[C320-list] Reefing System

[bruceheyman at cox.net]

Jeff,
Thanks!  The Carbo Air blocks are great.  Have you seen any sign of wear on the sail?  I've been on boats where they've sheathed the blocks in leather to minimize damage to the sail.
When I was in the Garhaur factory they had some really nice blocks that were built into sail material and you would sow them onto the sail.  They could not sell them to me because they were under license to produce them for a Canadian sail manufacturer.
Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: "Jeff Church" <jjemail at comcast.net>

Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:21:13 
To:<C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reefing System


Bruce,

Doyle recommended Harken Carbo Air #57. Other folks have used a smaller block, but supposedly they aren't strong enough for the load. I also used 1.25" SS rings on the opposite side of the cringle.

JeffC
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: bruceheyman at cox.net 
  To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 8:03 PM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reefing System


  What blocks did you use on the cringles?
  Bruce
  Somerset 671 SoCal
  Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

  -----Original Message-----
  From: "Irving Grunes" <igrunes at gmail.com>

  Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:50:44 
  To:C320-List at catalina320.com
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reefing System


  Hank,
  With that low boat number you have there may be a double block jiffy reefing
  system in the boom.
  There is something on the website describing this and it may show up in your
  manual.

  We used somone's recommended system of installing small blocks at the luff
  and leech reefing cringles and the reefing line feeds straight thru the boom
  eliminating that double block arrangement.
  I think it was Jeff Hare that recommended the system complete with material
  list.

  Our reefing line runs from the cockpit  to a block at the bottom of the
  mast,
  then up to the luff cringle block
  Then down to the underside of the sheave at the mast end of the boom,
  Out the aft end of the boom under its sheave,
  then up to the leech cringle block,
   and down to be tied off at the bottom of the boom.

  We used 1 inch stainless triangles instead of the circle loops that the
  original material list  suggested.
  It works like a dream.
  Lower the sail to a premark on the halyard, pull in on the reefing line and
  retension as needed on the halyard.
  Shaking out is just releasing the reefing line and raising the sail while
  head to wind.

  Irv Grunes #851

  On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 7:40 PM, Jeff Church <jjemail at comcast.net> wrote:

  > Hank,
  >
  > There a several sources of friction in the system. If you put blocks at
  > the reefing cringles and run the lines thru them instead of the cringle the
  > reefing line will run out without any trouble.
  >
  > JeffC
  >  ----- Original Message -----
  >  From: Henry LeSieur
  >  To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
  >  Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:50 PM
  >  Subject: [C320-list] Reefing System
  >
  >
  >  We had the opportunity to reef the main this past weekend. Later in the
  > afternoon the wind lightened up and we tried to shake out the reef. I had to
  > hand feed the reefing line into the forward end of the boom and then return
  > to the cockpit to winch the main up. I think it would operate much more
  > efficiently if the block located in the boom was removed. Has anyone
  > modified or changed their reefing system to a continuous line system? Also,
  > there is a small blue line (wrapped around the gooseneck) that is attached
  > to the internal block. Apparently, it moves the block fore and aft. What is
  > it's purpose? Should it be tied off to stabilize or center the block in a
  > certain position?
  >
  >    Thanks, in advance, for your input.
  >
  >    Hank LeSieur
  >    Camelot #331
  >