I was just browsing the classifieds, found an O`Day 192. In the description was the term "slab reefing on the main". What does "slab" refer to?
slab reefing question
- Thread starter DAVA390
- Start date
Nothing to worry about. It just means the boat is set up for a particular technique of reducing main sail area.
The sail is dropped partially, in slabs, secured and tied off. The reduction of sail is vertical. This is different than roller furling of a main which may occur by rolling the sail into the mast or boom.
I and others on this forum like this way of reducing sail. It is not a negative. But might be a bit like advertising that the boat has a traveler. It is almost what one expects a boat like that to have. Not notable.
The sail is dropped partially, in slabs, secured and tied off. The reduction of sail is vertical. This is different than roller furling of a main which may occur by rolling the sail into the mast or boom.
I and others on this forum like this way of reducing sail. It is not a negative. But might be a bit like advertising that the boat has a traveler. It is almost what one expects a boat like that to have. Not notable.
Slab reefing versus some other form of reefing. There are boats with roller boom reefing, and Rhodes 22s have possibly the smallest in-mast furling and reefing system. Smaller boats with a sleeve mast, like a Laser, could be reefed by rolling the sail up around the mast. I think some of the Hobie trimaran kayak type boats have a rotating mast that rolls up the sail to reef.
Slab reefing can be accomplished with a hook on the gooseneck at the luff, or a line, and a line at the leech. Usually, if there is only 1 line to pull down the leech and the luff (sometimes led to the cockpit) it is referred to as "jiffy" reefing.
On my 192 there is a hook on the gooseneck, and a leech line that runs forward to a cleat near the front of the boom. Drop the halyard, and hook the luff cringle (grommet) on the hook, then pull the leech line tight to pull the sail down to the boom, and also tighten the foot of the sail to reduce power. The remaining slab of the sail can either hang there, or it can be gathered up and tied by the 3 "nettle" lines along the sail. The separate leech line is good, because I could loosen it a bit to put more draft in the sail, and provide more power to punch through chop if the sea state were messy.
Slab reefing can be accomplished with a hook on the gooseneck at the luff, or a line, and a line at the leech. Usually, if there is only 1 line to pull down the leech and the luff (sometimes led to the cockpit) it is referred to as "jiffy" reefing.
On my 192 there is a hook on the gooseneck, and a leech line that runs forward to a cleat near the front of the boom. Drop the halyard, and hook the luff cringle (grommet) on the hook, then pull the leech line tight to pull the sail down to the boom, and also tighten the foot of the sail to reduce power. The remaining slab of the sail can either hang there, or it can be gathered up and tied by the 3 "nettle" lines along the sail. The separate leech line is good, because I could loosen it a bit to put more draft in the sail, and provide more power to punch through chop if the sea state were messy.
Slab reefing is conventional reefing.... can also be called "jiffy reefing" depending on how control lines are set up. The "slab" refers to the sections of sail that are disabled by the reefing process. Unless you have roller furling.... or no reefing system at all... such as the case on small boats... you have conventional or slab reefing.
DAV,
This link & diagram might clear up your questions pal.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Slab+Reefing+Diagram&FORM=QSRE1
CR
This link & diagram might clear up your questions pal.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Slab+Reefing+Diagram&FORM=QSRE1
CR