To Jiffy Reef or Not to

[Larry French]

I recently posted a question on my sails and was told that the setup was for jiffy reefing. I understand why you would want a jiffy reefing system. However, are there any reasons why you would not want to do this? If there a benefit not to having the rope and instead having the shackles and slides.Thanks,Larry

 

[Michael McCann]

What?

Larry;What are you asking? Reefing (jiffy, or otherwise ) is for shortening sail, usually at around 20 knots of wind for most boats.Michael

 

[Ron]

Sails

The reason you have a combo of rope and sail slides is not for jiffy reefing but so your sail drops lower down the main sail track and closer to the boom which it would not do with all slides.

 

[Bob Sawyer]

Shackles and Slides

I just converted to shackles and slides and I found raising and lowering the main much easier and less jams with my lazy jacks. I took the advice of my rigger (New England Yacht Rigging) and sail maker (Bank Sails). Bank sails graciously gave me plastic inserts to the shackles to eliminate chaffing.Smooth sailing!Bob

 

[Michael McCann]

Reefing the main sail

Larry;If you put shackles, and slugs (slides) at the cringles in the lower part of the main sail you will have to remove the whatever gizmo that keeps them in the track above the insert point if you need to reef. Jiffy reefing is using a system of lines and cleats to quickly reef the sail. Since I have always had some sort of 'jiffy reefing' system I am not sure how it was done befor. I'm thinking it took longer than "in a jiffy". The reefing cringles are on the luff, and leach at the same level, and there are usually some smaller ones in between for tying the sail along the boom. Get Annapolis or some other reference and read about it!Michael

 

[Bob Camarena]

Not one and the same

Jiffy reefing and the "jackline" set-up that you have are not one and the same. The jackline set-up makes your jiffy reefing easier by eliminating having to deal with sail slides in the lower part of your main. Many boats have jiffy reefing (aka "slab reefing")without the jackline. Personally, I'd be happy to have the jackline setup. I really don't see much negative. I suppose that with slides, the lower part of your main would be a little tighter to the mast, but I think the difference would be insignificant and outweighed by the convenience when reefing.