[Public-list] slab reefing, boom vang

John Birch Sunstone at cogeco.ca
Thu Apr 20 21:10:16 PDT 2006 

I always tied the clew down to the boom after I've reefed just in case a 
cleat lets go or someone releases the wrong reef line.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Philip Bartlett" <pbartlett at shaw.ca>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 11:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Public-list] slab reefing, boom vang


> Hi Gordon,
> What are you using for reef line cleats on the boom? Windward has clam
> cleats that the reeflines creep through over time. I worry that they will
> slip completely and let the reef out damaging the sail at the tie points. 
> I
> have considered changing to rope clutches or plain cleats but have not
> decided which yet.
>
> Philip,
> Windward #428
>
>
> ----- 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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>
>
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