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This week I'm going to take some of my co-workers sailing and don't want it to be an unpleasant experience if the wind kicks up. I can partially furl the jib, no problem but I can't figure out how to reef the main sail. I have noticed that it is the main sail that really makes the boat heel over, so I'd like to figure out a way to reef it. Unfortunately there are no grommets in the sail for reefing - you can see my main sail here in the picture (Thank you Chris for the taking the picture!):



I have an extra Hobie 16 boom that looks like it could be made into a roller furling boom with very little work since it spins at the front attachment point. It would be a first time, trial run with my guests if I choose this path.

Has anyone sailed with just the jib in high winds? I tried this at night in medium wind and it worked pretty well.

Here are my options as I see it:

* Somehow use my sunbrella sail/boom cover to reef the main.
* Modify the Hobie 16 boom and install it so i can roll up the mainsail.
* Sail with just the jib unfurled as far as necessary.
* Some other idea I haven't thought of yet.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Aubrey Scott in Texas.

Aubrey, I have that picture as my desktop background. It inspires me to keep working on my 1972.

Since I have no experience as of yet sailing the V222, my questions are these:

How necessary is it to reef the main? Is the boat prone to heel excessively (uncomfortably ), even in light to moderate winds? I am considering using the mast and standing rigging salvaged from the Seafarer on my 222 since it is a bit beefier but it does weigh more. If the 222 tends to heel anyway I don't think I want the extra weight up high.

Do you have lugs on the main? Do you need lugs to effectively use a roller boom system? I think rigging up a roller boom should be straight forward as long as it could be made for ease of use.

One last question. How do you like the main sheet setup? Is it effective enough or would you install a traveler if you had the chance? I have a salvaged traveler and car but installing it would take a little cockpit space sacrifice.

Sorry, not much advice here, just more questions.

There is no obvious reef point on your sail, you can get a kit to add a reefing point, otherwise you would have to bring it to a sailmaker to modify.

I think I would take the Main down and remove it from the mast track and then wrap it several times around the boom (3-4 would do it I think) and then put the Main back up the mast, that should reduce the sail to get the effect you're after, I think.

I am sure others will chime in as well.

Paulieb

Paulieb wrote:There is no obvious reef point on your sail, you can get a kit to add a reefing point, otherwise you would have to bring it to a sailmaker to modify.

I think I would take the Main down and remove it from the mast track and then wrap it several times around the boom (3-4 would do it I think) and then put the Main back up the mast, that should reduce the sail to get the effect you're after, I think.

I am sure others will chime in as well.

Paulieb

Paul - that is a perfect, yet simple idea. I did not think of it and it seems so obvious. Thank you!

72Mac22 wrote:Aubrey, I have that picture as my desktop background. It inspires me to keep working on my 1972.

Since I have no experience as of yet sailing the V222, my questions are these:

How necessary is it to reef the main? Is the boat prone to heel excessively (uncomfortably ), even in light to moderate winds? I am considering using the mast and standing rigging salvaged from the Seafarer on my 222 since it is a bit beefier but it does weigh more. If the 222 tends to heel anyway I don't think I want the extra weight up high.

Do you have lugs on the main? Do you need lugs to effectively use a roller boom system? I think rigging up a roller boom should be straight forward as long as it could be made for ease of use.

One last question. How do you like the main sheet setup? Is it effective enough or would you install a traveler if you had the chance? I have a salvaged traveler and car but installing it would take a little cockpit space sacrifice.

Sorry, not much advice here, just more questions.

72Mac, I'm not the best person to answer your questions, because I'm relatively new to this type of boat (lots of years Hobie sailing), but I'll give it a try.

When the wind gets above 10 kts things get kind of wild on the boat when I'm by myself or with passengers that do not help. Tacking is more difficult if not done properly and the boat will tend to heal a lot in a gust if you have the mainsheet pulled tight. That being said, I assume most boats behave this way in heavier winds under full sail.

The main sheet setup is just fine off the back of the boom. It stays out of the way and works well. I would not add a traveler just to make things more complicated and busy. The boom and sail will hit the side stays at some point anyway with the stock setup. I"m not a racer so my advice here is not much help. I'd say the same thing about a boomvang. (I'm sure there are some strong opinions the other way.) I like the KISS principal when it comes to my boat (Keep It Simple Stupid).

To me, the V222 mast seems plenty strong - I would not go with a heavier mast. Lifting the thing would just get harder if you plan to trailer like I do.

Happy Sailing,

Aubrey Scott in Texas

Scott I had roller reefing on day sailor and I think you could probably modify your boom to work. Where your control line and topping lift mounts on the back needs to be on a single bolt in the middle of the back of the boom so it can swivel. On the front attachment you need a square hole in the boom then your goose neck needs to be square to fit in the hole. One bolt with a spring that holds the square peg in the square hole. when you want to reef just loosen up the halyard, pull the boom aft to disengage the peg and roll until you have rolled up enough sail. the spring will engage the goose neck again, tighten everything up and sail. Hope this makes sense, if not i will try to draw it or find a picture.

http://www.bartonmarine.com/tech-info-s ... System.asp
Here's a technical guide to what you need from Barton Marine. Harken also has a kit. I think Sailrite has a grommet kit for the main but don't quote me on that