Spars hardware questions

[SouthBrooklyn]

Hello, my boat is a Seafarer 29. I have two questions:

1. It is very difficult to reef the mainsail because of the shape and position of the reefing hook. I've been looking for a dual hook, but couldn't find one to attach at the end of the boom in replacement of the existing one. Any suggestions?

2. I need to attach the boom vang to the mast. Would it be OK to buy a boom bail with a stop screw (3rd image) and slide it all the way down the mast track?

Thank you.

[fallard]

A suggestion for a dual hook. Get another tack hook like the one you have and attach the 2 tack hooks on either side of the gooseneck by using a longer machine screw in place of the existing horizontal slotted gooseneck screw.

[Barquito]

I also find that my ramshead reefing hook is difficult to use because the cringle is too thick to fit between the loop of steel. I was just going to replace with a simple hook, but, it goes vertically. Not sure that would work going horizontal.

[Yorksailor]

Getting the cringles on the hooks for the reefing point is often difficult. I just put a short rope loop on the cringle and attach that to the hook or I have a line that runs from the cringle to a cleet on the mast.

My main is 700sq ft and both solutions work fine.

Phil

[fallard]

You might consider putting tack hooks on either side of the gooseneck using something like the tack hook shown at Tack Hooks Hook, 5/16in D 2 3/4in, or http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|319693|319695&id=75071, or equivalent. Having tack hooks on both sides of the gooseneck gives you more options, like not having to come about to reef.

[SouthBrooklyn]

Thank you all.

[paulk]

Fallard has some good advice, but before you do that, it might be better to adjust the hook you have to point UP instead of to the side. For the vang, the slide you picture might work, though the picture looks a bit light for the duty. A heftier one might be better. I would also worry about the whole thing pulling out of the track and destroying the slot if you put some real oomph on the vang. Using a long slide might help spread the load and avoid that problem.

[SouthBrooklyn]

Thanks paulk.