Reefing Claws: Are There Any Out There?

[Guest]

We have six daysailers and only four claws to reef them with. This is a problem which we have been trying to correct, but our old supplier no longer supplies us. Actually, the last time we asked him to get us a claw, he just laughed. We have faith, though! Does anyone know where claws can be purchased? Does anyone have a claw they want to sell?

Jennifer and Ann, BWSS

Blue Waters Sailing School (bluwtrss-at-aol.com)

[Guest]

I had a problem locating a reefing claw also. I think I found one somewhere on the Internet but it was expensive. I used sailcloth instead. Take a piece of 6 oz dacon about 3' long by 2' wide. Double it over so that it is 3' long by 1' wide and sew all around it. Then insert a grommet or sew a stainless ring in the center at one end of the cloth. When you reef the sail, insert the end of the cloth without the grommet into the joint where the sail and boom meet and turn the boom 4 or 5 times more.

This will hold very securely and you don't have to remove the battons (with a little practise). I use an additional one for my boom vang.

Paul Diglio (paul.diglio-at-erols.com)

[Guest]

For the visualization impaired: How about a little more info on what point you reef to on the boom. Is the cloth wrapped into the boom following the leach of the sail at an angle, or does it get piled up in one spot? I'll assume the ring/grommet is for reattaching the main sheet in the reefed position. In what wind speeds have you had success with this arrangement? Why doesn't the boom unroll with this set-up?

I'd never heard of a reefing claw untill recently, and I've been sailing for 25 years. I like the simplicity of the sail wrap alternative, but want to do it right. Doesn't it depend on, and possibly torque the gooseneck fitting under load? Maybe someone could suggest a book with illustrations, basic instructions.

Barry (bfk-at-sdcity.sannet.gov)

[Guest]

<IMG SRC='/daysailer/images/reefclaw.jpg' ALIGN='RIGHT' HSPACE=10 VSPACE=10>Reefing the main sail around the boom was/is the standard boom arrangement for most Day Sailers.

Why doesn't the boom unroll with this set-up?

The Gooseneck fitting has a square hole to keep the boom from unrolling. To roll the main sail around the boom pull the boom aft and roll the main sail pass the first batten (remove the batten), release the boom and a spring pulls the boom back into the square hole.

See the photo of this fitting (D 353-1S SLIDING GOOSENECK) at <A HREF='http://www.dwyermast.com/BOOMS/dm1boom.htm'>http://www.dwyermast.com/BOOMS/dm1boom.htm</A>.

<I>[Ed. Gus submitted a DS reefing claw picture which I've attached here.]</I>

Gus Heismann (gheismann-at-hotmail.com)

[Guest]

Barry: see my recent post in the thread titled 'roller reefing the main." It may be helpful to you.

Blue Waters Sailing School (bluwtrss-at-aol.com)

[Guest]

Thanks Gus. Spring loaded goose necks! Learning something new every day. In the photo you posted the reefing claw looks like a metal casting. I'm still curious about the wear points on the sail with the claw, although I don't figure I would use it frequently enough to cause a major problem.
Did anyone ever locate a source for the "claws"?

I plan to try the "boom wrap" with fabric as suggested earlier. It sounds simple, effective, and available.

Now if the wind would only pick up around here!

Barry (bfk-at-sdcity.sannet.gov)

[Guest]

I read all this stuff about claws carefully, and was worrying about how I was going to find this exotic antique casting with it's complicated fo'rard and aft lines, and then the guy with the sailcloth plan got me thinking...
the next time it looked really blowy down at the lake, I took a length of cord, slipped off the block the main sheet runs through mid boom, tied my piece of cord into it's attachment, rolled the mains'l four times around the boom and tied the mid boom block onto the unwrapped end of the cord. It's a little bit sloppy unless you get the cord length dead on, but it worked pretty fine that day. With both sails up the boat points into the wind like a charm, and with the mains'l area cut down like that the gusts dont put her on her side.
Am I heading for trouble with this simple minded resolution to the reefling claw shortage? Could someone let me know if I'm likely to tear my sail or something dumb like that. Thanks . F.

Felix Graham-Jones (felix.graham-jones-at-snet.net)

[Guest]

I just have to add my 2 cents here. I've just discovered (thanks to that 1 page "owners manual") that my DSII has a roller reefing main. I'm very greatful for all the above advice, and will try to make up a "claw".
Meanwhile, does anyone have an original "claw" for sale?
Thanks, Bob Cramer

Bob Cramer (RJCramer10-at-aol.com)