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Just installed a 3Rd reef on the main for high winds. The 3rd reef is 5 feet above the stock reef point according to Rush Sails. Our 2006 26M already had an additional 1st reef point at 4 feet from boom put in by the dealer in Seattle but didn't put additional blocks on the boom. Now we will center the outhaul setup and add 5 more blocks for a fully functional quick reefing system. Has anyone done this ?


I live near (3 blocks from) the Columbia river where the Snake river confluence is so the river is very large with about a 5 kt current and 40 mph winds are common without big rollers. And the wind can come up fast. We will be sailing in Pudget Sound in the summer where last summer they had higher than average wind speeds that kept many smaller sailboats in dock and reefing will be needed for sure to insure a safe voyages for years to come.

My personal opinion with these boats is, if you have to reef the main that far, it's time to start the motor and head to safety.

Although, leaving that much main up while powering to get to safety might actually be a good thing.

But to use the 3rd reef with the intent on sailing for kicks...... not so much.

JMHO

To each their own.

G

Heading for a gunkhole or marina for safety is the reason for the extra reef's when you are 10 miles from safety. It should make sailing in big rollers and 25 mph wind much more stable with the boat healing less. I really want to stay as Green as possiable and use the 70 for really bad weather or in marinas and make my $81.84 of gas (2-12 gal) to go further and still stay safe.

Agree with Beene on this one. The deep reef (factory on the at least) really isnt setup with enough good running rigging to get it flat enough for heavy conditions imho. Prolly the first mod I did on my boat was put a small block on the outhaul to give me a 4:1 on the clew.

One of the greatest trolling motors for fishing is the mainsail reef/roller furler options.

Nothing beats zero interference underwater like a wind powered craft like the sailboat. Having to use a trolling motor to fish along the banks of a lake now seems counterproductive to me. It serves to scare the big ones away. The big bass are more savy and experienced fish and difficult to troll catch. But I have gotten the knack of doing it well. In fact I believe I have developed the 'science' of sail trolling singlehanding at the same time.

But then, here is where having multiple reefing points in your mainsail come in handy. On a day when the wind is pumping around 5-10 knots, I will double reef my mainsail and troll the shorling reed areas about 1 - 2 knots or more accurately about 2 mph. I slip along so silently I can hear the dragonfly wings beat against the hull of my boat as I pass by. I have sail/trolled through some of the thickes reeds that other boaters have raced over to lend assistance thinking that I am stuck or in trouble!

Big T

I think a third reef would be quite beneficial for high winds. I sort-of wish I had it done when buying my sails. Now, Quantum will probably charge me an arm and a legt to install another reer ($300-$500) is my guess.

OTOH, Arena yachts claims that any reef deeper than the factory reef will make the mainsail virtually useless, and just isn't worth installing. Just one source, but this kept me from ordering the 3rd reef when I got my Quantum sails.

Leon

As I set here getting ready to order the rope and pullys and cleats for the 2 extra reef points, there is cost to think about. When the dealer put in the first reef point (not the stock reef point ) they didn't put on the extra QUICK reef system ropes, pullys and cleats so I now am ordering $180.00 worth of ropes, pullys and cleats for the new first and third reef points. The cost of having Rush Sails in Seattle put in the 3rd reef and new jack lines was about $180.00 ( they did an exlent job). My WIFE feels more SECURE to have the 3rd reef as an option and that is WORTH MORE than the MONEY. Where I live on the Columbia and Snake rivers the wind sometimes is strong (25 to 35 mph) but the wave action is small maybe 1.5 with white caps and I don't have to stay home or in dock. When on Pudget Sound the waves can be 5 feet with only 15 to 20 mph it means a more stable cruse. Speed is not the point comfort and safety is.

Well my wife and I put the 3 reefing lines on tonight and she is still making small rope bags for the extra line, there will be 4 bags, one for the outhall rope, one for each of the 3 reef lines, she even found some gortex fabric and velcro closure at the top. The bags will be attached to the boom. Photos to come, going sailing when we get up tomorrow.

Should be a great day for a sail, bubba. It's 78 here in Hermiston right now and the forecast for tomorrow is 80 with WSW winds 10-15. Have fun.

Rich---Hamin' X---N7ZH

Sailing was great on Sunday got a tan and my wife got a little sunburn and Sunday night we had 2 anchors out (because of wind) near the boat launch at Hat Rock state park on the Columbia river in the gorge. Monday with the WSW front with 25 to 40 mph breeze and our new 3rd reef we pointed high into the wind and healed only about 10 to 15 deg and made 3 to 4 kt . When we turned down wind to a broad reach and runnung in 3-4 ft cresting swells we spead up to 6 kt with great control WEE WHAT A RIDE with very little splash on us.
My wifes did great work on setting up our reefing system. She took some photos and as soon as she gets them to my computer I will post them here.
Hamin'X we are going back to Hat Rock park on Wed evening thru Friday come by, no 3 reef weather forcasted this week.

Have fun, bubba. Thanks for the invite. Hat Rock is where I put in with my Holder 14. Great sailing from McNary to Port Kelly. I don't get off work until after 7 pm and after chores it is dark. Also, II am leaving Friday for Santa Cruz. The wife and I will be sailing Monterey Bay and the Pacific for 8 days.

Rich---Hamin' X---N7ZH

I have 3 reef points on both of my full batten mainsails (Dacron & Norlam 3DL) and have had to use the third reef on a number of occasions in the past. When they were needed they were a 'Godsend' and I kissed the boom at that time for deciding to have them put in. The biggest advantage to having 3 reefs is it makes you want to go out and practice putting reefs in and taking them out, which in turn will make you a better more confident sailor or powersailor as opposed to a simple powerboat operator; which can present serious disadvantages over motoring under full reef in extreme conditions. The disadvantage is you might be somewhat inclined to go out in excessive conditions just to try your hand at reefing. As always it is better to start out early with your main over reefed and have to take them out when you discover the conditions are not as bad as you thought, as opposed to trying to put in a reef in bad conditions. However, The nice thing about a MAC is you can always backwind the jib, set the rudders, release the mainsheet, and just about reef the boat with your eyes shut and a drink in one hand in rather amazingly bad conditions once you get the technique down.

MM

I tend to agree with a 3rd reef (i.e. smaller sail). I like the idea I can sail out of a situation. I know the motor is there, but these are sailboats and should help get us through things. I just read "Storm Tactics" by Lin and Larry Pardy and it was interesting how they weather storms by keeping the sailboat under control.

guys with having a third reef,do you have two line reefing for each point or single?