MacGregorSailors.com

After looking over images of the reefing hardware on a number of Mac 26M booms on this site, I am stumped at how the blocks, cams and other hardware on my boom allow for a second single-line/ single-hand mainsail reef from the cockpit to the upper reef points. My sail is a new BWY performance cruising sail with 2 reef levels (manufactured by Rolly Tasker). The boom has 4 small cheek blocks, 2 clam cleats, two horn cleats, 3 strap eyes on each side (two are shared with the lazy jacks) and one vertical eye on the port side that helps to route the reefing line from the tack end to the clew end of the sail. If you have seen the BWY single line reefing set up, that is exactly how mine is set up. The rear starboard cheek block and clam cleat is for the outhaul, the next starboard cheek block and clam cleat forward of the outhaul clam cleat is for tightening and fastening the single line reefing. The rear port cheek block is for the single line reefing line that goes to the rear grommet in the sail, and one forward port cheek block is for routing the reefing line vertically to pass through the reefing grommet in the sail and down to the starboard side where it is secured with an eye strap. Since I want to be able to single-hand the 2nd upper reef point from the cockpit as well as the 1st reef point, I am just not sure how to do that. All the eyes, cheek blocks, and clam cleats are already accounted for. I am sure I am missing some obvious solution to this, so thanks for your patience with my very novice question. Also, my description is probably missing something, so I can attach images if that helps. JeffJuneau

Hello Jeff. Are you trying to set things up so (1) you can work both sets of reef points from a single line, or (2) you have two reefing lines, one for each reef (i.e., "single line reefing" x 2)? Would probably be very helpful if you posted a picture of the hardware on your boom.

Hi RSVPASAP, Well, again I am showing the holes in my understanding of rigging by acknowledging that the possibility never occurred to me the same single line could cinch down both the 1st reef and serve to cinch down the 2nd (higher) reef point. No reefing lines were installed by the previous owner for me to see how my boat was supposed to be set up. I do have a single 25-foot line that looks like the one that BWY supplies in it’s reefing kit, and it’s length led me to assume it is used to work only in the lower reef points. So, I have included some images: top one is starboard and bottom two are port. I am open to whatever you identify (one line or two) for controlling reefing at the lower and upper reef points. Many thanks for the help!

Hi JeffJuneau. I added a second single line reefing kit to my similar boom and sail just last week. So I have one line for reefing to the first reef point and a second for reefing to the second one. I've done just a couple tests with it so far but it seems to be working as I had hoped it would.

I will try to take some pictures tomorrow and post them so you can see what it looks like

Yes, I would very much like to see where you placed the blocks LordElsinore. That would be a good spring mod for me. Just curious, did you test reef the main while single-hand sailing? I tried to single-person sail my 26M in Stephens Passage yesterday in moderate winds. It was a helter-skelter tangle of lines especially when the wind came up. When I really wanted to reef, I couldn't get my hands free from the helm, and sheets long enough to even set my first reef point. Fortunately, I left the engine down, and connected, and fired it up to position upwind so I could drop my sails. I have great admiration for anyone who can single-hand a mac 26M without an autohelm.

to have two single line reefing systems for 1st and 2nd reef looks great.

But I have say that I took out even one single hand reefing.

To much hassle with lines and a result that wasn't to good in my eyes.

Maybe I did it wrong...

I typically put a little ball bungee on my wheel attached to my throttle control to keep pointing where I want when I single hand reef. And afterwards I usually do end up going forward at some point to put sail ties around it even if I use the reefing line to do the reef itself.

I haven’t been out on the water since adding this second line kit, but I have done it in my driveway. Excited to try it next week for real.

Here are some quick pictures of the boom on both sides of both ends of the boom.

Very helpful images LordElsinore. I see that the new forward port block for the upper reef control is placed right next to, and almost touching the original forward block for the lower reef control. I am guessing that is because placing it further back would create a gap in the main sail coverage at the tack. Is that right? I have a little different setup for attaching my tack. My old sail was set up like yours with the tack attached to the boom, but BWY sent me the original u-shaped bracket to connect the tack of my slightly longer sail foot directly to the mast bracket. That is the required approach for my sail to be held tight to the boom. Since the tack in my setup is closer to the mast, I wonder if that will create any problems if I duplicate the position of your forward block on my boom. It sounds like you have single-hand sailing figured out better than me. Dont hesitate to let us know how the new reefing system works on a nice windy sailing day. Jeff

when I get around to installing mainsail reefing on my boat I will run the lines from the boom down to the cockpit & cleat them off there rather than on the boom as I don,t want to b reaching up to the boom while reefing
https://www.ronstan.com/marine/reefing_systems.asp

J

JeffJuneau wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 10:31 pm I see that the new forward port block for the upper reef control is placed right next to, and almost touching the original forward block for the lower reef control. I am guessing that is because placing it further back would create a gap in the main sail coverage at the tack. Is that right?

Hey Jeff. Yeah, I put those close just so that the forward edge of the sail could be as close to the forward end of the boom as possible.

I made it out onto the water this week, and while the wind was low I practiced putting in both reefs and then removing them. A couple hours later when the wind picked up, I started seeing whitecaps and put the first reef back in, sailed with it for an hour or so, and then put in the second reef. Everything seemed to work as I expected. The one thing to be aware of is that when putting in the first reef you end up wanting to tighten up the second reef line a bit as well, since otherwise there is a lot of slack in it.

Here are some images of the front and back of the sail while it is fully raised:





Here's a closeup of the aft end of the boom where the action takes place. I tend to coil the tail of the lines and hang them with small velcro straps.



and as a bonus, here is my poor-man's autopilot that I use to keep the boat pointed into the wind while I put the reefs in

Thanks Highlander and LordElsinore. Highlander, I saw a youtube video of another sailboat running reefing lines routed down the mast to the cockpit. The diagrams help me get a general sense of how the reef lines would be set up. I, and I am sure others here would like to see what blocks and hardware you end up using when you set your reefing system up. When reefed down tight, I wondered if the lines would get a lot of tension when the boom is more perpendicular to the boat centerline, given that the lines are fixed to the deck through some type of deck block. Maybe the lines have enough flex in them that I am just envisioning something that would never be a problem.

LordElsinore, The images and your experience really help. Yes, I can see that the top reef line would like to get snagged on everything if you didn't haul it in some with the lower reef. I am experimenting with a similar bungie steering lock. Thanks for sharing all of this. Jeff

JeffJuneau wrote: ↑Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:21 am Thanks for sharing all of this. Jeff

Of course! Glad it was helpful. I'm hoping to get out again soon to put it through another workout.

Mike

Here,s the Harken install manual for single line reefing it gives more detail on where to mount the fair leads & blocks on the mast & boom with & getting the right angles
https://gallery.harken.com/gallery/a135 ... fd95bb.pdf

I found this very helpful as it gives u more detail to positions & angles , I,m going with the ronstan single line reefing system as I don,t think we need the track system on the boom like harken , which is expensive, I,m also thinking of going with series 30 blocks for our boats
ronstan calls for 4 x RF41151 ,
https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product. ... no=RF41151
I,m going with RF285
https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?prodno=RF285
ronstan fairleads RF59

https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?prodno=RF59
but I already have 3 RWO R293 same size
https://rwo-marine.com/store/deck-hardw ... d-no-card/
ronstan RF41140 stand up blocks

https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product. ... no=RF41140
I might go with RF30141 stand up blocks as these can,t swivel & twist the line ! , but open to suggestions & other poss cheaper products
https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product. ... no=RF30141
But I already have some RWO R7301 blocks
https://rwo-marine.com/store/blocks/38m ... -size-1-2/
I also have these or similar eye straps
https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product. ... dNo=RF1055
I also have these springs or similar
https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?prodno=RF319

or these or similar just not sure of part #
https://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?prodno=RF321
so basically all I need to purchase would b 4 of the ronstan RF285 !
Just my thoughts & if u have something better I,m open but I want my reef lines ending on cabin top at cockpit
so if anyone has any reason as to why I should not go with these blocks like u maybe think they r too small & make it to hard to reef ? , I,m open to suggestions as always & hopes this helps my fellow sailors as well
J

Now I also have 3 reef points on my mainsail & loose footed , so I,m thinking maybe just use 2 small snap shackles at 3rd reef points & just snap onto the 2nd reef lines once lowered ?
any idea,s
J

LordElsinore wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 2:59 pm I typically put a little ball bungee on my wheel attached to my throttle control to keep pointing where I want when I single hand reef. And afterwards I usually do end up going forward at some point to put sail ties around it even if I use the reefing line to do the reef itself.

I haven’t been out on the water since adding this second line kit, but I have done it in my driveway. Excited to try it next week for real.

Here are some quick pictures of the boom on both sides of both ends of the boom.

After further review of this ur reefing concept I will ponder into it more & see if I can figure out which system would b the easiest to use & require the least amount of reefing line I see BWY uses this reefing concept also is that where u got it from or the Idea from ? , Is that Ronstan RF285 cheek blocks curved base u r using on the boom ? also is that 1/4" or 5/16" reefing line

Thx J