how do i position reefing points?

[stu9000]

Hi
nice forum.

Im looking for a bit of help with the mainsail of my Miracle Sailing Dinghy
(Big sis to the Mirror - Jack Holt Design).
Im not currently allowed to post links here but if you type this www address into your browser you can see pics of the boat.

stu9000.netfirms.com/boats_miracle1.htm

My miracle is jealous of those nice Reefing Ties you see on Wayfarers!

Ive got an old sail and Im going to put 2 or three lines of reefing points.

I was thinking of using an old jib cut into strips and glued on to
each side as reinforcing patches.

I figure the tie point at the leech could easily pull out if it wasnt supported laterally.

To reinforce the holes in the sail I was going to look for a ring kit to punch the two parts together. All I can find on the web like this is something for Hand Bags!

umei.com/cat/hole-puches-14.htm

But you get the idea right?
Anyone know where i can buy something like this for sails?

I wont have ropes dangling through all these holes.
Ill just thread them through wherever i need them.

But I want to get a nice flat sail shape
(its been hairy having a very baggy sail half wrapped around the boom)

My big question is how do i position the holes to ensure I get the right sail shape.
I can get it close by eye, but should I go out
along a horizontal like at right angles to the luff?

If I get it wrong the sail will be too baggy at the leech.

Any advice welcome o trident carrying wize ones!

[sailingdog]

Go to SAILRITE, they'll have everything you need, since they have and sell kits to make sails, among other things. If you're using an old sail, getting the reefing points just right won't matter as much as on a new sail, since chances are good the sail isn't in perfect shape to begin with. However, what you do want to do is get the reefing tack cringle and clew cringles setup properly so you can get as flat a sail shape as possible.

Having the sail a bit baggy at the leech is far better than having it too tight there, since you're reefing for higher winds and you want the wind to be able to spill out of the sail and the upper part of the sail to twist off a bit.

Not being sailmaker, my advice is based on using sails...not making them, so YMMV.

[sailingfool]

That is a pretty small sail, I would think one reef would be plenty, maybe reduce the sail 1/3. If you secure the reefing line properly you'll get a flat reef, see http://www.sailnet.com/forums/learni...youve-got.html

[stu9000]

Thanks. Think ive found some grommets and punches.
The link to the post about reefing lines is interesting.
Looking at the pictures there Im assuming the reefing points should be sited in a horizontal line 90 degrees from the leech.
Sound right?
S

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by stu9000

Thanks. Think ive found some grommets and punches.
The link to the post about reefing lines is interesting.
Looking at the pictures there Im assuming the reefing points should be sited in a horizontal line 90 degrees from the leech.
Sound right?
S

Actually its more like 90% from the lufff...but more specifically I think you would want to duplicate whatever angle exists at the foot of the sail, whether that's 90% from the luff may depend on whether the sail is cut so the boom is horizontal or rises above the cockpit. Lay the main on the ground and see how the foot is cut.

[stu9000]

thanks.
will do that.

Im also a bit worried about the transom. Busted the boat up a bit on the last sail of the season!

Theres a crack running virtically along where the stbd side boyancy box meets the rear of the boat.

Copy n paste this link to see pics (see bottom of web page)

stu9000.netfirms.com/boats_miracle1.htm

Its pretty rotten around the top of the crack. Wood feels soft. But I dont want to replace the whole transom and risk destroying the structural integrity of the boat.

I was thinking of epoying a back plate over the outside of the transom and fibrelassing the join of the stbd side air box from the inside.


It does not have to be the prettiest fix but I want it to be strong!

Thanks people.
S

[stu9000]

The boats looking a lot stronger now with some fibreglassing,
and ive learned a lot.

But im still pondering the best way to add reefing points to the mainsail.

Click here for a diagram of what i was thinking.

ive got some grommets and an old jib to sacrifice as reinforcing material.
I thought id glue on a strip each side, then sew (if i can learn to use the machine), then hammer in the grommets.

The boom would need a couple of eyelets and cleats.
I think the strongest way is to bolt right through.

Here it is how it would look reefed down.
Click here for diagram.


If I needed to put in the second reef id untie the rope end from the rear of the boom and rethread it. Hopefully on a beach or something but my little Miracle is never going to be a wayfarer. I just want to be able to reef.

At the mast end of the boom i was just going to have a lenth of rope to tie a reef knot. The same is true for the two middle holes.

Any suggestions?

I think i probably need a topping lift too.