Single line Reefing systems for the Mainsail

[oceansail0]

I have just bought a h31. The forums are great. It appears that I will be doing alot of reefing of the mainsail in winds above 10-12 knots to keep the boat on a comfortable keel. Does anyone have a single line reefing system installed? I am looking at the Harken one now. Is it worth the effort of installing or should I just engage the Autopilot and climb up on deck and do it by hand? I single hand sail most of the time and really like the way the h31 has all the lines run to the cockpit.I am also looking to install a lazy jack on the boom to make dropping the main easier. Anyone have one of these and does it work well for you?

 

[Craig16877]

Lazy Jacks

I installed a set last year. I can't imagine sailing without Lazy Jacks or a Dutchman system (in boom or in mast reefing looks good also). My wife was sure I was going overboard when I was flaking the sails in any kind of chop.I fed a line thru one of the unused holes in the lower set of spreaders (thru a "Line Stopper" ball) and about half way down I split int four lines to the boom. The trick part (which I copied from one of my dock mates) was that on the ends of each of the 4 (8 if you count both sides) the lines I put a small snap on clip. I then installed "C" clips along the boom on both sides to clip on to. Now the Lazy Jack lines can be disconnected from the boom and clipped to a "Shroud Cleat" when at dock or when sailing so that they don't constrict the sail or just flap around. Contact me off line if you have questions (I think I still have a sketch and list of materials.

 

[Paul Akers]

SL Reefing

If you don't have SL Reefing, then you should get it. I know some of the older boats had the Hood DL reefing (as it was called. It is now called a roller furling because of the slippage that occurs). A DL won't reef well when the line becoe older or stretched.

 

[Douglas Washburn]

Instead of Lazy Jacks...

I would suggest you look at EZJAX. You can find them at ezjax.com. Their design offers more control over your sail handling as well as stowage of all lines while under sail. It is also an easy-to-install system.

 

[Frank]

Sail control

.. appears to be your major problem, Oceansail0. You should not have to consider reefing in winds as low as 10-12 knts. Try flattening the sail with the cunningham and out-haul, or moving traveler slightly to the lee side off center, or ease the main as wind increases. In my experience, one should not have to consider reefing until wind is well above 20knts.