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Harken 7411.11 1/2 MKIV Jib Reefing & Furling User Manual

Page 40

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Operation

Reef/Secure Sail

40

MKIV Underdeck Unit 1, 2, 3

Reef
A sail may be partially furled before you resume

sailing. This is known as reefing.
Many sailors find it helpful to place marks on

foot of sail so that they can reef to a variety of

predetermined jib sizes. This allows marks to be

placed on jib lead tracks or toe rail so that lead

block position can be changed to correspond

to reefed jib.
Sails are generally reefed to balance boat and to

reduce heeling moment. Sails may also be reefed

to improve visibility or to slow boat while sailing

in congested areas or entering or leaving harbors.

Secure Sail
When furling the sail completely, make sure sheets and furling line are

secured. Check amount of line on the spool compared to the furled sail

before using the system.
A furled sail must have:

a. Two to three wraps of jib sheet wrapped around sail.
b. Two wraps minimum of line wound on spool.
c. Furling line securely cleated.
d. Jib sheets securely wrapped on winch and held in self-tailing jaws.

Furl at dock with tension on sheets to duplicate furling in high wind.
Remember sails furled in light wind and left loosely secured can be a

problem if wind increases.
IMPORTANT! Remove sail from furler if extreme winds are predicted,

especially if boat is left unattended.
IMPORTANT!
Check all points above—a, b, c, and d—when leaving

boat to avoid damage to furler or boat.
A loosely rolled sail can catch wind in a storm. Sheets or furling lines can

loosen as winds increase and allow furler to unroll. If no wraps of line are

on spool, the line deadend can break the drum when the boat motors

through waves.
Be sure mooring lines are not placed across furling line where they may

cause chafe.

a. 2–3 wraps

If you want to:

Add more wraps of

jibsheet on furled sail. Untie jib sheets and keep sail

completely rolled. Secure with

sail tie.

Turn spool to unroll a

couple of wraps of line.

Retie sheets.

Add more wraps of line

on spool.

Turn spool to add a

couple of wraps of line.

b.

2–3 wraps