Thanks for the replies.
To answer the questions posted so far:
sailingdog: I doubt anyone else has my boat (maybe). Its a 1976 Soverel 26. The mast is keel stepped, and I already have tracks set at the base of the mast for all my
lines which are currently run aft. I guess all I would need to do is run two additional
lines aft - 1st and 2nd tack reef lines.
Jeff_H: I knew (from your previous posts) that if you replied you would be against mast mounted
winches. I've never tried them, and, to be honest, I was hoping to avoid the hassle and expense of moving them - my other projects are enough right now. I really like your idea of using a PVC pipe as a sail roller. I will definately try that out. You mention running the bitter end of the tack reef lines to the deck, would adding a padeye to the mast itself work as well? That seems to me to keep the line shorter, the run more direct, and put less stress on the deck, no?
Wiley 1: I'm on the Great Lakes and although the boat was built for racing, I'm just interested in daysailing and weekending for right now. No passages with this boat, so chafe is not my primary concern. Right now I have no self steering aids. My refurbishing budget doesn't allow it at the moment. I'll initially set up some form of "tiller tamer" like a bungie and jam
cleat to just hold the tiller steady long enough for me to do something else quickly.
On slides/slugs for the main: I've been wondering how that would help. I keep imagining the slides/slugs just falling out of the bottom of the slot when lowering and wondering how they would feed into the groove while raising. Do you more or less permanently slip them up into the groove and then drill and tap a screw or something into the bottom of the mast slot to keep them from falling out the bottom? The groove on my mast is open (to allow room for feeding the luff bolt rope) for about 12" above the gooseneck.
Again, thanks for all the suggestions. You guys are great and now I have some better ideas for the asking.