I am trying to set up the reef for the main on my 1986 Hunter 23 but cannot figure out how to run the line from the forward and aft cringles that makes sense. Thanks for your help.
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Reefing the main
You may or may not have to remove the sail slug retainer in order to let the cringle come down far enough to hook on the ram's head. But here is the deal: Ease the main halyard enough to hook the cringle over the rams head. retighten the main halyard and replace the slug retainer if you haven't lost it already. (Pick up a couple extra and have them around.) Release the clamp at the mast end of the boom that holds the reefing line and haul her tight enough to bring your aft cringle down to the boom. The reef line will act as an out haul line at this point so you can tighten or loosen the foot of the sail as you like it. I had to add a bail to the bottom of my boom for the reefing line. (One must not have come with my '86 H23? I never figured that one out.) Tie off the small diameter reefing lines that should be running through the main sail to keep her tidy on the boom. Many have added a block to the base of the mast so that they don't have to run forward to reef the main. I've attached a picture that might help if you are going that route.
You may or may not have to remove the sail slug retainer in order to let the cringle come down far enough to hook on the ram's head. But here is the deal: Ease the main halyard enough to hook the cringle over the rams head. retighten the main halyard and replace the slug retainer if you haven't lost it already. (Pick up a couple extra and have them around.) Release the clamp at the mast end of the boom that holds the reefing line and haul her tight enough to bring your aft cringle down to the boom. The reef line will act as an out haul line at this point so you can tighten or loosen the foot of the sail as you like it. I had to add a bail to the bottom of my boom for the reefing line. (One must not have come with my '86 H23? I never figured that one out.) Tie off the small diameter reefing lines that should be running through the main sail to keep her tidy on the boom. Many have added a block to the base of the mast so that they don't have to run forward to reef the main. I've attached a picture that might help if you are going that route.
T
Tazilla
Reefing the main: questions
Thanks... That helps a lot. Some questions: The dotted line that goes the lenght of the boom... Is that inside the boom? If it is, how do I run it through the boom and what size line is that? And; My boom has an eye strap attached to one side but that looks too flimsey to hold the main. You said you had to attach a bail, is that like a pad eye? Thanks again.
Thanks... That helps a lot. Some questions: The dotted line that goes the lenght of the boom... Is that inside the boom? If it is, how do I run it through the boom and what size line is that? And; My boom has an eye strap attached to one side but that looks too flimsey to hold the main. You said you had to attach a bail, is that like a pad eye? Thanks again.
R
Rob Morton
Reefing the Main
We have the same year of boat as you do. Is your mast a Kenyon? Ours reefs a little different than the drawing, or its set up different anyway. We hook the reefing line, (I think its the middle one but I would have to go look)directly to the sail and don't have it run back to the boom like in the drawing. I have another drawing I could try to post. I've never done that before but will try to mess with it. Rob Morton
We have the same year of boat as you do. Is your mast a Kenyon? Ours reefs a little different than the drawing, or its set up different anyway. We hook the reefing line, (I think its the middle one but I would have to go look)directly to the sail and don't have it run back to the boom like in the drawing. I have another drawing I could try to post. I've never done that before but will try to mess with it. Rob Morton
T
Tazilla
Kenyon too...
I have a Kenyon too. The picture I attached earlier isn't exactly like mine either but I figured it would be helpful. Your pad eye should be plenty strong enough to tie off your reef line. It should run inside the boom on starboard. Your outhaul should be center and your topping lift, if it is still around, should be on port. If your lines have been pulled through, stand the boom on end and drop a light weighted line through, followed with your actual reefing or topping lift lines. I dropped fishing line through with a small sinker on the end. Went straight through without a hitch, then I whipped the fishing line around the end of the real line, taped it and pulled her through. The reefing line is maybe 3/8? I'd have to go out to the boat and take a look to be sure. The topping lift is lighter - 1/4 or 5/16 maybe. The topping lift runs to the mast head to keep the boom out of your lap when you haul down the main. You can replace that with a boom kicker/rigged vang and be better off anyhow. I've seen H23's with Kenyon booms/masts that didn't have a pad eye or bail to rig the reef line like the picture. Like I said, mine didn't have one either. The pad eye or bail lets you change the way the foot of the sail is stretched and it does a better job that way. Without it the aft cringle won't pull down flat against the boom and it tends to haul the aft end of the boom up out of square. I suppose none of that is such a big deal unless you are really concerned with your sail shape when reefed but I like it better the way it works after I added the bail.
I have a Kenyon too. The picture I attached earlier isn't exactly like mine either but I figured it would be helpful. Your pad eye should be plenty strong enough to tie off your reef line. It should run inside the boom on starboard. Your outhaul should be center and your topping lift, if it is still around, should be on port. If your lines have been pulled through, stand the boom on end and drop a light weighted line through, followed with your actual reefing or topping lift lines. I dropped fishing line through with a small sinker on the end. Went straight through without a hitch, then I whipped the fishing line around the end of the real line, taped it and pulled her through. The reefing line is maybe 3/8? I'd have to go out to the boat and take a look to be sure. The topping lift is lighter - 1/4 or 5/16 maybe. The topping lift runs to the mast head to keep the boom out of your lap when you haul down the main. You can replace that with a boom kicker/rigged vang and be better off anyhow. I've seen H23's with Kenyon booms/masts that didn't have a pad eye or bail to rig the reef line like the picture. Like I said, mine didn't have one either. The pad eye or bail lets you change the way the foot of the sail is stretched and it does a better job that way. Without it the aft cringle won't pull down flat against the boom and it tends to haul the aft end of the boom up out of square. I suppose none of that is such a big deal unless you are really concerned with your sail shape when reefed but I like it better the way it works after I added the bail.
T
Tazilla
reefing
Yes... The diagrahm was helpfull. I now think I can set it up. I just have to wait until this weekend to play with it. Thanks for your help.
Yes... The diagrahm was helpfull. I now think I can set it up. I just have to wait until this weekend to play with it. Thanks for your help.
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