re; roller furling

Gregory Yu (gkyu@home.com)
Tue, 18 May 1999 19:31:04 -0700


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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John & Web Gang:
My HMS-18 (1974) came with a roller-reefing boom. I found it
impractical
for 2 reasons:
1. It takes quite an effort to roll the main-sail around the boom. It
is
certainly not 'jiffy' and can be quite awkward trying to do it in windy
conditions.
2. It would prevent me from using a boom vang, which I find is
absolutely
necessary for maintaining sail shape while going downwind.
I have reef points installed at a local sail loft, and, with help from
Jerry
Barrilleaux, set up a jiffy reefing system. I have also installed a
boom
vang.
About the only good use I find with the roller-reefing is that my
main-sail
can be rolled neatly around the boom while I'm docked or anchored. It
is
also stored that way inside the cabin while the boat is de-rigged.
Greg Yu
HMS-18 #63 'Sampan'