Hi,
we are about to change our reefing system and I'm thinking about how to exit the reefing lines next to the gooseneck on the boom.
Boat is a 35ft cruising cat.
The boom is of an unknown brand.
Sail has a bolt
rope at the bottom, it's not loose footed.
Currently there is an out haul and three reefing lines.
One of the reefing lines is retrofit and runs outside of the boom.
Currently the reefing lines enter the bottom at the back end and exit at several staggered locations along the boom through stainless
halyard exits and go onto stoppers mounted on the boom.
There is no exit for them at the front end.
As we like to lead them aft, they now need to go to the gooseneck.
Options I'm pondering. Especially regarding the risk of weakening the boom:
1)
Dismount the stoppers on the boom and run outside to blocks beside the gooseneck.
It will not look nice, but no new holes.
2)
Cut new outlets close to the gooseneck.
Cut two of them on each side, above each other, but vertical as much apart as possible. See tape on
photo.
3)
Cut as above, but stagger them also longitudinally (aft end of one is longitudinally the end of other).
See tape on
photo.
4)
Cut a big hole in the bottom of the boom and find/built a sheave box.
Will be difficult to do and probably weaken the boom a lot.
Thoughts and comments on this?