Running Rigging

Catalina Direct Discussion Topics / Catalina 22 Discussion Area / Running Rigging / Reefing Main Sail
 
 
Author Reefing Main Sail
Robert R. Kerr
Carrollton, Texas

Boat Name: Serenity

Model/Year: C-22, 1987

Hull No.

Hailing Port: Lake Lewisville
07/25/2006 8:27 PM Pacific Time

How do you use the Jiffy Reefing System. Cannot figure out where to attach the reefing point at the luff of the mainsail
Al Gearing
Burleson, Texas

Boat Name: Torch of Freedom

Model/Year: C-22 '76

Hull No. 6448

Hailing Port: Arlington YC
07/26/2006 5:05 AM Pacific Time

I think there are pictures this in CD catalog, but you need blocks attached to each side of the mast, at about the level of the boom on each side; so that the line will pull the reef cringle down and forward. Of course the tie point and block at the end of the boom need to be placed so the clew will be pulled down and aft.
Al Ge
Dick King
Melbourne, FL

Boat Name: Twilight Zone

Model/Year: Sport/2005

Hull No. 15546

Hailing Port: Melbourne, FL
07/26/2006 5:55 AM Pacific Time

Hi Robert - It seems that everyone has a little different way of doing what you ask. Without knowing what hardware you have for the forward reef point, if is hard to say how to do it. On my boom, there is a eye strap at the forward end of the boom on the starboard side. The eye strap is oriently horizontally. On the opposite side of the boom is a cheek block oriented so that the quarter inch reefing line is "captured" between the post and sheave of the check block. There is a "jam" cleat about 6 inches aft of the cheek block oriented horizontally with the V of the jam cleat facing forward. The reefing line has a figure eight knot tied in one end. The end of the line without the knot is fed up through the eye, up and through the forward reefing cringle of the mainsail, down through the ckeek block, aft and down through the center of the jam cleat. Finally a figure 8 knot is tied in end which was fed through the cleat.

To reef, ease the halyard and pull the reefing line until the forward reefing cringle is down to the boom. (Unless you have "Mast Gates", the lower one or two slugs will come out of the slot in the mast.) When the reefing cringle is down to the boom, secure the halyard and wrap the reefing line around the cleat a couple of times. The jam cleat will hold the line. It is not necessary to "cleat" the line. You can speed up the reefing process by marking the halyard where it exits whatever kind of cleat you use to hold the halyard up When you reef, you can release the halyard to the predetermined point and cleat it.

One more thing. ALWAYS reef the luff of the mainsail first. The aft reefing liine should be rigged so that it pulls down AND AFT on the aft reefing cringle. If you reef the aft one first, the new foot of the mainsail will be pulled aft along with the lower end of the reefed luff.

Hope that helps.
Al Gearing
Burleson, Texas

Boat Name: Torch of Freedom

Model/Year: C-22 '76

Hull No. 6448

Hailing Port: Arlington YC
07/27/2006 5:21 AM Pacific Time

I thought he was asking about the single line reef. If you rig a double line reef, as Dick described, then if you have the two reef lines and the main halyard in a tripple sheet stopper, all the lines are next to each other. As the PO had setup 501. Then you can pull both reef lines at the same time, the forward one will set first because it is shorter, then just finish pulling on the aft line to set it, and the main halyard is right there to re-set it.
For wjat it's worth,
Al Ge
 
 
Running Rigging
Catalina Direct Discussion Topics / Catalina 22 Discussion Area / Running Rigging / Reefing Main Sail