Reefing -Why Put Both Eyes On the Gooseneck " Horns "?

[Scare_Rab]

My Mainsail has a tape with a ring sewn on each end, through the Luff cringle. When reefing the main, I have only ever put one of these eyes upon the ' horn ' at the gooseneck. On a boat with similiar the other day. I watched a man reef. He did similiarly at first, = passed one ring over a horn. Then I watched him struggle to get the second ring on the other side, over the opposite horn. He was not a person you asked questions of. Do other people do both?

[colemj]

You only need one ring on the horn. Most dog bones aren't long enough to easily get both on the horn and some boats don't have horns on both sides.

Mark

[Dave852]

No, whichever is a better reach depending on how the sail flaked down, which tack etc...


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[MarkSF]

One ring is there to attach to the horn. The job of the other ring is to not pass through the hole in the sail - thus holding the tack down. The other advantage of this method is symmetry - you can attach to either horn on the boom.

The guy you saw struggling had failed to grasp the underlying concept.

[Nicholson58]

I raced for many years. I never used any but the most convenient cringle. They are on both sides so that you can attach the windward (usually the easiest). Don't sweat it - ask a sail maker if you are in doubt.

[Snowpetrel]

^^ +1 one side only.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by colemj

Most dog bones aren't long enough to easily get both on the horn and some boats don't have horns on both sides.

One ring only.

I've always called the length of webbing with two rings "reefing spectacles". Never heard it called a dogbone before.

Any other names? Where's the nomenclature referee?

[colemj]

I haven't heard them called "spectacles" before - only "dog bones".

I just did a quick google search on both names and "dog bone" shows up predominantly on US sites, while "spectacles" show on predominantly UK sites.

I'm going to guess you are from the UK?

Mark

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by colemj

I haven't heard them called "spectacles" before - only "dog bones".

I just did a quick google search on both names and "dog bone" shows up predominantly on US sites, while "spectacles" show on predominantly UK sites.

I'm going to guess you are from the UK?

Mark

Most interesting, Mark. Thanks.

I repeated the exercise with similar results. I also found one US site calling the device "floppy rings" and another US site calling it "reefing ears" or "reefing earrings". But all other US webpages used "dog bone" or "dogbone".

And a US site with a shaped metal device I've not seen before, called a dog bone, which seems used as what I'd call a toggle to close a soft shackle instead of what I'd call making a becket by looping the soft shackle onto its own stopper knot - see SOAK dog bones.

I grew up in Australia, which of course sits astride several traditions of English. I call turnbuckles turnbuckles, not bottle screws, for example. And refuse to call a hose clamp a "jubilee clip". But ask for a spanner, not a wrench (unless it's a socket wrench, a pipe wrench etc).

Al

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

Most interesting, Mark. Thanks.

I repeated the exercise with similar results. I also found one US site calling the device "floppy rings" and another US site calling it "reefing ears" or "reefing earrings". But all other US webpages used "dog bone" or "dogbone".

And a US site with a shaped metal device I've not seen before, called a dog bone, which seems used as what I'd call a toggle to close a soft shackle instead of what I'd call making a becket by looping the soft shackle onto its own stopper knot - see SOAK dog bones.

I grew up in Australia, which of course sits astride several traditions of English. I call turnbuckles turnbuckles, not bottle screws, for example. And refuse to call a hose clamp a "jubilee clip". But ask for a spanner, not a wrench (unless it's a socket wrench, a pipe wrench etc).

Al

So true. Australian English can bat both ways at times.

First time I asked for a torch I got a gas axe. I meant a flashlight. I fired it up and used the dim light from an oxidising flame to see what I wanted. My American technician labelled me the Aussie fixer and it stuck.

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[svTOTEM]

Sailmaker here - and agree with everyone else on 1 side only. Another name for them not mentioned yet –dog ears. Connecting both sides is unnecessary, difficult, and can damage the sail from chafe (sail against horns/gooseneck) unless the connecting dog ears webbing is extra long.