Helyar roller reefing

[Paul H (admin)]

I purchased Rob Helyar's Mk 1 roller reefing for the genoa I use on MilliBee a few months ago. It's made of a tough plastic pipe about 20mm diameter, with a single cut running the whole length.

I have slid the pipe over the genoa in the recent hot weather. The heat makes the pipe more flexible and easier to handle. Attaching the Barton drum required a wide slot, giving a push fit for the pipe.

Both the pipe and stainless bolt wire attach flush to the locating pin in the drum. I had to trim the pipe at the head, a lot of fiddling around and I achieved the same neat fitting, the pipe again was a force fit. So with the bolt wire and pipe secured each end, the reefing works well. After a turn or two the whole length reefs without any 'spiralling'. In other words the tack and head rotate at the same speed.



Tolerances are tight and I expect the pipe will stretch as required, to match the stainless wire bolt rope. If not elongation of the hole in the pipe should fix it.

There is just enough room between top of mast and foredeck to tighten the foresail. But the forestay is too close - so this might be the time to fit the bowsprit I made years ago. Then I can move the forestay forward, away from the genoa.

Can anyone suggestions alternatives?  
Paul

PS: I don't want to mess around with a longer mast at the moment, these wooden spars are just the right weight for my dodgy back.

[simplesimon]

Could put a small crane on the masthead to take the forestay - it's presumably not taking much stress when the foresail is up as you want most of the tension on the sail luff.

Soimething like this?


Simon

[Paul H (admin)]

That spinnaker bracket looks interesting and would offset the forestay nicely. Yes the genoa luff tension takes a lot of strain.

However, the genoa head swivel joint would foul against the lower bracket support. A 4 legged bracket would work.

I've decided I have to bite the bullet and start on the ally mast. I have a 5m tube and drilled the critical tabernacle pivot hole last night.

I need to shop around for a pop riveter. I prefer bolts but needs must.

Paul

[LASER41420]

Try this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-Hand-Riveter-Tool-Threaded-PopGun-Rivet-Nut-Long-Arm-17-inch-A0Q2/113078308121?hash=item1a53fe0d19:g:IvoAAOSwyDFbKKy3

or this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Am-Tech-32-inch-Extending-Heavy-Duty-Lazy-Tong-Pop-Riveter-Rivet-Gun-UK-STOCK/391705488217?hash=item5b33776b59:g:MHgAAOSwfVpYvgc1

I have the 2nd one and it far better than the much smaller cheaper tools, if you are ever over my way pop in and pick up some rivets, I literally bough a bucket full a few years ago.
Steve

[Paul H (admin)]

Steve,

Those riveters look ideal for the job, thanks for the links. I expect that 4mm and 4.8mm rivets are the most useful, as chandlery often accepts 4mm or 5mm bolts. I will get a selection of rivets and do some tests on scrap aluminium tube.

A bucket of rivets? That could create an entire fleet of dinghy rigs


I forgot to mention that Rob Helyar's website is here:

http://www.flexible-reefing-spars.co.uk/what-is-available.htm

Many Wayfarer sailors have successfully used his reefing system, which bodes well as I use a Wayfarer genoa. Rob's system is rugged using tough, flexible plastic pipe. It's ideal for trailer sailors, that drop the entire rig after sailing.

cheers
Paul

[LASER41420]

"A bucket of rivets? That could create an entire fleet of dinghy rigs"

Working on it, I lost count how many I used on the Streaker mast.
Steve

[Paul H (admin)]

Steve,

Did you use aluminium or stainless rivets?

There is a bewildering selection of head-mandrel material combinations available.

Presumably we should use all aluminium or all stainless?

Aluminium would be electrically  stable against the mast.

Paul

[LASER41420]

Hi,
Monel rivets are supposed to be best though mine are aluminium, probably OK if you stay away from salt water. In my experience stainless steel fitting always corrode an alloy mast if they get salty.
Steve

[Grldtnr]

This is interest to me, I have long thought about doing this to my Dabber,she has a Wykham-martin fitting at the moment she did have the Barton furling gear when I bought her.

Is this kit essentially a length of conduit pipe with drum and furler up top ,or is it more engineered than that?
Thought about bodging  a length of utilities pipe,that I have stashed as might be handy item ,but getting it straight might be a struggle ,then I need tof
 Fashion a slot, wonder if electric conduit could be used , be easier to cut with a Stanley blade in a jig, then slide over the luff of sail.

Any other Bodger's out there, or are all HBBR herberts consummate Bodger's?

Gerald.

[Port-Na-Storm]

Gerald said,

"Any other Bodger's out there, or are all HBBR herberts consummate Bodger's?"

I'd have thought you'd got the message by now. Although the DCA come pretty close. 😉

Grum.

Sent from my Xperia by Sony smartphone

---- Grldtnr [via UK HBBR Forum] wrote ----

This is interest to me, I have long thought about doing this to my Dabber,she has a Wykham-martin fitting at the moment she did have the Barton furling gear when I bought her.

Is this kit essentially a length of conduit pipe with drum and furler up top ,or is it more engineered than that?
Thought about bodging  a length of utilities pipe,that I have stashed as might be handy item ,but getting it straight might be a struggle ,then I need tof
 Fashion a slot, wonder if electric conduit could be used , be easier to cut with a Stanley blade in a jig, then slide over the luff of sail.

Any other Bodger's out there, or are all HBBR herberts consummate Bodger's?

Gerald.

---

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NAML

[Paul H (admin)]

Gerald,

Yes it seems to be a tough and flexible black water pipe that is split along its length.

The pipe outer diameter is 19mm and wall thickness is 2.5mm. The material is tough and slippery and feels like nylon.

Slitting the pipe along a straight line will be difficult without a tool or jig.

Here is picture of an offcut:



Rob supplied the pipe and because we lived close he hand delivered it and we discussed the installation. I supplied the drum and swivel joint myself.

Paul

[Grldtnr]

Sorry Grum , it was a silly question!