Al Stead Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hello All, I want to put reef points in my tarp main sail. I bought a heavy duty white tarp on the net that is quite a bit heavier than any I have used before. However, I'm not too sure about stresses on the reef points, especially the one on the leach. My plan it to build up the areas around where I will set the grommets with white duct tape, and maybe a line along the reef line as an extra reinforcemnet. I'm going to do a jiffy reef system. My question is: can I put reef points in a tarp sail, and if I can, will it work very well and last for a while? Al Stead Weekender Jumping Duck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_Butchart Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I used "tarp tape" - which is different than duct tape to put an "X" on both sides of the tarp when I was going to install a reef point. I then hammered a grommet in the middle of the X. Seems strong to me but I haven't used it too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAR Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 Tarp sails don't like big winds. Their stretchy nature can make boat handling increasingly difficult, as wind strengths build. A disk or "X" of additional material at the reef points is the usual course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Stead Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 thank you gentlemen, The main reason I'm going this route is with the way the summer winds are around here, I won't go out too much if I'm not prepared for a heavy blow. Last summer I went out on a mild day and soon found myself listening to my mainsail leach buzzing like the reed on an oboe, and the waves splashing over the rub rail. That was kind of cool, but boy I sure would have reefed if I could have. I had to cut my day short which I don't want to do this year when I'm trying so hard to learn boat handling skills. Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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