runs through. But I also secure it to the aftmost cleat, the one for the dock line. Seems like the H25 should have a cleat back in the corner.

 

[Alan]

Maybe? Not all roller furling systems are capable of being used for reefing. If yours is then yes I would install a cleat for the line. You should also note that most furling systems cannot use a winch to furl the sail.

 

[Deadline]

By the way, 150 is a powerful foresail and agreeably so.
In the event of 15 mph winds, reef the main.