ordering a new mainsail - stick with roller reeffing or switch to jiffy

[Whistlingdixie]

Hey guys,

I still working on my 84' MK1. Its time for a new main, well past time, but money wise a good time. So do I stick with roller reefing? or order the main set up of jiffy reefing?

If I go with the Jiffy reefing, what modifications do I need to make to my boom so I can rig it properly?

All advice/opinions welcome

[Cats Paw]

Add a topping lift to the boom for support. Do you have bolt rope or slides on the Luff?

[Whistlingdixie]

right now I have Bolt Rope, but the new sail will have slides. 

[Cats Paw]

Great.  Slides make for much easier main sail management.  It's great to be able to flake out and stack the main on the boom. Don't forget to add a sail stop to the hardware list if your going to convert slides. $10-$15

[Mas]

Hey guys,

I still working on my 84' MK1. Its time for a new main, well past time, but money wise a good time. So do I stick with roller reefing? or order the main set up of jiffy reefing?

If I go with the Jiffy reefing, what modifications do I need to make to my boom so I can rig it properly?

All advice/opinions welcome

Go with the jiffy reef. Hutchins abandoned the roller boom approach early on. We had an early model years ago and it jammed more than once. It's no fun to not be able to reef when you need to.

[brackish]

I would go with Jiffy reefing, I had roller on another boat and found it slow and difficult to reef and subject to jams.

As for your boom you will need an eye aft to attach your reef line to and a cheek block to turn the line forward.  Lots of diagrams on how to set that up online.  You will need some type of cleat forward on the boom to use for the reef lines bitter end.  For slides, rather than the Davis sail stop, I would do this (picture).  You may be much better at avoiding the sail stop drop, bounce into the drink process than I but this is also quicker than a sail stop and reefing in a hurry is often desired.  If your gooseneck does not have a reef hook, you will also need that.

[Cats Paw]

The davis sail stops are great for resting the gooseneck in bottom position once every thing is dialed in. I leave one set in the mast at all times. Works out great.

[brackish]

The davis sail stops are great for resting the gooseneck in bottom position once every thing is dialed in. I leave one set in the mast at all times. Works out great.

Agreed, I do the same, however using one at the top of the gate to hold the slides above it did not work out for me.  Lost too many of them.  When you are up there rocking around trying to release the halyard to drop a couple of slides out of the gate, put the sail stop back in and get it tight to hold the rest of the slides and then put the reef cringle on the hook, pull the aft reef line forward and cleat it I was just as likely to drop the sail stop. Especially if you are single handling.  But the push pin can't be lost and is quick out and quick in.

[Cats Paw]

I fully agree with brakish on the push pin  hardware system to keep the  main from spilling out.

[Whistlingdixie]

Thanks everyone. I am waiting on my main sail from national Sails now. Can a couple of you guys send a picture of your boom that is set up for jiffy reefing ?  and any comments or tips on how hard it is to make the modifications required for the jiffy reefing?

All the Best 

[Roland of Macatawa]

Whistlingdixie:

There has been a fairly recent lengthy discussion of reefing in the SunCat portion of the forum at:

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=11345.0

Regards, Roland