Genoa eyelet knot

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.

Ah, now that's a different question. The jib and staysail on Kindred Spirit had chrome-leather reinforcing clearly designed to protect against this problem. The fact that the sails were obviously built with cow-hitched sheets in mind was partly why I carried on doing it.

Pete
 
I have a long sheet with a loop in the middle made around a plastic thimble. The loop is then lashed to the genoa. In 9 years this has only given one problem - I didn't make a good enough job of the lashing, and it came undone. Easy enough to retie - even in a F5.
 
Spiny thing

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.[/QUOTE]

Thanks to everyone for your answers, clearly still lots to learn.....as pointed out by spiny thing. There's always one!
 
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.

Thanks to everyone for your answers, clearly still lots to learn.....as pointed out by spiny thing. There's always one![/QUOTE]
As a teenager, my son used to look after and crew on a large racing boat.
When new crew or corporate guests came on board, he would deliberately used non nautical terms, such as downstairs for below, bathroom for heads, cupboard for locker etc.
Often the new folk will have read the right book and correct his terminology. The first pedant to do this would then only be given instructions in technical terms.
The names of some of the string on a modern large racing yacht defies belief to a pottering cruiser like myself.
What you call stuff is less important than being understood.
 
Nigel yes I made my own soft shackle, there is no point not too.

I also have use one on my bag when it flys, seems to confuse airport attendants who might want access ;) and I don't have to worry about loosing keys...

As for end for ending the sheets, how many years does a set of jib sheets last? My last lot where 6 years old when I sold the boat and where not new when I bought her...
 
Thanks to everyone for your answers, clearly still lots to learn.....as pointed out by spiny thing. There's always one!
As a teenager, my son used to look after and crew on a large racing boat.
When new crew or corporate guests came on board, he would deliberately used non nautical terms, such as downstairs for below, bathroom for heads, cupboard for locker etc.
Often the new folk will have read the right book and correct his terminology. The first pedant to do this would then only be given instructions in technical terms.
The names of some of the string on a modern large racing yacht defies belief to a pottering cruiser like myself.
What you call stuff is less important than being understood.[/QUOTE]
Fair point. No one much likes a pedant but a furling line is not a jib sheet. The reason boats have lots of different names for the bits of string is so that you don't end up lamely pointing and saying, "Pull that bit of rope...no not that one." Or "Attach that to the corner of that sail...no bottom corner...no bottom front corner." Sometimes using correct terminology is useful even essential. If you pulled my furling line as I tacked I'd not be impressed.
 
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.

Like most others i use two bowlins.
When I first sailed with my brother in law on his 42ft boat. I was very impresed with his simple gib sheet arangment. A single continuos sheet with an eye in the midle and a soft eye to attach it to the clew.
It made sail changes very quick and easy.
He still use it.
by the way the boat was sailed all the way to the Uk from Austrailia with this arangement.

I cant see any point in doing it the other way round. You would have one side slack and the other under tension the slack would still be round your feet in the cockpit or coiled.
you would need to make sure you had enough slack so the sail could be set for any wind direction and strengh you are likly to enounter and be able to be eased to let the sail fly free. without the lazy sheet coming taught
 
I cant see any point in doing it the other way round. You would have one side slack and the other under tension the slack would still be round your feet in the cockpit or coiled.

As some have said, it can be useful in dinghies to make sure that the crew can always get hold of the working sheet, without having to scrabble about down on the leeward side and probably allow the boat to capsize.

Never seen it done on a yacht, though, and can't see much benefit.

Pete
 
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