Page 2 of 2

Re: Reefing

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:56 pm
by GreenLake
Nice point about the angle. All the descriptions I found before I rigged mine didn't give a value there. Will have to check what I ended up with, myself.

Re: Reefing

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:02 pm
by K.C. Walker
GreenLake wrote:
A single line setup has large amounts of extra line when the reef is set - I find that that can get in the way. Ideally you'd want to secure that at the forward end of the boom, but I have not found any useful arrangement.
[/quote]
Greenlake,

For dealing with the abundant line that you get reefing (assuming that you have a cheek block near the Gooseneck), I saw a tip a while back that looked slick. Coil up your extra line, slip it under the tight reefing line along the boom, and tie the coil as a lark’s head knot.

Re: Wind vane auto-steering?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:44 pm
by Breakin Wind
jdoorly wrote:Hi Scott, a cringle is also called a grommet (the jiffy-reef grommet in the luff is also called a cringle, as is the cunningham cringle and the tack cringle just below it). I suppose the best name for a first reef grommet on the leech would be the first-reef clew. It's the same with rope, which is 'line' until you assign it a task and then the task becomes the name, like 'main sheet'.

But the main thing I wanted to say was to suggest that you mark your main halyard with lines which represent where the halyard should be positioned for regular use, and for first reef (and second reef). I use a black Sharpie to make marks on the halyard as well as a reference point on the mast. That way I can drop the halyard the correct amount and then tie it off. Then I set the reef clew in the reef hook, and pull in the first reef clew line until the new clew touches the boom. I like to set the positions of the eye and the cheek block so that when the clew just touches the boom there is a 30 degree angle from the clew to the block. This is to bias the vertical and horizontal force vectors toward the horizontal direction and make the sail flatter, which is a good thing when it's windy and you are reefing.


Thanks Jay,
I think the idea about marking the main halyard is great! I'll do that first thing next year.

As far as your explanation after reseting the halyard, I'm getting lost. You say that you set the reef clew in the reef hook. Your explanation clarifies that the reef clew is on the leech, but isn't the reef hook on the forward end of the boom near the tack? Or am I missing something here (yet again)?

Thanks for the help and the patience- Scott

Re: Questions about Reefing

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:02 pm
by Cavofficer6
All:

I intend to put a jiffy reefing system on my boat this winter, but I'm not sure of the height and angle I should put the luff and leech cringles on. I've read posts on multiple sites, and in a couple of sailing books, that the angle of the cringles and reef lines should incline, or get higher in the luff than in the leech. Is there a good standard reefing point height and angle for the DS?

Re: Questions about Reefing

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:11 pm
by GreenLake
I would have sworn that the reef point n front is lower than the one in back, certainly as measured along the edge of the sail. I'm sorry, but I don't have access to my sail at the moment, otherwise I'd just send you some measurements. However, this question did come up before and at that time, I remember we looked at various sails in the gallery to see where people had their reef points.

If possible, I would have a sailmaker put these in for you, there's quite a bit of reinforcement that needs to be sown to the sail. Unless you have a good sowing machine for sail making or are otherwise just determined to make this yourself, I would have this done. That way you have someone who can not only give you professional results, but you'll get a consultation about how deep you'll want the reef to be for your circumstances. I had mine put in by Hank Jotz when he built the sails for me, but I remember we spent some time discussing how I was going to use the sails, before we settled on the location of the reef points.

I've since had the clew repaired at a local loft, and I had good experience with them being able to match the sail cloth so the repair blends in. If you don't have a local loft, you might need to find one that will accept a sail that you mail in.

Re: Questions about Reefing

PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:53 pm
by TIM WEBB
The instructions that come with the Sailrite jiffy reefing kit state that the luff cringle should be 2" - 3" below the leech cringle. The reason given is that "this will raise the aft end of the boom slightly while reefed, making it less likely the boom will dip into the water when the boat rolls in heavy weather."

They also state that the tie down points should be about 3/4" below a line between the two cringles. This is to insure that the tie downs aren't interfering in any way with the tight line between the luff and leech anchor points.

Oh, and that the first reef should be right below the lowest batten.

Hope this helps ...