New 27 owner

[redfishnc]

Had boat delivered from Annapolis to Oriental and rigged there for the eventual trip home to Masonboro Boatyard, between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach at MM 288.   I sailed her (Sea Witch) around on Pamlico Sound for a couple of weekends as we prepared to take her home.  Caught the tide right in the cut heading to Morehead City and we were making just over 8.2 knots with a generous falling tide.  Spent the night at Morehead City Marina and were on the way at 0700 Saturday morning.  After a long day and catching all the tidal breaks and a bridge or two with just the right luck we went through Wrightsville Beach bridge at 2145 hrs but felt comfortable in our home waters in the dark especially with only a few more miles to go.  We tied up in the slip at about 2300 hrs and were ready for a shower and sleep.  The sixteen hour day had gone well but long, and the boat had performed great.  Just a couple of things to do, one line reefing re-done and new boat numbers and we will be out again this weekend.  One issue is the dodger height is right at my eye level and was wondering if anyone has modified it by lowering it, (I'm 5'8").  The other is I will quickly remove the bimini straps and install hard mounts to ease getting around those pesky straps.  I am about 3 miles to Masonboro Inlet and the Atlantic.  Going to have to get that reefing done to relax a little.  Have others opted for double reef points.  It would seem necessary on the ocean to have that ability.  Any suggestions on double reef setups?  Enjoy the forum and if you know of others local I look forward to meeting them.

Wayne Williams
'Sea Witch'

[bmiller]

What do you mean by Double reef? A second reef point? If so then yes, it is a good idea.

[redfishnc]

One line Reefing configuration has me stumped.  Have only tried this at the dock, I can pull the single line and the reef goes in pretty well.  Shaking the reef out does not go so well, there seems to be a lot of tension on the reef line while trying to raise the main.  Spent 3 hrs adjusting everything but could not see any improvement.  Am using the existing block in the boom.  Could sure use a little assistance with this..

[bmiller]

With single line reefing there is a lot of tension on the reef line. It is effectively a couple 2:1's and a bunch of added friction.
Is this what you are doing? Note, just a random image found on the interwebz

[tkeheley]

I think this is what is meant by a single line reefing system (even though there are two lines).  I tried making mine a single line system like bmiller pictured, but it had way too much drag.  I found that using the regular system pictured above was better - but the clutch had to be all the way up or it gave too much drag when shaking out the reef.

Tom

[redfishnc]

Back to look at the reef option tomorrow.  The sketch with the balance block shows the tack line going from the boom up to the loop on the sail.  My boom has no exit from the top of the boom.  Both rollers exit the bottom of the boom and this line has to go down to a block on the deck and then back up to the loop in the sail.  This adds more friction to the reef line.  I just want the best method I can use efficiently.  Thanks for the help and i will report back soon.

[redfishnc]

Two line reefing seems the way for me until something better works out.  This raises a new question, what lines do you have led aft to the cockpit?  I now have the main sheet and halyard, and the two reef lines going to the four clutches.  Good idea, better idea?