genoa sheets

[chappy]

Our beam is 2.72 m which is quite narrow. Currently we have the genoa sheets running inside our guardrails but are finding that they are rubbing the plastic covering on the rails which were brand new this season (thsi happened on our first day of sailing this season).

We have noticed that some boats run their sheets outside the guard rails. Do you think this would be a good idea for us to stop this rubbing on the rails? Is there a right way or wrong way or any particular reason why the sheets should go inside the rails?

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[nordic_ranger]

Hello and welcome to the forum. All fore sail sheets whither Genoa, Working Jib, Storm Jib etc. should be outside the the guard rails. The golden rule on all fore sail sheets is 'Outside everything'.
Enjoy your sailing.

Jim.

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[boatless]

Sorry, strongly beg to differ. If the track/fairlead is on the sidedeck or coachroof, sheet goes direct to the sail, outside shrouds, inside guardrails.

Plastic covering isn't often used forward of the cockpit for that reason.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[chappy]

To user name boatless.
our beam is very narrow, & when we sheet in our genoa from inside the guardrails
they put a terrific amount of pressure on the stanchions & guardrails,that is why im thinking of putting them on the outside, but some say yes & some say no. HELP I'M CONFUSED!!


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[boatless]

Do they touch the rails when you are tightly close hauled?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[chappy]

To boatless.
yes they do, also are genoa track runs on the very side of the boat nearly under the guardrails.

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[webcraft]

Outside shrouds, inside guardrails (boatless)? Don't understand what boatless is talking about here. On most boats the shrouds are outside the guardrails or very close to them.

Every boat I have ever been on has the headsail sheets taken outside the guardrails as far as the genoa car. From the genoa car they may run inside or outside depending on design - it just depends on what the natural lead to the sheet winch is. I can't think of any exceptions in a conventionally rigged monohull.

If I had to beat to windward in a severe gale with just a scrap of roller headsail then I would consider taking the sheet directloy back to the cockpit inside the shrouds, but this is the only cirumstance I ca envisage doing this in.

If your sheets are putting pressure on the guardrails then the lead is definitely wrong. Take them outside everything - your headsail will set better, headsail handling will be easier . . . just out of interest, what made you do it the other way in the first place?

- Nick

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[boatless]

Oh, that's relatively uncommon. If the tracks are on the toerail I would run the sheets outside the rails, but you'll still get wear on them when you tack if the old sheet isn't completely free to run. Maybe some larger and softer sheets would be more kind to the plastic too?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[boatless]

Webcraft

And oh (again). Whereas every boat that I have ever sailed has them inside - or have I got up too early and I'm misunderstanding?

Winch to track car,obvious, from track car (let's assume genoa lying on the deck as you're rigging it) sheet runs along the sidedeck to the genoa clew, staying in contact with the deck and crossing nothing.

This is the case on everything I've sailed from Contessa 32 to contemporary.

Re: strong winds and missing out the car, would have thought that you'd have a) too much twist off at top of jib, and b) be sheeted at too fine an angle of attack, normally better to crack off.

John - puzzled

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by boatless on 23/05/2004 11:10 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[chappy]

Hi Nick.
Thanks for your reply.
The reason why we had them like that in the first place is because the guy who we bought the boat of had them like that when he took us out on a try sail on the said boat, then the guard rails were manky, so we replaced them with new ones this season, only for it to start rubbing them again, & we don't want to be replacing them every year.

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[webcraft]

Re: Webcraft

Sorry . . .

Didn't read your post correctly or think when replying . . . I am in fact speaking complete rubbish, a not wholly unknown phenomenon and partly due to too much red wine last night . . .

I thought you were advocating taking the genoa sheet inside the shrouds, which seemed barmy . . . Whether or not it goes inside the guard wires depends of course on the position of the genoa track.

If the track is on the toerail or very near the edge of the sidedeck then the sheet will usually go outboard of the guardwires, but if in the centre of the sidedeck or even further inboard then it would definitely go inside. Sorry for the misunderstanding . . .

My track is right on what would be the toerail if the boat had one, so the sheet leads have to be outboard of the guardrail - but I have sailed plenty of boats where the sheet lead normally comes inside the guardrail and down to the genoa car. I have also experienced rubbing/friction on the guardrail on some boats, which may sometimes be allieviated by adjusting the position of the car.

Sounds like Chappy needs to try both and see which causes least friction.

Again, apologies for any confusion caused - think I'll shut up now!

- Nick







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[boatless]

Re: Webcraft

Oh good, thought it was me that had too much red, a very pleasant Chilean Merlot...

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[l'escargot]

Click <A target="_blank" HREF=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/westgatefamily/default.htm>here</A> (the site is quite slow to load) to go to the Jag Owners site who will probably give you the definitive answer. Having a quick look at some of the photos, outside would appear the norm.

If they rub inside and you can sheet in hard enough when they are outside, outside would appear to be the best setup.

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[LadyInBed]

You could slacken off the top guard rail, then at the point of ware tie and tension a cord from the upper to lower guard rail. Alternatively down to the toe rail if you have one, if not screw a U bracket to the deck.

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[Guest]

Depends on the set and line ...

Set the genny as usual ....... check the line of the sheets, if they are crook around the guard-rail ..... then rig a line inside the rails and try that .....

You will soon see which is best by the straightness of the sheet to the deck eye or traveller.

Note it is common for cruisers to rig outside the rail ..... and for racers such as mine to rig inside the rail ....... allows to sheet in harder when pointing (close to the wind .....)

It also has to be remembered that designers sail-plans etc. are without pulpits and rails ..... often once these are fitted - the sails are compromised on sheeting angles and also witness the genny fitted low down and creased over the pulpit ......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[dulcibella]

Re: Depends on the set and line ...

Doesn't it really all depend on the lead? If the sheet is putting pressure on the guard wires, then re-rove it to a better position. Clearly it varies with your point of sailing, how much roll you have in the headsail, and where you have positioned the sheet cars, so the same position won't be satisfactory for all situations and you'll have to change it from time to time.

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