Continuous line headsail reefing

[webcraft]

I've only used standard (rotostay etc) headsail furling systems before, but our Vega has a continuous line system. The maker's name has worn off the drum, so I don't know the make. (I have pix if anyone thinks that would help).

Anyway . . . How is this meant to work?

The system seems to rely on the continuous line being held under considerable tension to stop the headsail unrolling to its full extent when reefed. Today the whole sail unrolled when not required.

The only mechanism for tensioning the furling line is to wrap it round a cleat or two, which is variable in its results, not very quick and not very efficient. (There is about 6" of slack in the line).

Is this standard, or is there a better way?

- Nick

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[Gunfleet]

It's what I have and the way you describe using it is dead right. It is less than perfect. Whenever I leave the boat I put a sail tie around the headsail, just in case.

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[webcraft]

It's not when I'm away I worry - I always take a wrap or two of the sheets round it - but I am very concerned about the vessel spontaneously deciding to increase the sail plan at an inconvenient moment.

I was wondering about a pair of jamming cleats side by side . . .

- Nick


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[alanporter]

It is likely a Hood LD (Line Drive). I have one on my Westerly Renown, chosen by the previous owner. I wouldn't have one again, but it is too expensive to change. One can reef the genoa by tightly cleating the line down, but the slightest slackness in the line will allow the sail to suddenly unfurl.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

[Gunfleet]

My boat came with tufnol cam cleats to do the job, but I felt it was less likely to spontaneously 'change the sail plan' if I took a great big bight of the wretched thing and secured it much in the way you'd secure a sheet. Of course since my boat is of a certain age she has plenty of large, strong cleats handy next to the cockpit.

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[HenryB]

If it's the Hood LD as Alan suggests then I have one fitted to my Westerly and it sometimes slips. Hood offer an upgrade to single line operation on their site at
http://www.hood.com.ar/sistemas/importado.htm
presumably because of the slippage problem.
Using cleats to keep the rope tight and ensuring that the rope doesn't get worn seems to minimise the problem but, of course, when it does slip it's always in the worse conditions. Once, on a long beat, I even resorted to tying the drum so that it couldn't slip, so much for the convenience of roller furling.
Do let us know if you come up with a solution.

Regards,

Henry

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[DeeGee]

Knowing abs. nothing about this, I wonder couldn't you have a short auxiliary line which you seize onto the reefing line with a prussic or a rolling hitch?

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all

[snowleopard]

these gadgets are very sensitive to type/size of line. they will never be 100% reliable but it's worth experimenting to see what gives best grip.

when cleating it's essential to keep both ends of the line in tension. you could make them up together on a single cleat.

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[steve_cronin]

That is just how mainsail in-mast continuous line reefing works. However you will need to part the line so as to be able to thread it through the cleats or obtain a pair of cleats which have a removable cheek or jammer mechanism.

Steve Cronin

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[jimi]

what I'd do is feed the the line through a spinlock clutch, that should give you much better control.

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