• Untitled Document

    Join us on March 29rd, 7pm EST

    for the CBEC Virtual Meeting

    All EYO members and followers are welcome to join the fun and get to know the guest speaker!

    See the link below for login credentials and join us!

    March Meeting Info

    (dismiss this notice by hitting 'X', upper right)

E28 Reefing question

galmvig

Member I
I've had my E28 for less than a year and I'm trying to figure out how to reef it correctly. The instructions I have are attached. Is this the correct method? It does not seem to work well when I try it. Any help would be appreciated.

Geoff E28

Katia Christina
 

Attachments

  • Reef 28.jpg
    Reef 28.jpg
    57.6 KB · Views: 31

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
That's one way to do it, provided you have the track and cars on the boom, and the internal reef lines as shown. You can also just tie a loop around the boom, rather than use the cars.

The internal reef lines exit the front of the boom at sheaves in the gooseneck. You may have cam levers there to hold them tight, or they might be led back to the cockpit.

Let us know where the problem lies. Much friction? Do the reef lines jam? Can they be tightened such that the reef outhaul is firm, and the reef clew is pulled hard aft and also down to the boom?
.
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Do you tension the front of the sail first? Next, pull tight the new (reefed) clew. You will have to let the main sheet out enough or point the boat up enough - or both - to make this easy to do.
 

frick

Member III
I used the old style slab reefing. I have a reefing line on the outside of the boom and rams horn curling hook at the gooseneck. Always pull the back reefing in and tight before you haul the main harlyard back up (with the reefing hook in the proper reef point.)
 

Alan Gomes

Sustaining Partner
Always pull the back reefing in and tight before you haul the main harlyard back up (with the reefing hook in the proper reef point.)
I'd change that to *never* pull back the reefing clew line before you tension the luff with the halyard. It's a good way to tear the slugs out of the sail.

Pineapple Sails has a very good and helpful article on slab reefing, and they make this point rather strongly. That is one of the reasons they are not huge fans of single-line reefing: because you cannot necessarily tension the luff thoroughly before tensioning the clew.
 

nquigley

Sustaining Member
I'd change that to *never* pull back the reefing clew line before you tension the luff with the halyard. It's a good way to tear the slugs out of the sail.

Pineapple Sails has a very good and helpful article on slab reefing, and they make this point rather strongly. That is one of the reasons they are not huge fans of single-line reefing: because you cannot necessarily tension the luff thoroughly before tensioning the clew.
Related: I just watched this nice video on slab reefing:
.. made the same point about leaving the outhaul/clew tensioning until last.
But also - he used a nice technique for tying up the loose sail - with a sturdy sail tie through the reef clew cringle.
What do others think about this idea? I like the secondary benefit of being a backup in case the clew reefing line failed.
Of course, it would be impossible if reefing while maintaining any sort of down wind heading throughout the reefing process, but that excess sail flopping around under the boom would be the least of your worries if you have to reef while barreling downwind in a rough seaway.
 
Last edited:

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Well, the reefing line's not going to fail, so there's no need for a "backup." Just secure the floppy sail area as desired, or not, it isn't necessary.

I don't think it's necessary to mess with the topping lift in this sequence. Has no effect on the procedure.
 

Bolo

Contributing Partner
Well, the reefing line's not going to fail, so there's no need for a "backup." Just secure the floppy sail area as desired, or not, it isn't necessary.

I don't think it's necessary to mess with the topping lift in this sequence. Has no effect on the procedure.
Yes, I too thought it was unnecessary to adjust the topping lift when reefing. I’ve don’t on my E32-3 and never had a problem. Last year I adjusted all the reefing lines, including the main halyard, to lead back to the cockpit along with installing lazy jacks and sail bag on the boom so now there is no reason to leave the cockpit. Great for solo sailing. When I reef I let off on the main halyard, pull the luff line down to the gooseneck to establish a new tack point, next pull the leach line down to establish a new clew and then tighten up on the halyard. Maybe tightening the halyard last is a mistake but it hasn’t been a problem so far. The steps I follow are not the same in the video.

EDIT: Attached photo shows the 1st and 2nd reefing line through new rope clutches. Main halyard line is on the starboard side, not seen in the photo of course. I’ve even reefed the main with the wind aft of the beam with no trouble.
 

Attachments

  • B84BC3AA-E2C4-47A0-91C4-999B86D7DFE0.jpeg
    B84BC3AA-E2C4-47A0-91C4-999B86D7DFE0.jpeg
    135.1 KB · Views: 15
Last edited:
Top