I recently sold my Catalina 30 with slab reefing and purchased a Pearson 33 with in-boom single line reefing. The initial enthusiasm for the simplicity of single line reefing has somewhat faded with the experience of more friction, complexity, and things to go wrong when reefing. One issue is that the reefing lines for the internal blocks seem overly large and keep jamming in the sheaves and blocks. They are 7/16” and I am checking to see if anyone else has an Isomat 40 boom with internal single line reefing (Pearson 33 has this, and I’m sure other makes of boats from around 1987 do as well). If so, are your internal reef lines 3/8”, which looks like the correct size for the reefing lines. Thanks!
single line reefing line size?
- Thread starter davidkahn53
- Start date
I have that setup, I used 3/8" to "restore" it. Works great. There's a thread on it here:
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/single-line-reefing.187512/
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/single-line-reefing.187512/
With my Pearson, I removed the internal block and just ran the lines straight through.... was using a 3/8 line. Basically, the line from the cockpit would go to mast step sheave up the mast to the luff reef point, back down to the boom sheave and run line internally through boom and out the aft end around sheave, up to reef point at leach then I would bring it down and tie to the boom. Worked great, easy and no complications inside the boom.
Thanks to everyone for the responses. One of the things I love about the sailing community is the willingness to share experience and knowledge on the myriad issues we deal with (and enjoy, most of the time) as boat owners.