3RD Reef on main. Has anyone done this ?

[maddmike]

While I'm sure I'll get some disagreement on this, and perhaps rightly so (to each their own). I use no additional hardware on my sails for reefing. The only addition to my sails are the reefing patches and gromet holes for 3 reefs + a pocket full of 3/4 in. tie down straps hanging out of my back pocket (KISS). My CSY 44 was fully rigged for reefing, but that was a very big boat to single hand off-shore and reef ti sea and required all the help possible; the MAC main is so small (even with the added sail area of a 32' stick and 12' boom as on Zeno's Arrow) that it is a fairly simple undertaking. The primary trick is that my main is 'free footed', attached only at the Tack and Clew and not tracked through the boom like the standard Doyle main that came with the boat. When I reef, I simply strap the Tack and Clew points directly to the goose neck and boom, then run an additional strap from the new secured clew position as an outhaul to the cleat on the back of the boom and secure the remainder of the reefed part of the sail to itself through the mid reefing points. Quick and dirty; no blocks, no lines, no nada; just some reef points and 3/4 " straps, end of story.

MM

[tangentair]

madmike
I like your KISS and see your methodology but I do not see how having an attached foot makes any difference to doing it your way. I have considered adding a second reef (and now a 3rd) and it would be basicly reenforced holes with lines to feed through, a hole to hook onto at the boom and a cleat or something to streatch the clew a bit at the other end of the boom. The excess sail would just be bunched up under the attaching lines so it really doesn't seem to matter much to me if it is attached or not - am I missing something here?

[tangentair]

A second though, perhaps those of you that have added the reefing points could post the measurement along the luff from the tack to the reefing point when you get a chance and have the main deployed.

[maddmike]

In many ways there is not a great deal of difference, I have done it both ways on various boats. The main advantage is that without being tied around the boom there is less chafing on the foot of the sail and adjusting the outhaul is easier when you're not fighting against the foot binding in the track. The nice thing about it is you can try it both ways on your boat and see what you like best; there is no hard and fast rule that says you have to secure the foot even if you can (minor shape issues sometimes). The free foot is mostly an advantage down wind.

MM

[bubba]

I have photos of our 3 reef system if I can figure how to post them[/img]

[Frank C]

bubba,
The only way to "upload" pictures directly to this website is to create a Mods page.
However, since MacMods (button left) is undergoing the upgrade process, you cannot do that right now.

Whenever you "see" photos within a Forum thread, they are simply being "viewed" from an external webpage (a host-site). That is ... Heath's Forum software is actually just providing a window to that other location.

The MacMods page actually IS an external webpage. Therefore, after uploading a few pictures to the Mods pages, we sometimes do embed a "view" into the discussion pages. However, we cannot actually "post photos" or "paste photos" directly into these Fora.

The easiest way to "publish" your pix to an external webpage is signing up for an account with Photobucket (or half-a-dozen similar hosting sites). They're always free, but Photobucket is particularly easy since they don't impose a bunch of other constraints. For example, Yahoo and others offer photo-hosting but they either limit the number of views, or they require viewers become members ... not so with the Bucket!

Here's an older thread (Pictures (embedding an Image)) with more detailed discussion of the process.

Finally .... Please, please, please .... feel free to embed ONLY 2 or 3 images within your post.
The Forum is for your 'teaser pix' ... NOT your ENTIRE ALBUM!
Any more than 3 pix, please provide the URL-link to your external album. Do not embed a dozen pictures themselves, or they will be removed ... meaning your choice of the 'teaser' might be altered. The reasons for this limitation:

• the Fora are primarily for discussion;
• an occasional photo surely enhances the discussion (worth 1,000 words!), but ....
• some members will have no interest in your pictures;
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• they needn't wait for your 20 megabyte album to cross a phone line(!);
• even worse ... our cruising members might be loading the discussion across a cell phone!

Please feel free to send me a PM if you need further assistance.

[bubba]

Thanks Frank it worked
The 3 reefing system has red line to the third, blue line to the second and black stock line for the first. My wife made the line bags 4 in all, 3 reef and one for the out haul out of scrap gortex and velcro at the top and drain hole gromets in the bottom. We added new pullys to each side of the boom and located a double pully for the 2nd and 3rd reef that hooks to the mast, connecting it below the boom in the mast sail track. this system works great. On the sail we added one inch webbing with quick release clips for quicker deck time (we haven't trimed the extra webbing yet).

[Frank C]

Very nice~! Those line bags are a great idea, that I've never seen before.
Good on Ya!

[bubba]

Yes there is a mess of line without some organisation bags. We usually leave the dock with the reef's pulled in so it we let the reef's out when we put up the sail.
I think Lazy Jacks will be the next thing to add.
We also sail 2 types of spinikers and need to add Jack Lines.
It is hard to stop tinkering, 40 years mechanical design experence and my wife grew up raceing 20 foot day sailers.