Yeah there's lots of articles about that question! The article was talking about just the bitter end of clew reefing lines I believe - not the points in between, for the lines that just gather up the loose sail, in between the tack and clew. The bitter end of the clew reefing lines can just be tied around the boom, since no sail in the way or slugs that need to slide. Then as usual up thru the reef grommet and back down to the block on the other side. Of course one could still use a pad eye. Those intermediate lines (reef points) that just hold extra sail from flapping should always be around sail only, if possible. For loose foot or with slugs. With bolt-rope of course there's no way to tie them except around the boom. There's something about that in the reefing article I posted a while back. Reason being as I recall, those lines and points are not supposed to be and not designed to be taking any working strain - just holding the loose sail from flapping around. If tied around the boom they could end up tearing the sail, or at the least affecting the sail shape negatively by pulling against the boom. Plus if you are rushing to shake out the reef and forget to untie them...not good, but worse if they are around the boom than just around the sail! cheers, John On 9/21/21 5:53 PM, George Iemmolo wrote:
John
Thanks you for the link on the subject. Similar to ones I ran across during my investigation.
I noticed that it mentioned that the reef was easier to place around the boom I have been in the habit of tying the reef lines around the bunt of the sail at it's foot rather than the boom. Can't remember where I picked that up from. Maybe because i am just lazy and I found it easier for me.😈
Anyone have thoughts on that. I am a real old dog but still open to change if it will improve my sailing. George 96 M15 #602 Merry Helen
"We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails"
On Tue, Sep 21, 2021 at 7:26 PM John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <mailto:montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>> wrote:
Here's one of various concise summary articles on loose-footed mains vs. tracked.
http://www.fxsails.com/article_loosefoot.php <http://www.fxsails.com/article_loosefoot.php>
Though I would add that performance dinghies (Laser, Holder, etc.) were all using loose footed mains a decade+ before the America's Cup racing sail shift to loose foot in the 80's that this piece mentions.
Also in terms of rigging for reefing, as this piece points out, with a loose footed main you can just tie the bitter end of clew reefing lines around the boom. Don't need pad-eyes.
cheers, John
On 9/21/21 4:45 PM, John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats wrote: > Yeah my main is not loose footed, it's slugs in the boom track. > > If at some point I get a new main, it will be loose footed, for better > shape control. > > As far as the outhaul and reefing setup I think it's pretty much the > same. At least on boats I've seen. I don't imagine I'd need to change my > outhaul & reefing setup for a loose footed main. > > cheers, > John > > On 9/21/21 3:27 PM, George Iemmolo wrote: >> Excuse my delayed comment as I have been on vacation and do not do >> typing on my phone. >> >> I noticed in your pictures of the loose footed main that it is >> attached to the boom with sail slugs. I had my sail converted a number >> of years ago from a bolt rope attachment to the boom to a Main that >> has its foot completely free of any attachment to the boom. As I >> understand It is attached only at the tack and gooseneck so as to be >> able to produce an aerodynamic shape down low on the sail >> >> Can any one speak to the benefits of each type of loose footed Main >> described above? >> >> George >> 96 M15 #602 >> Merry Helen II >> >> "We Can Not Control the Wind >> But We Can Adjust Our Sails" 😎😎😎 >> >> >> On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 1:33 AM John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats >> <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <mailto:montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> >> <mailto:montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <mailto:montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>>> wrote: >> >> Have these organized now so easy to find and send. Need to get >> them up >> on my website some day for even easier reference. >> >> This is on an M17 so might be a bit tighter for space on an M15 boom >> but >> then maybe could use smaller cleats, line, etc. also. >> >> Two pics show the outhaul rigged as in the now-gone video I mentioned >> last post. >> Bowline loop at end of line. You can just see the tip of the loop >> between boom and boltrope. Feed free end under & around boom, through >> bowline loop, through cringle, then to outhaul block. Keeps clew >> close >> to boom without any other line or hardware needed. >> >> Other pics show (may not be attached in this order): >> >> Rear of boom with outhaul routing block and first reef block with >> lines >> in place. >> >> Clamcleats forward on boom for outhaul and first and second reef. >> >> Boom from rear to clamcleats (big picture view of the setup). >> >> There's no second reef line in place in the pics but you can see the >> block and clamcleat for it. >> >> Clamcleats are just aft of the vang bail, you can see it forward of >> them >> in a couple of the pics. >> >> If anyone wants the full size pics for seeing more detail let me know >> off list. >> >> HTH, >> John >> >> >> >> -- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design >> -------------------------------------------- >> - Eco-Living - >> Whole Systems Design Services >> People - Place - Learning - Integration >> john@eco-living.net <mailto:john@eco-living.net> <mailto:john@eco-living.net <mailto:john@eco-living.net>> - 510.982.1334 >> http://eco-living.net <http://eco-living.net> <http://eco-living.net <http://eco-living.net>> >> http://sociocracyconsulting.com <http://sociocracyconsulting.com> <http://sociocracyconsulting.com <http://sociocracyconsulting.com>> >> >
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net <mailto:john@eco-living.net> - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net <http://eco-living.net> http://sociocracyconsulting.com <http://sociocracyconsulting.com>
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com