How is the topping lift hooked on the boom ? Can you keep it hooked up as you roll the boom to reff ?
Topping lift?
- Thread starter slowdog
- Start date
Just like justsomeguy wrote, if there is a tang on the end of the boom (a stainless strap is another way of calling it) and it rotates on a bolt then the tang can be kept attached to the topping lift with either a knot or a snap hook and that will allow the boom to rotate so that your roller reefing feature will work. If you want to have an adjustable topping lift, then you can have a small block at the bottom of your topping lift line a couple of feet above the boom when the boom is at right angles to the mast. Then you have a 3/16 or 1/4" line running from an eye strap on one side of the boom through the block and down to a cheek block on the other side and then the line runs forward to a cleat. The line will have to be the length of your boom, plus 2 or 3 feet long. But, with this feature you will no longer be able to rotate the boom for reefing, but instead you should have a sailmaker install reef points in your mainsail and then you can install the hardware to make it work. This is a much better form of reefing as it is quicker and you will get better mainsail shape. Also, when you roller furl the boom, it tends to drop at the outboard end and so you lose headroom.
You could also use a Clamcleat attached to a line to cleat off your topping lift. This way, it wouldn't be connected to your boom, but would still allow adjustable height, which is desirable for light wind so that the topping lift can take the weight of the boom, and therefore not over-tension the leech, allowing for proper twist at the top of the main. http://www.clamcleat.com/cleats/cleats.asp?theid=8
Personally, I would rather have slab reefing than boom roller reefing. Roll reefing around the boom leads to poor sail shape, and requires you to put something in the sail to attempt to accommodate the extra material of the sail's draft. Also, as soon as you roll up the sail, you've got no place to connect the vang, unless you have a reefing claw vang, or use a panel of fabric to roll up in the sail, and attach the vang to.
Admittedly, I have never used boom roller reefing, but it sure sounds more fiddly than slab reefing. I can reef my slab reefed sail (often called jiffy reefing) in less than a minute. I guarantee it would take me longer to try and get good sail shape with roller reefing.
Brian
Personally, I would rather have slab reefing than boom roller reefing. Roll reefing around the boom leads to poor sail shape, and requires you to put something in the sail to attempt to accommodate the extra material of the sail's draft. Also, as soon as you roll up the sail, you've got no place to connect the vang, unless you have a reefing claw vang, or use a panel of fabric to roll up in the sail, and attach the vang to.
Admittedly, I have never used boom roller reefing, but it sure sounds more fiddly than slab reefing. I can reef my slab reefed sail (often called jiffy reefing) in less than a minute. I guarantee it would take me longer to try and get good sail shape with roller reefing.
Brian