Reefing Hook

Published October 21, 2004

In the October 2004 issue of WoodenBoat magazine the article Reviving a Dried-out Hull (p. 96) by Michael P. Warr described how to make your own reefing tool from a used file.  By pure accident I was recently in the Harbor Freight Tools store looking for an air compressor and found their item no. 35556 Seal Puller illustrated below.

This tool appears to be the perfect substitute for the file identified in the article, and I say appears in that I have not yet tried it out.  The only modifications to the tool would be to lightly put an edge on the inner portion of the hooks so as to form a clean edge against the planking.  I welcome your comments if anyone else tries this out.