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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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How to rig a two point reefing mainsail

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LarryGrube
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/07/2003 : 23:57:38

I just got a tall mast C250 with two reef points. The diagram from Catalina is only for one point. I would be grateful to anyone who could tell me how to rig the dual point system.

Thanks,

Larry

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2003 : 07:44:48

Larry,

The Catalina stock rigging provides a choice... of setting up for the first or second. Having both rigged is much better. In my opinion, the Catalina single line system does not work well and I abandoned it in favor of double lines on both reef points.

Also, there was a recent thread dealing with this issue which shows Bill Bosworths use of a reefing hook to handle both tacks which would eliminate two lines.

<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/myreefing.jpg" border=0>

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - arlyn stewart on 07/08/2003 07:46:03

Edited by - on

LarryGrube
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2003 : 15:54:48

Arlyn,

Thanks for the diagram. It did not occur to me that the previous owner was only using one reef point or the other so I am going to choose one for now and then build the second line. My associate here and long time sailor suggested making the first reef point line green or orange and the second red indicating the degree of caution.

Thanks also for the link to your excellent C250 page. Re: your stereo mod, we found a Blaupunkt DVD, CD and MP3 player for $112 from ebay that we have mounted on the cabin ceiling just forward of the rear cabin seats and a 7.5" legacy LCD display for viewing DVD's. The advantage to the MP3 player is that we can cram six to twelve hours of music on a single CD.

Thanks again!

Larry

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2003 : 02:07:35

Just wondering if anyone has considered how to get one of those "jiffy reef" lines back into the sheaves on both ends of the boom? I have the first reef line rigged, but the second reef line just hangs out of the boom as there is not another one of those small cheek blocks on the mast for it.

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk
<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/fullsail.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2003 : 09:22:52

Ben,

I'm a little confused... think that your saying that there is currently a line thru your boom but is not being used. You would like to use it for the 2nd reef? Correct?

That line may have been the topping lift line. The boom of the C250 has three sheaves for outhaul, reef line, topping lift.

Bill Bosworth uses an exterior topping lift so used that sheave for the 2nd reef. I think he added another cheek block on the mast.

If you have a boom kicker and no topping lift is necessary or an exterior topping lift is used, then the spare sheave can be used for the 2nd reef line. Otherwise, if both reef lines are wanted... the 2nd should be installed exterior on the boom as in the picture above.

However, to use the aft sheave for the 2nd reef requires that reef line originate somewhere just aft of the reef clew so as to pull it down. This requires either a loose footed main to secure the line around the boom as in the Catalina manual... or an eye strap screwed or riveted to the side of the boom. There is another way which involves a grommet added to the sail.

Forward, the reef line would route as the original with an additional cheek block on the mast if wanting a single line reef.

Bill Bosworth does not use single line reefing as he uses a reefing hook for the tacks. In the drawing above, I'm also not using single line reefing.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2003 : 23:53:33

My C-22 had a reef hook on the tack at the goose neck. And now that you mentioned it, I don't think there is a reef cringle for the second reef point at the foot so as to tie the line around the boom as with the first. So if the second line hanging out of the boom is for a topping lift, because the out haul is already in place, how would you rig it? I have a topping lift I added and it simply goes from the clew through a block at the mast head and down to a mast cleat. I'm trying to picture why I would run a topping lift through the boom?

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk
<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/fullsail.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 09:22:14

Most adjustable topping lifts are run so as to avoid a line down the mast. It becomes another slapping halyard and another line to potentially go up the mast accidentally. So, they are simply affixed at the top and adjusted on the lower end.

There are a number of schemes to do that and traditionally, most booms would have either a simple cleat or a cheek block and cleat aft on the boom to handle that. I think Bill Bosworth provided a picture of his installation doing that...

Catalina however, has provided an additional sheave in the boom on the C250 which may be used for either the 2nd reef line or a topping lift. If using for the topping lift, the lift would start with a bowline knot at a small clevis in the little strap on the end of the boom, routing up and through a block attached to the end of the down section of topping lift (12-16 inces from reaching the boom) and then down thru the sheave aft on the boom and forward thru the boom to the forward corresponding spare sheave. From there, it can do two things... either be turned down to mast base for leading aft to cockpit or it can be returned back within the boom to exit the starboard side and cleat just as the outhaul does to port.

Or the extra sheave can be used for the 2nd reef line. Doing so, eliminates the need to add a cheek or cheek blocks externally on the boom for the 2nd reef point.

If your happy with your topping lift as is, then use the spare set of sheaves for the 2nd reef point. I think loose footing is better so there is no problem securing the reef line... or an eye strap can be used if not wanting to loose foot.

This is not a one way deal... choose the method that will work best for you. Some of us reef from on top of the cabin, others prefer to do it from the cockpit. Perhaps the most important point was made by Bryan Beamer... try to have all the controls for reefing at the same location.

Just for fun, I will throw one more item into the mix. Controls can sometimes be double ended. The topping lift is one of those. What I mean is that it can be adjusted and cleated from either end. Instead of securing for example to the clevis at the end of the boom, it can come down to a horn cleat. I came very close to doing this... because I do all management from on the cabin and on the starboard side. Ocassionally I would forget to release the topping lift...the last item when setting or shaking a reef. This of course require going back up to release. Fortunately after just a few times of this, I don't forget anymore.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 11:53:21

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> There is another way which involves a grommet added to the sail.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

My 2000 wk came with 2 grommets in the foot of the main 1 for each reef.

My second reef point in run on the exterior of the boom and is a 2-line system. As it is right now it is a 2-person operation to set the second reef. One guy setting the second reef on the cabin top, with the main halyard and the toping lift run to the cockpit the second guy works those 2 lines. I will soon when time permits make this a 2-line reef system that can be set by one person from the cockpit.

Bryan Beamer
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3da35b3127cce961d8ff3fd0b0000001010" border=0>
Daylight Again
C250wk #495
2003 National Champion

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 23:27:48

Thanks for the input captains. I agree with Arlyn about "another slapping halyard and another line to potentially go up the mast accidentally." So if I understand you correctly, you have a two part system on the topping lift. A standing part coming down from the masthead and stopping twelve to sixteen inches above the boom. And a second running part that works the boom?

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk
<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/fullsail.jpg" border=0>

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