Genoa Sheets catching on shroud

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flylhp

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Hi
Has anyone got any tips to help stop the genoa sheets catching on the shrouds when tacking, the sheets are 16mm and attached with a bowline which locks behind the forward lower shroud the yacht 31ft.

Flylhp /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
The first point to check is the bowline is tied the right way round. There are two ways to tie it using the 'rabbit goes round the tree' method, either the tail goes inside or outside. You will find that one way gives a flatter knot than the other. Also you can put the more lumpy side of the knot either facing the shroud or outside it. Either of these points may be enough to solve your problem.

Otherwise you may well find that the plastic tubes sold by most chandlers will assist. Buy ones that are larger than the shroud diameter and they will rotate as the knot passes over them. One drawback with them is that large amounts of sludgy muck accumulate behind the, so they need regular cleaning.

16 mm sounds like very large genoa sheets for a 31 ft boat. I use 12 mm on a 34 footer with a large overlapping genoa. Reducing this size will also help.
 
I had this problem...bl**dy nuisance!! Solved it by attaching sheets directly to genoa via a seized eye...ie whipped the sheet at three points ,using thin braided nylon. I then wrapped the seizing with self amalgamating tape.to give a smooth surface. It has worked perfectly all summer and after the initial "stretch" there is no sign of pulling out. The downside is that you have to undo the whole shebang if you want to remove the sheets at the end of the season,but this only takes a mo. Alternatively you could do the above but use a shackle to attach the eyes to the genoa,but this is just another thing to snag,also someone will tell you that it might "hit you on the head" and" could be dangerous ".As I said,it has stood the test,so worth a try. Cheers
 
It helps to tie the bowlines so that the tails are pointing outboard. Or you can do away with bowlines and have a single length sheet with an eye formed in the centre, the eye is passed through the clew eye and locked with a rope toggle; this option was discussed in detail on here some time ago.
 
I overcame this be siezing an eye with a long tail in the end of the sheet. You pass the eye through the cringle and lock it with the end of the tail.
It works better if you can have continuous sheets because then only one eye is needed. Two separate sheets can be too cumbersome.
Obviously size of cringle and diameter of sheet is critical.
 
I did this. I whipped a soft eye in each sheet which I attach to the headsail with a carabiner. (it's only me goes on the foredeck, so if it clocks me it's my fault).
Then I used heat-to-shrink cable wrapping available from any electrical wholesaler. The only improvent I could have made would be to taper the end of the sheet with a hot knife before shrink wrapping it.

It works for me and I had terrible trouble before with all sorts of knots and whipped-in eyes etc.

headsailsheets.jpg
 
Sooner or later that will whack you in the ear. If it's on the end of 300 sq ft you will lose your sense of humour.
 
As my boat is only 18 feet the headsail is only about 100sq ft. I used a similar system on my last boat amd still have admirable ears..
 
Yes similar system to that described by Twisterowner, DanTribe and Lakesailor. Except that I have the eye formed in the sheet and the tail which is seized on with the whipping that makes the eye has a stopper knot in the end. I can't remember for sure but I think I stitched and whipped it. I also have something similar for the halyards. Nothing hard to whack you round the ear and no shackles to loose or fiddle with.

Likewise surprised at 16mm for sheets for a 31 footer. Nice to grip I guess and provided the fairleads are big enough then no problem except that in light airs the extra weight hanging on the clew must be a disadvantage.
 
I use a simple cow hitch in the middle of the single genoa sheet. All the books say a cow hitch needs a pull from both ends to be successful but after trying it out, I have used it for years without any slippage. This gives a very low profile and NEVER snags on my shrouds. Neither does it injure you.
 
Genny sheets ....

16mm ??????????? Tieing up QE2 are we ?

Blimey ... they are well oversize. Nice and big to handle though. Do you not find your winch / cleat etc. whatever is stretched to accommodate such size sheets ? Or have you mixed up measurement formats ?

As to stopping sheets catching ... majority of boats have this problem ....

a) turn bowline around by tieing from other side ..... putting bulk away from shroud ...
b) Do away with bowline and use different system.
c) Back Genny before letting fly to haul in other sheet ... this way it is carried through by wind force BEFORE sheet pulls into shroud
d) Get some plastic tubing from B&Q .... slit and place on shroud, bind at intervals with tape etc. ... then you have a "roller" on the shroud ....

There are many ways to get around this one.

My boat .... If I try to tack and heave by sheets the genny across - bingo ! Caught every time. Back the genny by holding it on first sheet till sail is FULL - then release ... and sheet in on other tack - Bingo Success.
 
Hard heads .... LS - I\'m with you !!

I like the swivel eye idea and use it on my boat .... quick to attach, quick to detach. OK so it can cause serious injury if it clocks you round the ears .... but seeing as I have a girt big metal eye in the clew of my genny - it only adds to what would do serious damage anyway ...

AND lets be honest any sail that catches you round the lug'ole - with or without a bit of metal will make your eye's water !!

LS - I'm with you ...... and damn the torpedoes !!
 
Re: Genny sheets ....

'Back the genny by holding it on first sheet till sail is FULL - then release ... and sheet in on other tack - Bingo Success. '

Thats the way to do it!
 
Backing the genny .....

This also makes sure that boat goes through wind as fast as possible without stalling ....

Both my boats I do this - and I teach it to all who sail with me ... the speed of going about is more than halved ... it's what I did when I had the racing boat as well ....

Backing Genny will cure most boats of bad tacking .... especially those with large gennys that get caught out .....
 
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