Single line mainsail reefing on IP35

This would only apply to non-furling mainsails. I long ago did away with the shuttle system in boom. To reef I now go to mast and hook forward part of sail to reef hook, then pull down aft end of sail from cockpit. I know there have been projects where by adding additional line organizers, etc. some have done this by with extra reef lines led to cockpit. I am wondering if this could be done with a single line for each reef using existing hardware? Has anyone tried this and if so what issues they found. Too much friction, poor sail shape, etc. I think Hayden may have once posted his thoughts on this idea. Many thanks.

Many thanks, Mike Ratliff

Mike,

I don't understand exactly what you are asking, but here is what we have done on Delica for our third reef. It may be like what you are trying to do, I hope it is helpful in answering your question.

We have the single line first and second reefing as installed by IP. For the third reef we installed two double blocks at the base of the mast and on the house. We also installed two cheek blocks on the port side of the boom. The luff reefing line comes down thru the blocks at the base of the mast and on one side of the one on the house to the port side of the cockpit. The clew line goes from the third reef ring on the rear of the sail straight down thru the rear cheek block thru the forward cheek block and then runs parallel to the luff reefing line thru the double blocks back to the cockpit.

On the house on the left side of the cockpit I installed one extra thru bolted cleat - easy to do. When we use this reef we have already taken two reefs and they are left in because they help keep the sail in place. We drop the main to the third reef point and cleat the luff down haul reef line. Then we use the port sail winch to tighten the clew reef line, and then finally we retighten the halyard. This gives a nice sail shape that is just a little higher than the stay sail. All from the cockpit.

It works well but it isn't as nice as an in-mast system. We put it on for thunderstorms blowing off Florida into the Gulf Stream.

Hope this helps

George

Mike:

I have been looking at the idea of removing the shuttle blocks in the boom and simply running single line reefs. The goal is to eliminate the boom shuttle so that the reefing lines run easier and free. This idea can be accomplished with out adding anything and by just using existing gear. To improved on the idea, blocks could be added at the sail friction points, but may not be needed. These lines would need to be monitored for chafe but then again, it would be very easy to simply cut off the end and tie the bowline at a new point.

My idea rigs like this: Start at the cockpit, run to the mast using existing reef gear, turn at the base of the mast go up to the reef point in the sail, turn back down run into the boom at the gooseneck. Run out the boom end and up to the sail reef point, turn and come back down to the boom where you tie a bowline around the boom.

This is illustrated here.



I have not yet installed this, but now with my boom and mast off, this may be the time to try it out.

What do you think?

It seems to me that this would work well, and there really is not much force when reefing if you drop the halyard and keep the tension off that. Then once it is in, you can load it up with the halyard again.

Hayden

Hayden, thanks for the reply.

This is exactly what I have been considering (per your diagram). Since my boat is in Jolly Harbour, Antigua I am faced with a couple of issues-

1. Calculation of the length of each reef line. Spoke with factory and they gave me a couple of formulaes. Ex. 1st reef aft 1.5 x E and 1st reef forward 4.0 x E. Got a total of 77 feet. Does this seem reasonable?

2. Thoughts on line diameter. Thinking of using Sta-Set. Have used Sta-Set X on other boats, but seemed stiff to handle. Priced Dyneema, whoa!

Thanks, Mike

Mike:
I thought I had the dimensions on a drawing but I can not find it. I actually measure my sail reef points for this exact idea. I ordered the reef lines and I have them on the boat. I will not get to the stored line for a few weeks so I do not have the measurements. I can measure this again about the 3rd week of Nov. As for line, I bought the same size as the IP factory reef lines were original.

Hayden

Hayden, et al.
My IP 35 reef lines are rigged just like your drawing...
Thats they way the Previous Owner had it done...
I did get some chafe on the reefing lines, right where the block on the sail meets the block in the forward end of the boom.
I think if you reefed down a little less- say 6" less at the gooseneck, then chafe would not be a problem...
But even so, going forward to the mast to hook in the
Luff, is still a good idea, and an unencumbered reef line on the leech is foolproof.

Ed