[C320-list] Reefing System

[Mike Paris]

Any hints or suggestions for freeing up or removing these sheeves at  
the end of the boom?

Thanks,
Mike
#734

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 23, 2010, at 3:48 PM, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>  
wrote:

> 1.  You really must have sheaves that turn at the end of the boom or  
> you are going to have trouble putting in a full reef with proper  
> tension. I'm not sure why yours don't turn.  You probably need to  
> remove the pin that holds the sheaves in place and then try to clean  
> and free up things.  The mast / boom manual on the web site might be  
> helpful.  Look here:
>
> http://www.catalina320.com/filemgmt_data/files/Catalina320_Standard_Mast.pdf
>
> The boom end fitting is pictured on page 14.
>
> If that doesn't solve the problem, try shortening the aft line.  You  
> want it to be as short as possible, but not so short that it goes  
> tight when you are not reefed.  I'm assuming you have the reefing  
> arrangement with an internal shuttle block inside the boom.  Your  
> symptoms are consistent with this arrangement, if there is too much  
> slack in the aft line.  It should not be possible to pull much  
> additional reef line from the end of the boom once the main is fully  
> hoisted, if you have a shuttle block.
>
> Alternatively, look for a bird nest or some other obstruction inside  
> the boom that is preventing lines or the shuttle block from running  
> free. Even though I faithfully tape up the end of the boom to keep  
> birds out, somehow they made a nest in the boom anyhow this spring,  
> and it took me more than an hour to extract all of the twigs and  
> grass and to free up all the lines inside the boom.
>
> 2.  The tack hook arrangement is quick and easy IF you are willing  
> to go to the mast and IF someone else can manage the halyard while  
> you put the reef cringle on the horn.  I personally prefer the  
> internal shuttle arrangement since I can reef single-handed by  
> pulling a single line from the cockpit.
>
>
> Mike Paris wrote:
>> (1) I've been having trouble with reefing the main. The tack  
>> reefing point lowers to the boom while the clew reefing point is  
>> still about 2 or 3 feet off. I've added blocks to each of the  
>> reefing points on the sail and it improved it somewhat but it did  
>> not solve the problem. The sheaves at the end of the boom do not  
>> turn. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>> (2) Also, I took a number of sailing classes on a Catalina 42 in  
>> which they installed a reefing hook/horn at the tack end of the  
>> boom. They removed the reefing line from the tack end and only had  
>> it go through the clew end of the sail. Of course you have to walk  
>> out to the mast to reef but it never was a big problem. If I can't  
>> reef properly with the system I have now it is even more of a  
>> problem. Any thoughts on this system?
>> Thanks again,
>> Mike P.
>> #734
>
> -- 
> Scott Thompson
> Surprise, #653