[C320-list] Outhaul vs Reefing Line (Redux)

[Charles Martin via C320-list]

Dear Wise Catalina Sailors:

I own hull #767, a 2000 year model C320. I have looked through the
postings on C320.org on this subject, but am still at a loss for an answer
to this question: I bought a new reefing line and an new outhaul line and
was trying to replace both in the boom; however, I discovered that the
reefing line goes straight through to the end of the boom and is wound
through a grommet in the mainsail and tied to the boom. Whereas the
outhaul line from the cockpit passes into the boom and runs about a block
and is then tied somewhere inside of the boom, while a different line is
tied to the block and runs out of the tack end of the boom to secure the
tack of the mainsail. I was aghast and looked it up in the manual and that
is what it shows in the manual! Is this not backwards?

*And most importantly, how in the world can I change out the outhaul if it
is tied inside of the boom, which is riveted together? *

Best,
Chip Martin
(410) 231-0199
chipr...@gmail.com

[Dennis Cookson via C320-list]

Chip, it sounds as if these lines have been swapped inadvertently, presumably by a previous owner. My first reefing line runs from the mast to the block inside the boom and back. Another line runs from the fixed point inside the boom end to the other side of that block and returns to a boom-end sheave and up to the aft cringle, then down to the boom. So by winching in this reefing line you are pulling the block to the mast end of the boom which results in the cringles at each end of the sail being pulled down to the boom - single-line reefing.

My outhaul is a single line running from the mast end of the boom which somehow converts inside the boom to a steel wire that goes around a sheave and back to the tack of the sail. I haven’t replaced this line but I have managed to replace the reefing lines despite that connection inside the boom, which is just about reachable.

Dennis Cookson
‘Catalina’ #0577
.

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

On my earlier boat #32, Dennis is correct about the 2-sided block inside the boom being for the  single reef line, not the outhaul.  That block can be pulled all the way to the aft end of the boom and pulled out of the boom opening in order to help change reef lines. The aft line can be changed easily with the block pulled out of the boom end. The front line can be changed using a fish line.  Just be sure to tie off the ends of the lines before starting any of this so a line does not get lost inside the boom (ask me how I know).
Dave Hupe 
1994 C320 #32

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

On Wed, Nov 6, 2024 at 1:33 PM, Dennis Cookson via C320-list<c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: Chip, it sounds as if these lines have been swapped inadvertently, presumably by a previous owner. My first reefing line runs from the mast to the block inside the boom and back. Another line runs from the fixed point inside the boom end to the other side of that block and returns to a boom-end sheave and up to the aft cringle, then down to the boom. So by winching in this reefing line you are pulling the block to the mast end of the boom which results in the cringles at each end of the sail being pulled down to the boom - single-line reefing.

[surprise thompson87.com via C320-list]

On my 1999 boat the outhaul runs to a floating becket block in the boom then forward to a fixed turning block attached inside the boom, then aft again where it terminates at the becket. A separate line runs from the other side of the becket block to the end of the boom and so to the clew of the sail. This gives 3 to 1 purchase. I have a very long adjustment line that allows me to pull the becket block out the end of the boom, which facilitates replacing the two lines.

The reefing line is more complicated but some owners have replaced that with a straight through arrangement along the lines you describe.


> On Nov 6, 2024, at 1:13 PM, Charles Martin via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Wise Catalina Sailors:

[Mark Seyler via C320-list]

The Outhaul on my 1995 No. 232 runs as described below, from a turning block at the mast end of the boom, back to a becket block near the aft end of the boom, then through a fixed block inside the boom and back to the becket block. The becket block is attached to a wire rope that exits the aft end of the boom and connects to the clew of the mainsail.

To replace the outhaul line, first attach the new line to the free end of the old one at the mast end of the boom. (I sewed the two ends together, then wrapped a layer of tape around the joint, to make sure that it didn't jam when going around the blocks in the boom. If you don't want to sew them together you could probably tie a thin messenger line around the old line, and still be able to pull the messenger line around the blocks in the boom. I would tape the messenger line connection to the old line too, because if the messenger line comes off before you get it around both blocks you are out of luck.

After you attach the new line or the messenger line, pull the wire rope at the aft end of the boom far enough to pull the becket block out the end of the boom. Untie the end of the old line from the becket. Then pull the end of the old line that had been tied to the becket to pull the new line (or messenger line) into the boom, around the becket block, back into the boom, through the fixed block inside the boom, and back to the aft end of the boom. (If you use a thin messenger line, you then tie the new line to the other end of the messenger line, and use the messenger to pull the new line in behind the messenger line, and around both blocks.) Once the new line has run through both blocks and back to the aft end of the boom, cut the connection to the old line (or messenger line), and tie the new line to the becket. Then pull the becket block back into the boom, and re-attach the wire rope to the clew of the mainsail.

My reefing set-up has a single line that runs straight back to the aft end of the boom, and up to the leech reef cringle, then back down to be tied to the boom. To replace my reefing line, I just attach the new line to the old one, and pull it through to the aft end of the boom. If the old line is already gone, you can use an electrician's fish tape to pull a new one through the boom. But make sure the fish tape doesn't go through the loop for the outhaul, or you can jam one or both of the lines.

Some boats have a "floating block" inside the boom, which is really two blocks back-to-back. If your reefing line goes into the mast end of the boom and comes back out at the mast end to go somewhere else, you probably have one of those. The line that fastens to the reef cringle on the leach of the mainsail goes into the boom, runs around one side of the floating block, and is tied to something inside the boom. I don't have one of those, so I can't advise you on how to replace that line, or whether you have to take the end off the boom to get to it.

I hope this helps.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality,
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA

[surprise thompson87.com via C320-list]

With the floating block setup for the reefing line it’s easy to use the aft “tail” to pull the double block to the end of the boom and then reach in to extract it from the end of the boom. Then you have access to both ends of that line and it is easy to replace. The forward line is trickier but the right approach is to use a messenger just as if you are replacing a halyard since both ends of that line come out the forward end of the boom.

Note that for both the outhaul and the floating block reefing setup no lines terminate at fixed points within the boom. The outhaul terminates at a becket block that can be pulled out the back end and the aft reefing line terminates at a stopper knot on the outside of the aft boom assembly.

> On Nov 7, 2024, at 1:08 AM, Mark Seyler via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> The Outhaul on my 1995 No. 232 runs as described below, from a turning block at the mast end of the boom, back to a becket block near the aft end of the boom, then through a fixed block inside the boom and back to the becket block. The becket block is attached to a wire rope that exits the aft end of the boom and connects to the clew of the mainsail.

[surprise thompson87.com via C320-list]

Btw an easy way to check if you have the floating double block reefing setup is to see if you have a line exiting the aft end of the boom casting through a hole (not through a sheave) and terminating with a stopper knot outside the boom. If so that is the fixed end of the aft reefing line.

> On Nov 7, 2024, at 9:11 AM, surprise thompson87.com <surp...@thompson87.com> wrote:
>
> With the floating block setup for the reefing line it’s easy to use the aft “tail” to pull the double block to the end of the boom and then reach in to extract it from the end of the boom. Then you have access to both ends of that line and it is easy to replace. The forward line is trickier but the right approach is to use a messenger just as if you are replacing a halyard since both ends of that line come out the forward end of the boom.