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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

What size are your reef lines?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/11/2010 : 13:39:19

I'm getting ready to replace my reef lines and was originally going to use 3/8" single braid, but I took a look at my old lines, and they're 1/4". I'm somewhat concerned about weight on the sail vs ease of tucking in a reef. The 1/4" reef lines were never all that difficult to reef with, so maybe I should just replace them with new 1/4" line. I have a tall rig, so I've got two reefs, which doubles the amount of line hanging on the sail.

I'm curious what other folks have on their sails.

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

Edited by - on

Jefffriday
Navigator

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USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2010 : 15:04:45

1/4" Sta-set works for me....

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2010 : 17:38:15

One of the nice PO's installed 1/4" Sta-Set for my single-reefing line.

Edited by - on

cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2010 : 18:47:38

my reasons for having a thicker line/lines are that if you have a single line system led aft, 1)the thicker line feels better on your hands and 2)the rope clutches you have may not be able to hold the 1/4 inch line.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2010 : 19:36:42

I would consider 5/16" for the reefing lines, easier on the hands.

Edited by - dmpilc on 07/11/2010 19:37:34

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 07:57:43

We've got 3/8" now, but plan to change to 1/4" when we replace them...

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 08:27:20

My single line reefing system has 5/16" nylon braided. Larger or smaller may have problems with the clutches. Larger may also have even more problems with friction (which is already a common complaint).

The additional reefing tie-downs through the smaller cringles (don't know the nautical term for these tie-downs) use 1/4" nylon braided.

The following questions apply only to C250 boats:

My sail also has a second reef that is not currently rigged. Does this mean my boat is a tall rig? I thought that all of the genuine Catalina sails for the C250 had two reefing points. Do most of you C250 owners only have one reefing point?

Edited by - TakeFive on 07/12/2010 08:34:36

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 15:09:50

I think I should clarify, I'm talking about the actual reef lines that are tied into the reef cringles that you tie around the sail, not the jiffy reefing lines that you use to initially pull the sail down with that run internally in the boom. I already have both of those run using 1/4" line (and no, they don't stick in the clutches very well, but that's not big concern once the sail is down).

I'm not sure about the number of reefs in a standard rig, as I've never seen the sails up on another C-250, I just know I have two on my tall rig.

Oh, and I plan to purchase some 5/16" three strand to make the new ones with. I decided that the 3/8" was overkill, plus all I had was double braid, and I want three strand nylon.

Edited by - delliottg on 07/12/2010 15:11:40

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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3321 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 15:14:45

My sailmaker told me NEVER to tie down a reefed main. If you get hit by a good gust (remember that the force on the sail is quadrupled by a doubling of the wind speed) you risk ripping the main.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 15:35:19

If you don't tie it down, how do you keep it from being blown out? It's not reefed till you tie the reef lines under the boom to hold the sail against it. I don't think I'd trust just the front & rear jiffy reef cringles to hold the sail in place in a blow.

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cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 17:05:05

You know we can probably have an entire thread on whether to tie the sail down to the boom or not. I've read many articles and opinions saying both. It probably comes down to preference and experience. I've never been out in anything over 15 knots, but the reefed main on my boat stays down without tying the main down.

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 17:32:04

Our main outhaul is connected to the clew w/ a snap shackle. When reefing, after hauling in on the single jiffy line and positioning the forward cringle tight to the boom, we move the outhaul up to the leech cringle and then take a strain - it stretches the sail taught and keeps the new 'foot' close to the boom...the reefing line are tied loosely and just keep the foot of the main tidy.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 19:09:42

For us newbies, an entire thread on tying down the sail could be worthwhile - unless there's a pre-existing thread that we should refer to instead.

I would suspect that the likelihood of ripping could have a lot to do with the construction of the sail, especially reinforcement (if any) of the cringles, as well as location of the cringles vs. sail shape. I'll have to take a closer look at my own sail next time I'm at the boat.

But as an engineer, I have to wonder why putting all the stress on 2 reefing cringles would make you less likely to tear the sail. I would think that distributing the stress onto all of the cringles would make it less likely to tear. That is, unless the larger jiffy reef cringles have a huge amount of reinforcement - as I said, I'll have to look at my own sail.

I do know from personal experience that sail shape is SIGNIFICANTLY better when I tie off all the cringles.

Edited by - TakeFive on 07/12/2010 19:10:24

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2010 : 19:43:27

for the tie down points on the sail, I use short lengths of 1/4" line, knotted on both sides of the sail. When reefing, I'll tie off one or two loosely around the boom to tidy up.

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