Can I add Reefing points to my main

ABH3 Boyer · #1 02-12-2013

I am not in a position to buy a new main sail and there is nothing wrong with mine except it has no reefing points. I'm wondering if I can add some to the sail so it can be reefed. just a thought. I dont plan to just go out and start punching holes in it. Also the guy I got the boat from said it could be reefed by spinning the boom so the sail wraps around the boom untill the desired ammount of sail has been removed. Sounds like it could work with the existing set up but I dont think it would be very easy to do, expecially in windy conditions. Has anyone herd of such nonsense. The boat is a 26 ft fractional sloop. I dont race and dont ever plan to. This is just for comfort when out crusing with a few friends. In winds of 15 to 20 I usually take down my genoa and put up my storm jib. Over 20 I drop the storm and go with the main only until around 25 and then its time to go home. Part of my reasoning is that my boat tends to handel much better with a jib and main flying.

PorFin · #2 02-12-2013

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: There's more to it than just punching holes in your sail. You'll also need to add hardware to your mast and perhaps for another outhaul.

Captainmeme · #3 02-12-2013

Check sailrite.com for a reefing kit. I have no connection to them, I just know about em.

Faster · #4 02-12-2013

Any sailmaker can add reefs to an existing sail... it involves reinforcing the tack and clew areas, adding the rings/cringles as required. BTW I'd not bother with reef ties along the new 'foot'.. but that's a personal choice.

The additional gear Porf is referring to is all the rigging needed to implement the reef... padeyes, blocks, deciding whether to leave it all on-boom or run it aft to the cockpit, whether to use a simple tack hook or a tack reef line, etc etc.

Plenty of on line info to research all of that, including several threads here.

mainsail reefing diagram - Google Search

jsaronson · #5 02-12-2013

If you have end-boom sheeting and no vang, the prior owner is right. Some boats had a crank at the front of the boom for that purpose. I'd consider looking for a used sail with reef points.

Faster · #6 02-12-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABH3 Boyer

......Also the guy I got the boat from said it could be reefed by spinning the boom so the sail wraps around the boom untill the desired ammount of sail has been removed. Sounds like it could work with the existing set up but I dont think it would be very easy to do, .....

Such roller reefing was quite common but it has definite limitations. It loads the sail in areas that are not reinforced, negates the use of a vang unless you have additional special equipment, and means that you hope nobody has 'lost' the crank handle for the geared gooseneck fitting. Most such setups have long been converted to 'jiffy/slab' reefing.

tdw · #7 02-12-2013

Fast is right. One of my previous boats had one of those stupid roll the whole boom reefing systems. Utterly useless. I added the necessary hardware and sent the sail off for mods. Worked perfectly and not all that expensive, certainly cheaper than even a second hand sail.

Oh yes , and you should consider adding cringles for cunningham if not already fitted.

Andrew B