[Public-list] slab reefing, boom vang

jon whittle at shaw.ca
Thu Apr 20 19:45:38 PDT 2006 

Dear Gordon,
                   1. Yes I mean "reef tack". I believe that a hook should 
be on the boom, then, as opposed to the mast. This may sound like a dumb 
statement but, as yet, I have no hooks to attach the reef tack to. Thus far 
I have used the down haul hooks to tie them off to the mast at approximately 
the same horizontal line as the boom. I was not aware that the bunt should 
be LOOSELY tied. Thanks for that enlightenment.
                   2. You make no mention of raising the boom with the 
topping lift before  lowering the main. I had it drilled into me from a very 
early age that this step was essential. I always do that. However I would 
appreciate your comment on that. I look forward to adjusting my reefing 
setup and trying it out without heavingto. By the way I also put a boom bail 
on the gooseneck as a place to hook on my downhaul. Works like a damn. 
Thanks for the input and fast response. Jonathan EMMY.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 7:22 PM
Subject: Re: [Public-list] slab reefing, boom vang


> Hi Jonathan -
>
> That is exactly what I want to do with my sheet/lift assembly.
>
> Re the reefing - when you say 'mast reef cringle' do you mean 'reef tack'?
> I don't know how that can be below the boom.  We ensure that the points 
> are
> not causing problems by tying them loosely and always using shoe-bow knots
> (they are quick to release).
>
> We reef on any point of sail except dead downwind (you can do that but it 
> is
> hard to drag the sail down against the shrouds).
>
> The drill goes like this:
>
> - cast off sheet and vang
> - ease halyard and haul down tack (I had a hook welded to the horizontal
> gooseneck pin to make the reef tack fast to.  This should be as close as
> possible to the natural position for the tack to avoid creating needless
> stress on the sail, not to mention a poor set)
> - haul taut the halyard, this must happen before the clew comes down.
> - haul down the clew with the reefing line.
> - on vang, in sheet and you are galloping again.
>
> We then loosely tie reef points to bundle up the bunt later.  The reef 
> line
> cleats are on the inboard end of the boom, so the guy at the mast can 
> handle
> both the halyard and the line without moving, and with the boom in any
> position on any point of sail.
>
> Gord #426
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> Dear Gord,
>>              After my topping lift parted at the masthead, part of my
>> upgrading, ( I almost took out my daughter by the way. She was NOT 
>> amused!).
>> was to rethink the same single bolt arrangement at the boom end, which I 
>> did
>> not trust at all. I ended up drilling a 1/2" hole on both sides of the 
>> boom
>> and hanging two very skookum stainless steel boom bails. One connects the
>> main sheet and one the topping lift. I trust them much more than the 
>> riveted
>> or screwed plates with an eye welded on.
>>    With regards reefing technique, I am thinking that it is better to 
>> have
>> the mast reef cringle at or slightly below the level of the boom so as to
>> avoid the possibility of  the reef tie in points being stretched when 
>> tying
>> in the bunt. Any comments? Techniques for reefing will be appreciated.
>> Jonathan EMMY
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 5:04 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Public-list] slab reefing, boom vang
>>
>>
>>> Oh yeah, that was your original question.  I guess I forgot about it 
>>> while
>>> I
>>> was pounding the table, spilling everybody's beer!
>>>
>>> Yes, two reefs is common - if you look at the pictures of us reefing 
>>> that
>>> George has put on the US A30 website you will be able to get an idea of
>>> the
>>> size of each reef.  Sorry, I forget the exact measurements.  I do recall
>>> asking my sailmaker to make both reefs deep.
>>>
>>> Re where to hang the vang on the boom... There is no rule of thumb there
>>> but
>>> keep in mind that the loading on it will be terrific.  I put ours 
>>> somewhat
>>> further along that boom than the boom is high above the step.  If I were
>>> to
>>> do again I would move it further out.  I think you can see it in the 
>>> same
>>> pictures mentioned above.
>>>
>>> Which reminds me - I sometimes look at that single bolt in the clew end 
>>> of
>>> the boom from which the mainsheet is hung, and wonder why I depend on it
>>> so
>>> much.  I will someday fit a formed stainless steel block hanger there
>>> similar to the one I mounted for the vang.
>>>
>>> Gord #426
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Bob and Gord,
>>>>
>>>> You're both right about jiffy reefing needing only two grommets for 
>>>> each
>>>> reef and about the "in between" grommets (those between the tack and 
>>>> the
>>>> clew grommets) being used only to tie in the bunt, with no load on 
>>>> them.
>>>> That's how I reef the main on my present boat (a Tanzer 26). So, I 
>>>> agree
>>>> that my mention of "rows of reef points" was misleading.
>>>>
>>>> Now, I am considering getting an Alberg 30 and I probably will want to 
>>>> go
>>>> to
>>>> slab reefing instead of the original roller reefing.
>>>>
>>>> Do you know if there are any guidelines about how high above the foot 
>>>> of
>>>> the
>>>> main the two grommets for each of the two reefs should be (I assume 
>>>> that
>>>> two
>>>> reefs is standard)?
>>>>
>>>> And do you know how far from the mast the boom vang should hook onto 
>>>> the
>>>> boom to achieve maximum purchase?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again,
>>>>
>>>> Bernard
>>>>
>>>>> Bernard,
>>>>> For jiffy reefing you only need two grommets for each reef.  (Your
>>>>> mention of "the rows of reef points" sounds like the old method of
>>>>> reefing that ties the foot of the sail at many points). Excuse me if i
>>>>> misinterpreted your mention of "the rows of reef points" .
>>>>>
>>>>> Bob Johns, Wind Call #397
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The only function of the grommets is to offer a place to loosely tie 
>>>>> in
>>>>> the
>>>>> bunt or unused reefed portion of the sail - there should be no load on
>>>>> them.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gord #426
>>>>
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