Single Line Mainsail Reefing

[Warren Kaplan]

Harken has a "single line mainsail reefing system" for boats up to 27 feet. One line reefs both clew and tack and is then led down to blocks on the deck and back to the cockpit. Would sure reduce clutter and of course you'd never have to leave the cockpit to put the tack cringle on a gooseneck hook. Only problem that might come into play is that on some sails a couple of the sail slugs on the mast have to be dropped out of the track to reef properly. Can't do that from the cockpit. Some sails are cut so the slugs can be left in the track. I know leaving the cockpit to reef under the usual circumstances is no big deal but it would be nice not to have to do so when single handing the boat if the wind and waves are getting up a bit. Anyone have any experience or comments about this system?



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[Al Levesque]

... One line reefs both clew and tack and is then led down to blocks on the deck and back to the cockpit. Would sure reduce clutter and of course you'd never have to leave the cockpit to put the tack cringle on a gooseneck hook.

Our boat had such a system in place when we bought her. Unfortunately, there wasn't another system for the second reef. I usually find conditions worse when we need the second reef and that level of reef was disabled when the Harken system was set up. Another thought, when the weather really gets bad, I need to furl and tie the sails and I don't know any way to do that from the cockpit so I like to stay accustomed to visiting the foredeck and the cabin top.



albertlevesque@cove.com

[Warren Kaplan]

... One line reefs both clew and tack and is then led down to blocks on the deck and back to the cockpit. Would sure reduce clutter and of course you'd never have to leave the cockpit to put the tack cringle on a gooseneck hook.

Our boat had such a system in place when we bought her. Unfortunately, there wasn't another system for the second reef. I usually find conditions worse when we need the second reef and that level of reef was disabled when the Harken system was set up. Another thought, when the weather really gets bad, I need to furl and tie the sails and I don't know any way to do that from the cockpit so I like to stay accustomed to visiting the foredeck and the cabin top.

Thanks for the reply, Al. I wondered about the second reef and I suppose you could put two of these on the boom. But from your posting here, the idea of using the Harken system is starting to dwindle in my mind.
Thanks again,
Warren



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