Changing the mainsheet route

[Sea Change]

My mainsheet is set up with end boom sheeting, on a bridge deck traveller, which then runs along the boom, down to a turning block aft of the skylight hatch, and back to a winch on the coachroof.
There's nothing wrong with it per se, but between the kicker and the sheet the space between the sprayhood and mast is pretty much unusable for anything else (like storing a dinghy or life raft).

Is there any reason I couldn't modify the route taken by the sheet, so that the turning block is at the mast base? Essentially it would be copying what the kicker does. This would then open up the space a lot.

As far as I can see, most of the force on the sheet is at the boom end, and the exact position of the mid boom sheeting point shouldn't really matter?

 

[johnalison]

I'm not a fan of these arrangements anyway, but I think you need to consider what force you are applying through the sheet when, say, bringing the boom back from a far-out position with the full weight of wind in the sail.

 

[Minerva]

Do you need a winch? I generally in prefer some purchase and a jammer on the main sheet within reach of the helm.

 

[Sea Change]

I've thought about doing without the winch... it's a 37m² sail so not exactly small. Maybe with an extra purchase in the tackle? But it's a lot of string on the cockpit. At least with the winch on the coachroof the sheet is out of the way, under the sprayhood.

 

[dunedin]

Odd arrangement. Sounds like the worst of both worlds - still got track and sheet in the cockpit to cause a hazard, but the mainsheet can only be adjusted from the sprayhood, away from the helm.
Like post #3 alludes to, the best solution without massive change might be to change to having the mainsheet adjusted from a block on the mainsheet track with cam cleat - like most boats use.
If worried about lacking power, try adding a “fine tune control” - get some small (dinghy sized) double or triple pulley blocks with cleat, and add a 4:2 or 6:1 between the standing part and the traveller.
Traveller, mainsheet and fine tune is the ideal solution used on loads of fast cruising boats - like our previous Elan, First 36 etc.

We had the proper Harken system, but concept easily replicated with cheaper pulleys - https://www.harken.co.uk/en/support/tech-articles/mainsheet-fine-tune-systems/

 

[Sea Change]

Interesting idea. As far as I'm aware it's the standard setup. It's a late 80s Jeanneau.

Our previous boat was a somewhat undercanvased 39ft, and I swapped from a winch to a pulley/jammer on that boat. That felt like it was the absolute limit. SWMBO certainly couldn't un-cleat the main if we got caught out.

Current boat is not a racer but it's certainly a good bit more powerful, and a lot larger (47ft). So I'm hesitant about ditching the winch.

 

[oldbloke]

To answer your question... no, no problem at all, there will be a minimal reduction in mechanical advantage, but I wouldn't think it noticeable

 

[Minerva]

Ok @ 47ft a winch could be handy!

In that case I’d do as you originally suggest or I see on your photo there is an unused eye on the plate the kicker is attached to. Can you move the current forward main sheet block to that eye, then follow the same route as the kicker to the mast then back, perhaps to your spiny winches so their close to the helm?

Although sheet next to helm may be less important when you’re doing trans-ocean brave sailing stuff like you are doing!

 

[Sea Change]

Yes what you're describing is exactly what I was suggesting.
I'm not really too bothered about having the sheet accessible from the helm, it's not a dinghy .

I do like the fine tune idea as well. There's a bit of friction on the current setup which that would avoid.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We have the same area in our main, about 37msq, and have a 2 speed system like the Harken one, with 6:1/24:1 ratios, endless sheet. Our loads are at least as high as you’ll encounter, being laminate, fully battened and on a boat thatnot only stands up to it’s rig, but creates extra load with apparent wind. We very very occasionally winch it with A coaming mounted winch to close the leech when racing. Mostly that low ratio enables me to do that by using leg muscles rather than arms. I’d have thought it would work fine for you. Ours is Fredriksen, now Ronstan.

 

[dunedin]

Yes what you're describing is exactly what I was suggesting.
I'm not really too bothered about having the sheet accessible from the helm, it's not a dinghy .

I do like the fine tune idea as well. There's a bit of friction on the current setup which that would avoid.

That might be true doing ocean crossings, where you adjust the mainsheet every second day, whether needed or not (to move the chafe point). But I suspect when using in coastal waters there will be times when you end up short handed and suddenly need to duck another vessel, boat on mooring etc. 47ft boats t-boning because they can’t bear away tends to be expensive!

Is there no way to route the sheet from the traveller to a winch at the cockpit? Not seen pictures of that end of the system.

 

[Sea Change]

But I suspect when using in coastal waters there will be times when you end up short handed and suddenly need to duck another vessel, boat on mooring etc. 47ft boats t-boning because they can’t bear away tends to be expensive!

We'd likely be two up in such a situation.
I get my fill of weaving between moorings with the sailing dinghy we carry.