[C320-list] Reefing Setup

[Doug Treff]

The reefing line is designed to run as diagrammed on page 12 of the PDF document located here:
https://c320.org/mediagallery/download.php?mid=20170327180451608

I redid mine a few years ago, using Jeff Hare's idea of adding ball-bearing blocks on the reef points. The car that runs inside the boom was missing so I made a new one using a couple of ball-bearing blocks shackled together.

This new setup is smooth as silk and requires almost no effort to reef down.

Here's the article I wrote up a few years ago describing what I did.

https://groups.google.com/forum/embed/?place=forum/C320-List&showsearch=true&showtabs=true&showpopout=true&parenturl=https%3A%2F%2Fc320.org%2Fpage.php%2F_IA_C320_Forum#!searchin/C320-List/treff$20reefing/c320-list/uf-zKAf4LZ0/IbobjenQvHUJ

--
Doug Treff
doug at treff.us

On Thu, Jun 13, 2019, at 4:40 PM, Mark Seyler wrote:
> I think that what Joe is describing is something like the set-up on my 
> #232 when I bought it.  If I could figure out how to attach a diagram I 
> would, but instead I’ll try to describe it in words.
> 
> According to the manual, one line should go forward from the line 
> clutch to the turning block at the base of the mast; from there, go up 
> to the gooseneck and enter the end of the boom from below; go part-way 
> into the boom and then the double back over a twin block (two single 
> blocks shackled together end to end) inside the boom; exit the 
> gooseneck end of the boom via a turning block on the top of the 
> gooseneck end of the boom; and terminate in a hook that is hooked into 
> the reef cringle at the luff of the sail.  The reefing line attached to 
> the leech reef cringle starts at the aft end of the boom, runs forward 
> inside the boom to loop over the other side of the twin block inside 
> the boom, then returns to the aft end of the boom and goes up through 
> the leech-side reef cringle, and terminates on the boom below that reef 
> point.  Using that system, one would have to hook the reefing hook into 
> the luff-side reef point, then pull the line through the leech reef 
> cringle to pull both reef points down to the boom.
> 
> My #232 has no second turning block on the top of the gooseneck end of 
> the boom, so the system in the manual would not work for me.  In 
> addition, when I bought the boat there was no twin block inside the 
> boom.  So my reefing line goes from the turning block at the base of 
> the mast; up to a block I attached to the luff reef point; then down to 
> a turning block at the top of the boom vang attachment; and up into the 
> boom via the turning block on the bottom of the gooseneck end of the 
> boom.  From there the line goes to the aft end of the boom, up to a 
> block at the leech reef point, and back down to terminate at the boom.  
> I think this might be something like what Joe is describing.
> 
> Here in New Orleans, I am happy if I have 5-10 knots of breeze when I 
> sail, and almost never have to reef.  But the system I have seems to 
> work OK on the rare occasions when I do.  As Jeff pointed out, adding 
> the blocks greatly reduces friction, and makes it possible to reef from 
> the cockpit.  (On mine, I connected standard single blocks to the reef 
> cringles by looping a soft shackle through the bail at the top of the 
> block, through the reef cringle, and onto a stainless steel ring on the 
> other side of the sail that is bigger than the diameter of the reef 
> cringle.  A sailmaker can also sew a block and some webbing to the sail 
> in lieu of a cringle.)
> 
> If anyone has a different system that doesn’t require a turning block 
> on the top of the gooseneck end of the boom, I’m always looking for 
> good ideas, and this e-mail list is certainly a great source for those 
> kinds of ideas.
> 
> Mark Seyler
> S/V Reality, 
> Catalina 320, #232
> New Orleans, LA
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On 
> Behalf Of islgirl3 at aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2019 9:27 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reefing Setup
> 
>  Jeff,I assume you attached the block to the cringles using a small shackle?
> Rich Nuzzolo#897Barbara RIta
>  
>  
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com>
> To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Thu, Jun 13, 2019 9:30 am
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reefing Setup
> 
> Joe,
> 
> Normally there are 2 lines out the front of the boom.
> 
> 1.  Reefing line as you've described.  On our boat this one is lead 
> back to the cockpit cabin top winch.  Also, instead of running the line 
> through the cringle as you've done, we attached a harken carbo block 
> here and lead the line through that block instead so that it runs more 
> freely.  We also did the same in the cringle in the leach of the sail.  
> That allows easier reefing with more even stress.
> 
> 2.  Outhaul line which pulls the clue of the main back to the end of 
> the boom.  This one is typically has a 2:1 block inside the boom so 
> that you can get some  purchase on it.  On our boat, we lead this line 
> back to the cockpit and leave our Spin halyard at the boom.
> 
> If you only have the reefing line, then maybe you have the clew of the 
> mainsail just fixed to the aft end of the boom and not adjustable.
> (personally, I don't really think the outhaul is particularly effective 
> unless you have a loose footed main.)
> 
> -Jeff Hare
> #809 Woodbine II
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of 
> Joe Geiger
> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2019 8:11 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Reefing Setup
> 
> I have a 2000 C-320 wing-keel (Hull #722) and noticed my reefing system 
> is setup differently than what is shown in the manual. 
> 
> My system only has 1 reefing line running out of the boom near the 
> gooseneck which I ran down to a block on the boom kicker mount and then 
> up through the port side reef cringle on the main sail. From there it 
> is run through a starboard fairlead near the gooseneck, then down to 
> the turning block on the mast base and back to the clutches in the 
> cockpit. 
> 
> The manual has 2 lines exiting the boom at the gooseneck: one that 
> attaches to the reef cringle via a reef hook and the other goes to the 
> turning block at the mast base and then to the clutch in the cockpit. 
> 
> Did the design change? Does anyone else have their reefing setup this way? 
> 
> Joe
> --
> Joe Geiger
> VEGA (Hull #722)
> Greenwich Cove, RI
> 
> 
>