reefing

[seandwyer]

Call me a novice - or maybe just stupid, but I've never reefed. There have been at least two different times in which I'm certain that I should have been reefed, but decided to just get beat up and spent a lot of time headed straight into the wind to keep from going over.

So - can you guys help me understand the best way to reef a DSI? I have roller reefing on the boom, and my main is the standard crosby rig. My old sail has one set of reefing points. So this is what I imagine I should do:
Detach the main and crutch the boom. Release the main halyard and roll the sail around the boom by rotating at the gooseneck using the roller reefing, until the reefing points on the sail are even with the top of the boom. At this point I need to run a line through each point and make fast - although I'm not sure which knot would be best for this. Now - I've been thinking about this and I can't come up with any way around using a reefing claw as long as the main is rigged at mid boom - So I guess I need to run the main from the block on the end of the boom, through the reefing claw placed mid boom, then down to the block on the center board trunk. Last but not least refasten the main halyard and remove the crutch.

I have read in a few books something about making folds and tucks in the sail, and conceptually I haven't been able to visualize, nor am I sold on the necessity. I'm also wondering about the reefing claw - what prevents it from sliding along the boom, fore or aft, and when it does so, isn't the abrasive nature of sliding under tension bad for the sail? Any visuals, and real workable tips specific to our boats would really be appreciated. I see a lot of stuff in books, but nothing seems to really be specific to the DS in terms of identical rigging etc. Any help is greatly appreciated!

One other question - does anyone reef their jib? I've heard of people doing this, but not on a DS. The only other option I can think of is to pull the jib down entirely, but my boat is nearly un-sailable without that head sail keeping me going through turns.

Thanks!

[algonquin]

My previous boat had a roller furling jib and I did use it to shorten sail on occasion.

On my DS I don’t roll the boom to shorten the main. When I set the boat up for a sail I run a continuos line starting at and fastened to the gooseneck though each reef point then around the boom to the next reef point etc etc. then attach the end to a cleat at the end of the boom When I do need a reef I loosen the main halyard and pull the reef line from the aft end of the boom until the reef points are down to the boom and refasten the reef line to the cleat. I secure the starting reef point to the goose neck with an “S” clip then reset the main halyard. Afterward I tuck any bagging in the main into the reef lines to tidy things up a bit. Brad

[K.C. Walker]

Shortening the sail is definitely the way to go when you are overpowered. DaySailers like to be sailed upright, so if you are healing over you are not going as fast as if you were to reef the sail and keep it upright. I think roller reefing on these boats is a mess. If you already have reef points in your sail it's pretty easy to rig. The ties in the middle of the sail are just housekeeping and are not actually necessary. You need a reefing outhaul for the clew (I have a cheek block on the end of my boom) and a way to secure the reefing tack (I have a reefing hook on my boom).

It's always easier to reef before going out and then shake out the reef if you don't need it. However, if I go out and need to reef what I do is heave to, slack the main sheet, pull in the reefing outhaul and secure it in a v-cleat (so it's quick), slack the main halyard until I can hook the reefing grommet at the tack on the reefing hook and then re-tighten the main halyard. This is all done while right next to the cuddy so it's relatively safe. It's a lot quicker than the time it's taken to write this description.

KC

[seandwyer]

Thanks guys for the help - but I feel more confused than ever. So I need a reefing claw as well as a hook and a cheek block on the boom. Does anyone know of a picture where all this is plain to see?

KC - I think I recall a picture of the hook a few months ago - was that your set up? If you use the hook (I believe the casting with it replaced the standard goose neck fitting??) I still need a claw for the main - right? Or am I not getting it? What I really want it the easiest possible solution - I can build on that once I see how it works. My concern is ripping the sail, or having the reef come out and fill with air, thus pulling me over.

Thanks!

[navahoIII]

I have yet to reef our DSI, too. It has roller reefing and mid-boom sheeting. Isn't it necessary to release the sheet and block at mid-boom before the rolling begins? That would leave the main sheet still going through a block at end-boom on a rotating tang. Obviously, a quick release from the mid-boom is critical, so what I did was replace the screw-pin shackle, that holds the block to the boom bail, with a snap hook (made of bronze, no less!). Very quick release now. The sheet hangs about a half inch lower along the boom but that is more than made up for by the added tranquility of knowing it won't be a struggle to "unhook" the sheet!

Opinions, pro or con?

[seandwyer]

Navahoe III,

But once the sail is wrapped around the boom, where do you attach the block you refer to? All the hardware is covered in wrapped sail, so I figure I need a claw or some such contrivance to once again fasten the main sheet mid boom. I am seeing, as I think KC put it, that roller reefing is a mess. I wonder if changing my rig is the easiest answer so it is solely on the end of the boom, but I'm assuming I would need blocks on my traveler to overcome the increased force encountered due to giving up on leverage? Hell, I don't know what I'm talking about!!!

[GreenLake]

There are two styles of reefing. Originally, the boom was set up to allow the sail to be rolled around it. The block for the mainsheet can be slid off easily (original fitting) and the gooseneck can turn if the push the boom forward. To complete the reefing, you need to use a claw as the attachement point for the mainsheet block. That claw needs another line to hold it in the fore-and-aft position. (Search this site for "reefing claw" to find older discussions). In principle, this method of reefing allows for continuous adjustment. I've never tried this (for lack of a claw, but also because I read that sail shape is terrible). I would assume the the reef claw also stresses the sail, as by necessity it has to rest on the sail fabric.

The second style uses pairs of grommets, one of each pair at the luff, and one at the leach. The one at the front of the sail is hooked into a reef hook, but it can also be lashed to the boom and/or mast. The former is faster, but all that's required is to secure it low and forward on the boom.
The second grommet needs to also be secured close to the boom, but pulled aft, so the sail tightens. That's where the cheekblock comes in. It's positioned to give the right angle of pull when the reefline that runs through it is pulled tight. To give extra purchase, insted of fixing the reefline in the grommet, you can fix it on the boom, opposite of the checkblock. That gives a 2:1 purchase and the pull is symmetrical.

On a small boat, there's no need for reef ties to tie the unused portion of the sail. I find that in the back the reefline will secure the folds of the sail. I'm currently using a reefline in the front as well, so I can secure the sail there, too. With a little tugging and pushing, the rest of the material lays stacked more or less flat against the boom and so far, hasn't ever blown out. Because you reef in strong winds, you want a flat sail, and therefore tension along the foot. That helps keep the reefed portion of the sail straight, and explains why there's apparently no need to adjust the angle of pull.

[Marv Irwin]

Greetings to the collective,

Like others, I had struggled trying to visualize what the set up for reefing on my DS should look like. All was made clear when I read the April 2008 issue of SAIL magazine. On page 85 there is a wonderful, short article with line diagrams that describes a "modified single-line reefing system for geezers" (I qualify). I think everyone sometimes struggles translating text instructions into practice and the great benefit of this article is that the text is accompanied by wonderful line figures. Not quite paint by numbers, but simple enough that a geezer can do it.
Your local library might have back issues, or you can order back issues for $7.00 (includes shipping) at the SAIL STORE 800-828-8130 or 603-621-7495 .
Disclosure: I subscribe to SAIL, but have no other interest

Regards,
Marv

[MrPlywood]

Quickly looked at sailmagazine.com, and you can download a digital version of back issues (including the April 2008 edition) for 99¢ each. You can subscribe to digital delivery for $7.50 a year...

[seandwyer]

Mr. Plywood and Marv:
Less than 8 per year? Sounds like the way to go!

Thanks!

Greenlake - I think I'm going to call D&R and maybe order a hook and maybe they can verbally illustrate the aft end a bit more in terms of what I need to install - unless you guys think the hook is unnecessary - so here's a poll:

What do MOST of you guys do for reefing?
A. Roller
B. Reefing hook approach
C. Something else

[K.C. Walker]

Hey Sean, you're right, I did post a picture. I had to search back through the threads to find it, though. Here's a link http://www.walkerguitars.com/photos/day ... 132973.jpg . I think you can see that this is the gooseneck end of my boom. I think the one that D&R sells is a replacement for the gooseneck itself and is a little more expensive but might be a cleaner install.

KC

[navahoIII]

I am not clear. What is done with the main sheet and block after it's unhitched from the boom?

[GreenLake]

The mainsheet block is unhitched only if you use roll-reefing. In that case, you place a reef claw the ends of whic rest on the boom (and the rolled-up sail). The bowl part of the claw hangs down below the boom. To that, you fix the mainsheet block. You also need another line running along the boom to fix the reef claw in the fore-and-aft position.

Reed the old thread on the reefing claw. It has links to pictures.
http://forum.daysailer.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2844&start=0&postdays=0

[navahoIII]

Thanks, Greenlake.

Now where oh where can I get a reef claw?!

[seandwyer]

http://www.greenboatstuff.com/dacobrrecl.html

Gee - how economical!