Correct Jib sail attachment to stemhead

[wizard]

Just put my new kit built Hunter Ranger 245 in the water only to find there was nothing in the kit to attach the jib to the stemhead ( not roller reefing - standard jib sail). Have been advised by their sailing guru to tie it to the stemhead with 8mm rope. All previous boats ( non Hunters ) have had a wire strop for this with shackles at either end. Question is - which is best ?. My gut feeling considering I plan long cruises and some racing is for the wire strop - less wear and chafe problems plus no stretch problems with the fractional rig backstay tensioner tensioning the forestay. What does the assembled experince of the forum suggest I should do?

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[nodder]

Hard to believe the best advice you get from the expert is a bit of 8mm rope.Like yourself i would tend to go for the wire strop and shackles,possibly snap shackle fitting to the jib. if your planning to do a bit of racing,any sail changes will be much easier with this system , no struggling on the foredeck with knots while the boat is pitching and rolling.

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[Johnjo]

Before fitting a furling system used to use wire strops with a shackle one end and a snap connecter
the other,
Also had twin forestays, been thinking lately of going back to this system as the furling genoa
sets like a bag of shite when reefed!

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[anabel]

Use wire strop with thimble at each end. Shackle lower end to stemhead fitting & use snapshackle at other end to attach jib. Leave wire strop on permanently. Make sure this strop is of correct length. Too long and you will not be able to tighten sail luff properly.

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[Peppermint]

Nothing wrong with a bit of 8mm.

Sure the knots are a pain if you change headsails a lot and you want to make sure it's not stretchy but it's cheap and it works.

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[gjeffery]

Please would you send me a PM?

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[ccscott49]

wire strop, thimbles both ends, shackle at deck, snap at sail, get the length correct.

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[wizard]

Thanks everyone for your advice - I think the wire strop wins in this situation

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[claymore]

I once fitted a kicking strap type arrangement (Luff downhaul) which helped me get luff tension but also allowed me to vary the distance for different sails from the tack to the deck.
Just a thought

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Claymore
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[ccscott49]

Seen quite often on bowspritted cutters, outhaul and luff tensioner. Bloody good idea.

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[gjeffery]

Is the stemhead adapted to take a jib tack, or just the forestay chain plates?





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