Main Furler

[alexkniffin]

Ok,
  I know I am going to get a lot of people asking me WHY? But, since the cockpit is a little small for 4 people, it would be nice to simply roll the main when we stop for a picnic in the middle of the lake, or as we come in to dock.  As it is, someone is always left with the sail in the lap (not me!).  Also, this past year we got some heavy wind, and although she sailed admirably through it - I have a VERY adventurous wife - we both thought that we could have done with a little less sail those days.
  Has anyone set up a main furling system, and if so, could they share how they did it?

Thanks!

[alexkniffin]

I thought I would reply to my own posting. :-)

I called Dwyer (the manufacturer of the boom for the Com-Pac 16 and asked about a roller kit.  They said that the roller furler on the main was a bad idea, and that they recommend Jiffy Reefing, for which they offer a kit (in their rigging section).  I don't think that my sail has grommet holes in it for Jiffy reefing, but I suppose it isn't too much work to do...

[multimedia_smith]

The roller method works OK, but not great... I just ordered my new main with some serious reef points... the problem is that you can't use the vang.
Here is a pic of the rolled item...
http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=0&pos=-814

If you want to keep the sail out of your lap... you might try the boom bungie for a fas stowe.
http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=49&pos=12

[GrFa]

Those are some great pictures of the various options. Ours has jiffy reefing which is somewhat convenient. The boat desperately needs a vang though and I never put two and two together on how that wouldn't work. Of course can still reef it the old way, in fact we did that a bunch of times before realizing we had the jiffy reefing.

[alexkniffin]

Hey,
  Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.  Out of curiosity, does anyone have a picture of what needs to be done to the main sail to add jiffy reefing points?

Thanks,
~Alex

[Craig Weis]

Wait a minute, "You can't use the boom vang???" My Johnson sail came jiffy reef points.

Now...a fwd grommet is in the sail and hooks into a pig curl at the mast.

The stern of the sail is tied down to the boom in a shortened configuration...

NOW the middle of the sail...I have placed reef lines in and through the main sail grommets, with knots on both sides to center up these lines. 

Oh dummy me. I get it. Yes you can't use the boom to roll up the sail 'cause the vang holds it down or keeps the boom from spinning. OK I'm on the right page now. Anyway...

It is these reef lines that allow the main to be tied down using a square knot to the boom for the big blow...and these lines don't interfere with the vang at all. Then reef is shaken out after the storm.

I like the look and I like to hear the 'slap' of the reef lines against the main sail. So much fun. If you check 'Flapper' link on the bottom of the main page and review 'skips pics' in the albums, the reef system may be visible in the photos...skip.

[multimedia_smith]

Hey Skip,
I used to do the outhaul wrap around the boom method... it worked OK but was a lot to do and undo during sailing... I just made these and they work great...

http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=10114&pos=-911

by the way, do you have a shot of the "pigtail" on the mast for the tack grommet?  My boat doesn't have a hook or anything around the gooseneck area... hence the rope rings.
Enjoy
Dale

[multimedia_smith]

Re: Rapid Reefing Rope Rings/ Loose footed Main test run


I have to respond to my own post here... I took the new main out for
a test drive today... a front just blew through last night and it
was plenty windy and very very bumpy.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the clew of the new main has
a slug slider like the ones on the luff in place of having a bolt
rope foot.

So that meant that in the unreefed state the rope ring was not
needed. But on the tack corner, I found that I now needed two
rings... one to hold downward to offset the halyard pressure and
another one to hold forward to offset the outhaul pressure.

I started the day double reefed and wound up shaking both reefs out
by the end of hte day... I lost the clew end ring in the process, so
I'll be making a new pair from heavier line and usung the original
at the front edge of the tack.

The sail did work great. It shapes beautifully and provides a lot of
power. I'm thinking the second reef will saved for those rare
occasions when the wind is more than anyone would care to be caught
in(it takes seven feet off the luff). The first reef takes three
and a half feet off the luff and is a good size. The first reef on
my full batten main is at a foot and a half... so between the two I
have a fair selection of adjustment.

I was running the 60% heavy air jib today also... since I went out
alone, I didn't have any additional "moveable ballast"... could have
gone to the 110 by the end of the day, but had a lot going on with
changing the reef points and it was so rough, I was worn out. All
in all a great day out on the water.

Best to Y'all
Dale

[Craig Weis]

multimedia_smith
I will find a 'pig tail' snap and post her up on the site.

BTW that is a good idea for wrapping up the reef of the sail as the outhaul is moved in toward the mast., with these 'ready made' lines. At the mast is interesting too. That would take the place of my 'pig tail'. Thanks for the picture. I'll think I'll copy that too if that's OK with you. skip.