Single line reefing setup

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StanFM

.
Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
The jib and main halyards and sheets all run back to the cockpit on my boat. But my trusty new boat shop owner (sort of like the banker in Monopoly), suggested I install a single line reefing system as well. This guy is really great by the way. I hit him with 20 questions every time I'm in the shop. He never acts like he's too busy. In fact, in order to install a topping lift (my boat had just that small hook on the backstay to hold the boom. The two dumb things I did regarding that hook my first time out with the boat is another story!), he climbed on and helped me drop the mast in 110 deg temps! I digress. First, what's a guy to do when you need to be on top of the cabin with a screwdriver, at the same time you are inside the cabin with a wrench? The bolt and nut were spinning around. Ever do anything like this?

:naughty:
Anyway, here's the quick set up. I'm running all the lines back on the port side, btw. So on the back of the boom a few inches back and right below the aft reefing grommet I put a padeye where the reefing line will originate.

Then on the starboard side, a block (opposite that padeye) where the line goes up and through the grommet and back down and through the block, and heads toward the gooseneck.

I also added another padeye about halfway just to support and guide the line. Still on the starboard side of the boom, I added another block, so the line can shoot up and through the front reefing grommet.

Down and through the block at the base of the mast on the port side.

The middle spool was unused... but I had to add another small block to turn the line back toward the cockpit...

A cleat at the back, and we're done!

This should help getting the mainsail reefed in a hurry. I'll tie off the excess sail with a couple small lines in the middle.

Stan

 
Oct 25, 2011
576
Island Packet IP31 Lake St. Louis, Montreal
Stan

I had that exact set-up on my PY26 and it worked like a charm. I wish reefing was that easy on the IP.

Cheers

Matt
 
Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
Stan,

Just to be troublemaker...

Why did you feel the need to run your reefing line down to the deck? Mine's set up with a cheek block near the mast like yours, but I tie the end of the line off at a pad eye on the mast, then thru the reefing tack, down the starboard side of the boom to a cheek block a couple of inches aft of the reefing clew, then up and over to another block on the port side of the boom, then thru a clam cleat. I just pull on the free end at the back of the boom, and it pulls the tack down, plus pulls the clew down and aft.

Looks like your setup works essentially the same.
 
Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Stan,

Just to be troublemaker...

Why did you feel the need to run your reefing line down to the deck? Mine's set up with a cheek block near the mast like yours, but I tie the end of the line off at a pad eye on the mast, then thru the reefing tack, down the starboard side of the boom to a cheek block a couple of inches aft of the reefing clew, then up and over to another block on the port side of the boom, then thru a clam cleat. I just pull on the free end at the back of the boom, and it pulls the tack down, plus pulls the clew down and aft.

Looks like your setup works essentially the same.
What if you want to reef whilst hove to? Will the end of your boom be accessible?
 
Sep 2, 2011
1,041
Hunter 27 Cherubini Alum Creek State Park
justsomeguy said:
What if you want to reef whilst hove to? Will the end of your boom be accessible?
Good point. I'll just have to pull the line quickly - before the boom swings out. ;-)
 

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
The boat shop owner suggested this setup. I wouldn't have known the difference, but he wanted me to be able to have the main halyard in one hand, and the reef line in the other. I did a trial reefing, and put a black mark on the main halyard where it should be next to the cleat when in reef length. At this point, whatever he says-- I do! I have to admit that fixing and rigging things gives me an understanding of how everything works.

Stan
 

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
Stan,

Just to be troublemaker...

Why did you feel the need to run your reefing line down to the deck? ................
It's a tad safer to stay in the cockpit if possiblewhilst reefing. My reefing line also comes back to where the main halyard cleats at the cockpit. Drop the halyard, tighten up the single line reef, raise the halyard...while hove to/in irons.
 
Oct 25, 2011
576
Island Packet IP31 Lake St. Louis, Montreal
Way too kind. But did you like the anti-gravity wrench setup??? :eek:

Stan
Stan

Yup, loved it!!! I'm going to keep it in mind next time I need a 3rd hand. Now If I could only fing that sky hook I bought for my solar panel.

Matt
 

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
Stan

Yup, loved it!!! I'm going to keep it in mind next time I need a 3rd hand. Now If I could only fing that sky hook I bought for my solar panel.

Matt
They got a sale at the walmarts on those 12v fans that truckers use inside their cabs. If you don't have any wind, Clip them to the boom, plug them in to where you can point them at the sails and get about 2.5 kts hull speed.

:poke:

Here's the ultimate boom tent: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...&subdeptNum=50529&classNum=50530#.UAlwE6BH6LE
 
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Stan,

Just to be troublemaker...

Why did you feel the need to run your reefing line down to the deck? Mine's set up with a cheek block near the mast like yours, but I tie the end of the line off at a pad eye on the mast, then thru the reefing tack, down the starboard side of the boom to a cheek block a couple of inches aft of the reefing clew, then up and over to another block on the port side of the boom, then thru a clam cleat. I just pull on the free end at the back of the boom, and it pulls the tack down, plus pulls the clew down and aft.

Looks like your setup works essentially the same.
everyone uses what works best for them:) and i found the reefing line at the cabin top next to the main halyard is very simple and quick.... I can reef in about the same time it takes to uncleat and recleat the halyard from the cam cleat. I cannot imagine there could be a quicker or easier method.
i have a mark on the main halyard to where it will be at when im reefed. so all i have to do is let the halyard down to that mark and then tug the reefing line on my way back to the tiller.... and i dont have any extra line that i need to tie up at the rear of the boom...:D
 
Aug 31, 2011
243
Catalina C-22 9485 Lake Rathbun, IA
Stan, mate. That's one awesome shade. I have an idea... Let's make sails with embedded flexible solar panels. Anyone handy with a sewing kit ? Maybe the cabin hatch and Windows as well. My sister-in-law is head of research at a company in that field. May have to call her.

Now to await the feedback (and no, I do not believe these will cause fires :) )

Cheers,

Milton
 
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
Stan, mate. That's one awesome shade. I have an idea... Let's make sails with embedded flexible solar panels. Anyone handy with a sewing kit ? Maybe the cabin hatch and Windows as well. My sister-in-law is head of research at a company in that field. May have to call her.

Now to await the feedback (and no, I do not believe these will cause fires :) )

Cheers,

Milton
Yes Milton, it will. That idea is tantamount to installing an inter-continental thermo nuclear ballistic missile on the boat. It's very subject to lay to waste the entire marina, and the town it's located in!!

Don't you read the internet? ;)
 

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
Stan, mate. That's one awesome shade. I have an idea... Let's make sails with embedded flexible solar panels. Anyone handy with a sewing kit ? Maybe the cabin hatch and Windows as well. My sister-in-law is head of research at a company in that field. May have to call her.

Now to await the feedback (and no, I do not believe these will cause fires :) )

Cheers,

Milton
I think that it was designed to be a camo-command base tent for a mobile attack drone company or a recharging station for my wife's hairdryer. Either way, one could turn any boat into an interstellar swamp buggy.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
In all sincerity, the two items that I put on my 22 after I got it and thought about it were a jib downhaul and single line reefing. All lines led back to the cockpit. I'm glad about spending a small amount of money on both of them.
 

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
I want to know how you inserted the pictures in the middle of your post.
Not too hard. I use a proxy site (such as PhotoBucket) to upload photos into an album. Then when you select the "Insert Image" icon on this site, you paste in the link to where the photo is stored...

The actual link looks like this--> " http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv139/stanfm/Sailing/hatch.jpg"

To be polite, I reduce the images to 448 x 336.
Exterior teak is all oiled. Now to deal with that 4.5" hole and dead gauge in the bulkhead! It's bugging me, like wearing a broken watch.

Stan :)
 
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