Attaching a one piece jib sheet

[LadyInBed]

I bought a new length of line last year for new jib sheets but I have a reluctance to cut it in half (you never know when you might need a 70ft line).

The only thing that I have been unhappy with is a suitable knot to tie it on, but recently, browsing through a knot book I took a second look at an Alpine Butterfly Knot.
The thing that struck me was the way the ends come away from the loop at Rt angles, which would make it easy to pull round the stays.

The only hassle is that it will have to be constructed from the 'end' through the crinkle rather than from the centre.

. . . What does the team think?
.

 

[sailorman]

I bought a new length of line last year for new jib sheets but I have a reluctance to cut it in half (you never know when you might need a 70ft line).

The only thing that I have been unhappy with is a suitable knot to tie it on, but recently, browsing through a knot book I took a second look at an Alpine Butterfly Knot.
The thing that struck me was the way the ends come away from the loop at Rt angles, which would make it easy to pull round the stays.

The only hassle is that it will have to be constructed from the 'end' through the crinkle rather than from the centre.

. . . What does the team think?
.

cut it, you are then able to "end for end" it to spread the wear

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Most people just cow hitch it on. It's always worked for us.

You can always cut it later to swop ends if needed.

 

[Woodlouse]

Cut it. If you need a 70 foot line then you can tie it together again.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Cut it. If you need a 70 foot line then you can tie it together again.

Please explain to me why. A cow hitch works perfectly. Strength is not an issue in this situation. Why cut it when you don't have to?

 

[deeb]

or bowline each end of the sheet to the clew, and have the sheet continuous

 

[VicS]

I dont like bowlines on the genoa sheets..

This is how I attach mine ( not a very good diagram I'm afraid .. but the best i could find)

I use a stopper knot in the end of the "helper" line rather than a hard bead.


Its easily fitted/ removed so useful if you change headsails but does not have a metal shackle to flail about.

BTW for single handed sailing tying the two ends together in the cockpit can be handy... You never loose one over the side or along the side deck.

 

[onesea]

or bowline each end of the sheet to the clew, and have the sheet continuous

+1 On our last boat we pre-fared them that way...

 

[sailorman]

+1 On our last boat we pre-fared them that way...

i used to do that on my mirror dinghy

 

[LadyInBed]

Agreed that I can cut it when wear sets in.
Doesn't anyone think that an Alpine Butterfly would do a good job?

 

[Hadenough]

Try it and report back, nothing lost!

 

[wklein]

You normally tie a butterfly in a bight so would be pretty fiddly to tie through clue.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I think a bowline is a beautiful knot for when we had hank on jibs,
i.e. changing, and when going home.

Downside, two are still a bit bulky and can still give you quite a whack .

The new knot suggested looks nice, and definitely worth a trial go.

Cow hitch for me at the moment on the furler.

 

[MudShipper]

Dutch Shackle

I like the look of the Alpine, and it could be coupled with a Dutch Shackle (found in Des Pawson's excellent book), which made up of a Bight of rope with a 6 part Wall & Crown stopper in the end. Easy to make yourself from suitable sized rope for your clews. Definitely one to try.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I am sounding like an echo here!

The simplest knot in the world is a cow hitch. Just use it and stop arguing!

The next thing is someone is going to suggest a Turks Head FFS!

The Alpine knot is actually a bad idea as all the force goes through a single bight. With the cow hitch there are effectively two bights therefore half the wear.

 

[Judders]

We found a bit of movent in the ow hitch we were using on Roughian's light number one so I popped a whip around it and it's been fine ever since. Less to get caught on the spreaders and as ESB says, spreads the wear.

 

[webcraft]

+1 On our last boat we pre-fared them that way...

pre-fared? Is this another example of your unique approach to nautical terminology?

A cow hitch is ideal from the pov of low friction / snagginess when getting the genoa round the shrouds when tacking. The only problem is it can take a while to undo if you change headsails and want to use the same sheets. There is an obvious answer to this . . .

- W

 

[Judders]

The only problem is it can take a while to undo if you change headsails and want to use the same sheets. There is an obvious answer to this . . .

Which is precisely what we did on Roughian. I dare say that we'll do similiar on Magic. Okay so we are lugging an extra few mg of rope around but you really need a change-sheet anyway and if it's the #3 you're changing down to, you dont want to be farting around on the foredeck tying knots with cold wet hands.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

I am sounding like an echo here!

The simplest knot in the world is a cow hitch. Just use it and stop arguing!

The next thing is someone is going to suggest a Turks Head FFS!

The Alpine knot is actually a bad idea as all the force goes through a single bight. With the cow hitch there are effectively two bights therefore half the wear.

How about a Larks foot, I use one of these.
C_W

 

[awol]

How about a Larks foot, I use one of these.
C_W

Wrong appendage - try a Lark's Head instead.