Webbing in reefing points, why?

[bstreet]

On our mainsail in the grommets for the reefing lines at the mast there are short pieces of nylon webbing with stainless steel rings in them. I've never seen these before and don't know what their purpose is. I thought at first you could run the reefing line through the steel rings which would spread the load better on the grommets via the webbing but they do not extend far enough forward to do that. I was going to put blocks on there to cut down the friction and thought I could use the rings to attach the blocks to, but again they don't extend far enough forward to do that either. They just seem to take up space in the grommet and make it hard to get the reefing line through the grommet and then rub on the line when we reef. It would seem to me that if they were longer they would be fine for attaching blocks to and would cut down chafe on the sail from the blocks. Can anyone tell me what these are for?

[deising]

While we wait for a more expert answer, I am pretty sure they are there so you can place the webbing over a hook on the boom to secure sail properly, rather than rely on the reefing line to take the load.

You will sometimes find such a configuration even on the reefed clew, so that you can secure the clew similarly, although not usually with a hook.

[gmackey]

I agree, there should be a pair of SS hooks (half loops) extending laterally on both sides from the region of your gooseneck - referred to variously as tack hooks, gooseneck hooks, etc. My previous boat (not Catalina) has these.

No lines required, just slacken the main halyard, place the ring over the hook and tighten the halyard.

The nylon webbing with SS rings is an enhancement, the more basic system requires placing the tack cringle itself on the hook.

Cheers.

[LCBrandt]

My Mk II does not have any s/s hooks. With the single-line reefing on the Mk II there is no need to leave the safety of the cockpit. Bud, doesn't your boat have single-line reefing???

[deising]

I am admittedly no expert, but leaving just the reefing line (single or otherwise) to carry the load of a reefed sail for a long period of time is not considered good seamanship. If you were forced to keep the sail reefed, the usual practice was to find a safe way to secure both tack and clew cringles and take the load off the reefing lines.

I have no desire to cross oceans with our boat, but a more bulletproof reefing system would be on my list if I did.

[baysailor2000]

Yes the reef rings are supposed to be attached to the hooks. Here is what my 25.5 Hunter hooks looked like. The hooks are on both side of the boom. If your boom does not have hooks then someone my have replaced the main sail with an other sail that came with these rings pre-made. You can take them out.

[bstreet]

Our boat has one hook on the port side at the mast end of the boom. We have single line reefing, there was no line in the 2nd reef when we got the boat but I added it. I have to agree with Larry, no way I want to be crawling around on deck trying to connect the sail to the hook in conditions requiring reefing. I thought that's what single line reefing was intended to prevent.

[bakerha]

Bstreet - when I bought my boat 2.5 years ago it had remnants of a jiffy reefing system in the sail and the same webbing and rings you describe. Mine however are rigged to blocks that provide single line reefing from the cockpit and allows us to haul the sail down when needed. The reefing lines travel through a clutch out to the mast and up through deck gear to the block. Down again to a turning block, along the boom through fairleads, up again to the Clew grommet and back down to the boom for the aft reef point. I will get some pics when we are at the boat next week. This arrangement has worked well for us when needed. I have no hooks on the boom - however my C25 was rigged that way. Always hated having to go to the mast to reef.:eek:

[tim_farrell]

Bstreet - when I bought my boat 2.5 years ago it had remnants of a jiffy reefing system in the sail and the same webbing and rings you describe. Mine however are rigged to blocks that provide single line reefing from the cockpit and allows us to haul the sail down when needed. The reefing lines travel through a clutch out to the mast and up through deck gear to the block. Down again to a turning block, along the boom through fairleads, up again to the Clew grommet and back down to the boom for the aft reef point. I will get some pics when we are at the boat next week. This arrangement has worked well for us when needed. I have no hooks on the boom - however my C25 was rigged that way. Always hated having to go to the mast to reef.:eek:

Harold, it would be great to see the pics of your set-up. I think I understand it but would like to see. It sounds pretty ideal.

[bakerha]

Finally got back to my boat and got my lines all rigged and some pictures taken for this thread.

[bstreet]

Thanks for posting the pictures Harold. I was going to put the blocks through the grommets but the way yours are attached would be easier and probably create a lot less chafe on the sail. Only issue is each of our reefing lines go up and down on opposite sides of the mast, have to see if that's going to cause a problem.