Genoa eyelet knot

[petedg]

What's the best knot to use to attach the furling ropes to the eyelet in the Genoa? Not sure of the original knot that was used but it kept fouling on the shrouds. Next season we will buy some covers for the shrouds which should help. Any recommendations for a knot which stays put, particularly when the sails are flapping would be appreciated.

 

[newtothis]

Bowline is usual for genoa sheets. Could use a blood knot if not planning to remove anytime soon.

 

[sailorman]

the past 40 yrs a small bowline has done the trick on my sheets, others will have differing ideas

 

[Jamesuk]

For 400hp of power driving us through the water we use a bowline ;-)

 

[Behome]

Double figure of 8, I found bowlines too bulky and were forever fouling the stay.

 

[DanTribe]

I've always used bowlines, but they do snag.
This year I've used continuous sheets tied with a double cow hitch, almost a prusik knot, not sure of proper name. This is much smaller and almost never snags. Time will tell if it can be undone!

 

[BelleSerene]

I've always used bowlines, but they do snag.
This year I've used continuous sheets tied with a double cow hitch, almost a prusik knot, not sure of proper name. This is much smaller and almost never snags. Time will tell if it can be undone!

I like that. I went for a spliced loop in the middle of a double-length sheet last time - one shackle attaches it to the clew and it's reasonably streamlined.

I prefer your idea though: avoids getting flailed in the cheek by a metal shackle in a gale.

 

[guernseyman]

One continuous sheet with a lark's head knot. Minimal weight. Can't come undone.

 

[Simondjuk]

What do you do once the middle of the continuous sheet has chafed through?

 

[HenryEDM]

What do you do once the middle of the continuous sheet has chafed through?

Tie a bowline

Since when are jib sheets known as furling lines? And a clew an eyelet? I'd not worry about the technicalities of which knot to use if you don't even know the names of the bits. Stick to using the spinny thing.

 

[knuterikt]

I like that. I went for a spliced loop in the middle of a double-length sheet last time - one shackle attaches it to the clew and it's reasonably streamlined.

I prefer your idea though: avoids getting flailed in the cheek by a metal shackle in a gale.

Why not use a soft shackle?

 

[guernseyman]

No noticeable chafe after 22 years.

 

[prv]

What do you do once the middle of the continuous sheet has chafed through?

I use bowlines on Ariam, but I think a cow hitch makes sense on smaller sails and was what I used on Kindred Spirit. No signs of chafe in her jib or staysail sheets - and I wouldn't expect any, because the line isn't moving against the clew. You might as well ask what about the rope in a bowline chafing against itself inside the knot.

Pete

 

[onesea]

This year I switched, from bowline to spliced eyes in the end of the ropes and a soft shackle...

I would not go back...

 

[Simondjuk]

No noticeable chafe after 22 years.

That's good. You must have a very forgiving clew cringle.

 

[Simondjuk]

You might as well ask what about the rope in a bowline chafing against itself inside the knot.

Pete

When you get chafe from the cringle in the loop of the bowline, you move the knot a few inches and it's solved. When you get it in the middle of a continuous, long sheet, you end up with two individual, short sheets. That was the issue I was querying.

The genoa sheets on our previous boat had a good degree of chafe where the knots had obviously been set for a good while prior to them being replaced, so it seems it can occur.

 

[Amulet]

Cow hitch (=larks head) move it a few inches from time to time. I am a low mileage boat and see little chafe. Mate who has a 10000 mile a year boat manages fine with it too.

 

[Gitane]

I use a bowline on each sheet, but tie the lines together just below the knots with thin string. This then give a smooth line which does not snag the shrouds.

Gitane

 

[Simondjuk]

Again, just curious as I've never tried it, but I'd have thought that a hitch in which the loop pulls closed, might on a sail with a pressed in cringle, as opposed to a ring, strangulate the ear of the sail, and damage the fabric against the outer diameters of each side of the cringle.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I've always used bowlines, but they do snag.
This year I've used continuous sheets tied with a double cow hitch, almost a prusik knot, not sure of proper name. This is much smaller and almost never snags. Time will tell if it can be undone!

+1 but just a single cow hitch... no sign of chafe (like one of the other posters though I do low mileage) and no sign of "strangulation" though the sail is quite reinforced in that area..