[C320-list] Second Reef Line Arrangement

[Mark Seyler]

Dennis,

It’s been a while, but I'm pretty sure I used 6mm Dyneema.  

It is a lot of line, but I do almost all of my sailing solo, and like to stay in the cockpit as much as I can.

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 Dennis Cookson
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 3:52 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Second Reef Line Arrangement

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the detailed description of your set up, very helpful. Interesting that you used a soft shackle for the dog bone - can you remember the Dyneema diameter used?   
It sounds like a lot of line to haul in, but it does have the benefit that you don’t need to leave the cockpit to deploy it.

I have a clutch available for each reef line, as the lines are set up as per the 320 handbook with the mainsheets fed into the jam cleats rather than through clutches. It’s perhaps not ideal but typically at least one of them will be on a winch.

Dennis Cookson
#577, 1999

> On 10 Jun 2020, at 21:10, Mark Seyler <mseyler at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> Dennis,
> 
> It's not reeved through the blocks at the moment, because we almost 
> never get enough wind here on Lake Pontchartrain to need a first reef, 
> much less the second reef.  But the reef line setup for the second 
> reef on my No. 232 is the mirror image of the setup on the first reef, 
> just on the opposite side of the boom.
> 
> My setup is a little different from the diagram on the website.  My 
> boom doesn't have enough sheaves at the tack end to run a loop into 
> the boom and back out again.  Instead, the reef line runs from the 
> line clutches, through a block at the base of the mast, up to a block 
> at the luff reef cringle, then back down to a block where the vang 
> attaches to the mast, up to a sheave at the luff end of the boom, 
> straight through the boom and around the sheave at the clew end of the 
> boom, up to a block on the leach reef cringle, and then down to tie 
> around the boom.  The block where the vang attaches to the mast is a 
> double block; the first reef line goes through one side of the block and the second reef line goes through the other side.
> 
> The blocks on the sail are attached by running a "dog bone" through 
> the reef cringle, consisting of a dyneema soft shackle with a large 
> stainless ring on one side, and a single block on the other side.  The 
> blocks greatly reduce the friction in the single reefing line.  I 
> don't have to leave the cockpit to tuck in a reef.  I haven't noticed 
> any disadvantage to not having a double block inside the boom.
> 
> To me the real issue with having the second reef line run is tying up 
> the line clutch and the deck organizer.  I've been thinking of adding 
> a line clutch to the set on each side of the companionway, so I could 
> at least have a clutch for each of the lines from the deck organizers.  
> But that's a project for another time.
> 
> I hope this helps.
> 
> 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 Joe Luciano
> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 2:11 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Second Reef Line Arrangement
> 
> Hi Dennis,
> 
> I have an installed a second reef line on Second Wind, our 2005 C-320.  
> I had the 2 reef points put in on the main within the first year or 
> two I bought the boat.  So, my second reef line has the same set up as 
> the first reef, with the line led aft on the other side of the 
> companion way.  My reef set up is a single line to the cockpit, with 
> blocks on the reef points at the mast, and tied to the aft reef 
> points.  This removes a significant amount of friction when reefing.  
> It works well, though I rarely use the second reef.  However, it's 
> nice to know it's there in case I get stuck out in a real blow..
> 
> Joe Luciano
> #1024
> Anacortes, WA
> 
>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 10:54 AM, Crosby Roper <vmdatsea at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Probably the simplest solution would be to rig a Cummingham at the 
>> tack
> end. Should be easy to do
>> 
>> Crosby  Roper VMD
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf 
>> of
> Dennis Cookson <dennis at cooksons.net>
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 10:19 AM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Second Reef Line Arrangement
>> 
>> Hmm - no replies on my query to date.  Does anybody have a functional
> second reef?
>> 
>>> Dennis Cookson
>>> #577, 1999
>> 
>>> On 3 Jun 2020, at 17:32, Dennis Cookson <dennis at cooksons.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Our 1999 C320 came to us fitted with a mainsail equipped with two 
>>> reefing
> points, but whereas #1 reef has a single line that pulls in both fore 
> and aft (thanks to the in-boom pulley block), #2 reef has a line that 
> only hauls in at the boom end. We currently have no mechanism at the 
> luff and I'm interested in what other 320 owners have done to remedy 
> this. There are no reef horns at the gooseneck, and I'd prefer not to 
> fit them given the possibility of accidental sail damage.  The C320 
> manual offers no advice in this area other than to say the second reef 
> line is a single line of 70' in length.
>>> 
>>> I'm thinking of using a Cunningham for the #2 luff reef, or even 
>>> just a
> short Dyneema line from the gooseneck fitted with a snap shackle or S 
> hook for quick attachment when required. Do I really need 4:1 purchase 
> or similar for a reef line?
>>> 
>>> What works best for you?
>>> 
>>> Dennis Cookson
>>> #577, 1999
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
> 
>