Thanks for this about the wave height Dave, very good info...on big lakes in strong winds a steep and sometimes breaking 3 ft chop can happen, that's half the beam of an M15... I had only a little opportunity to test my new furler-reefing headsail this year. It's designed for reefing, including luff padding to maintain good shape when reefed to varying amounts on the furler. And it appears to do what it's designed to, so far. In some changeable winds on Fern Ridge reservoir I was playing with it a fair bit. I took it down several times to what I understood to be the max designed reef (there are color stripes on the foot at intervals) and it still had good shape. Probably not as good as a purpose cut hank-on of that %, but then that's harder to change quickly. And I've been on a few boats with furling-only headsails not designed to reef (or not designed well for it maybe?) and yeah, they just don't work at more than a minor amount of reefing. They get baggy and it's worse than full jib or no jib. cheers, John On 11/15/2018 07:23 AM, Dave Scobie wrote:
Of course, being out on a reservoir in gusts and pretty close to the boat ramp is not like being on the open water.
Be aware that the primary danger is NOT the wind it is THE SEAS. When the wave height approaches about 1/2 the boat's beam a breaking wave is increasing likely to roll the boat when striking a boat at the beam. As the wave height becomes greater than 1/2 the beam the boat will roll. This simplified rule works for all sailboats of any size.
Again this is a breaking wave not swells.
Know how to reef and make it simple and easy. Reefing a 15&17 Mboat, or Sage, should take 30 seconds. IMO on a.15/17 single line reefing are prone to jams and is slow and using a tack horn makes reefing more complicated. The system Jerry provided on the boats, a tack line at the mast and clew line on the boom is simple and works! Practice practice practice.
Be aware of the very poor sail shape roller reefing headsail creates at more than 30% sail reduction. Don't 'modify' a hankon headsail to work on a roller furler! The sails are cut differently to work correctly and a incorrectly cut furling headsail will become a worse 'bag' when reefed and make the boat heal more than when fully extended.
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com
On Thu, Nov 15, 2018, 6:48 AM Peter Zimowsky via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com wrote:
I think going out in some strong winds for practice is a good idea. Of course, being out on a reservoir in gusts and pretty close to the boat ramp is not like being on the open water. Your story about the Monty taking the seas is much appreciated. I underestimate my M15. Thanks,
Pete Winter Sky (Zimowsky) M377 outdoors writer and photographer www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.com <http://www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.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