Reefing The Main - Leisure L23 Owner's Manual

slight tension on to try to stop the messengers twisting, haul away until both messengers appear
at the mast crane. Repeat the bent wire trick, and you should then have two messengers in their
correct positions.

Reefing the Main

Some of the original main roller reefing systems survive; the two difficulties
that do arise are loss of the reefing handle, and the turning mechanism
within the boom fitting becoming jammed. Replacement handles are available
from many chandlers eg Marinestore, but at around £40. But when one
considers that the handle receptacle is simply a square hole in the turning
mechanism, other solutions come to mind, such as getting a local metal
workshop to make simple one. The picture shows a DIY handle.
There is no easy solution to the jammed mechanism problem except WD40. New replacements
are not available, and members have reported considerable difficulties when trying to dismantle
the fitting. If your mechanism has jammed, perhaps this is an opportune time to convert to slab
reefing, which enables a better set to the sail when reefed, and can provide for the reefing to be
done from the cockpit.
All slab reefing systems require the main to have reefing cringles in the leech and luff. Four
cringles would provide two stages of reefing which should be ample. Although these appear to be
simple eyelets, do not be tempted to do it yourself; there are considerable stresses on the sail
when reefed, and the sail has to be heavily reinforced around the cringles.
There are many forms of slab reefing, both commercial and DIY. Broadly they can be classified
into three types:
single line systems, where one line is used to pull down the leech, the luff cringle being
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clipped over a hook affixed to the gooseneck; you have to go the mast with this method.
Barton makes such a system at a cost of about £90, excluding the lines. One supplier is
Jimmy Green
single line systems where one line pulls down both leech and luff. These systems enable
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reefing to be done from the cockpit. The large number of blocks used in such systems
necessitates the use of a winch to overcome the friction. The article in the Reference
Library list below, Single Line Reefing, describes such a system (fitted to an L27, but the
principles are the same)
two line systems, where one line is used for the leech and one for the luff. Less effort is
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required, but there are more lines in the cockpit.
All these systems can be installed using the existing boom, by fixing blocks, tracks etc. Booms
are available designed for slab reefing, which make a much tidier – and more expensive – method
of routing the lines along the boom. Before choosing this approach, be sure that the gooseneck
arrangements are compatible with the existing mast and, if you have a spray hood, that the main
sheet will not foul the aft edge of the sprayhood. One supplier is
Reefing the Genoa
Most boats now sport a roller reefing genoa of some sort, whether a continuous line system or
single line. Providing the maker's service instructions are followed, these systems should give
little trouble. Most of the reported difficulties relate either to drums that are stiff to turn, or the
genoa halyard wrapping itself around the reefing foil as the reefing line is wound in or out. There
is much discussion about these topic in the items below.
Three of the basic guidelines in both cases above are to ensure that the:
forestay is really tight. Remove any sagging by tightening the back stay(s)
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upper swivel is fairly close to the mast head sheave
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genoa halyard is really tight. When hoisting it initially, make sure that it is surged hard
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Z
18
Spars.