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Walt
 
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Default No Longer a Beginner!

DSK wrote:
DSK wrote:
?? Never seen reef points on a Hunter 146 (or any other boat that size).


Walt wrote:
It's not the norm, but it's not unheard of. For instance, CL boatworks
offers mainsail reef points for the CL-14 and CL-16 as a factory
option. Cost about $100 CDN.


OK, but is it an option on a Hunter


Not that i'm aware of, but I'm sure you could have any loft install some
reef points for you. It's not like it takes an advanced degree in
aerodynamics or marine architecture to install some grommets and reef
lines.

146? I'd be suspicious that the
reefed sail shape might not be good, and that it may well put odd
stresses on the rig & spars.


You're suspicions are probably right, but while the sail shape may be
suboptimal and the stresses may be odd, I'd guss that just installing
some reef points to make take the bottom 18" out of the equation would
be close enough for most people.

I have seen some reefs put on daysailers in the 17' ~ 20' size range,
and most often it resulted in a boat that didn't sail any better than if
it was lugging the whole sail.


I consider "upright" to be sailing better than "not upright" . If it
accomplishes that, it's done the job.

Not to say that it couldn't be done, but
to design the rig from scratch for reefing capability would probably be
a big performance hit for normal sailing.


What boat were we talking about again?


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//-Walt
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