genoa sheets

[Gunfleet]

What's the best way you've seen of attaching genoa sheets? Sewn eye in the sheet end? Bowlines? Snap shackles?

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[Robin]

IMO do not use any kind of shackle including snapshackles, these are very dangerous for anyone working on the foredeck while the sail is set and on a rolled genoa will stain where they touch the sail. Bowlines are simple, work well if the tail is left long enough and come free of charge too.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Gunfleet]

That echoes my own view Robin, but I wondered if someone had come up with a snazzy solution. I seem to remember reading once about 'shackles' made of dyneema

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[jimi]

I also stick with bowlines. East too if a bit gets frayed just to cut a bit off the end and retie ... I always get longer than necessary sheets.

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[Gunfleet]

Frayed Bentos? NM

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[Robin]

There ia a means of whipping a loop and a tail together, loop through sail, tail through loop. Don't see the point, like Jimi says you can trim a plain sheet attached with a bowline to get rid of any chafe or to move the wear points like where they pass through blocks, turning blocks or clutches.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[tome]

Bowlines for me too!

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[marina95]

Known as "soft shackles", work very well in my experience but tend to be seen on the racers where changing headsails quickly is a priority. Take a look at http://www.equiplite.com/connectors.htm



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[Gunfleet]

Thanks. 500 sovs a go! I will be sticking to the bowlines.

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[geoffatstanpit]

I use bowlines too - mainly so I can lock the end of the spinny pole through the loop if it's too windy for the kite.

But I always curse when they snag on the shrouds when tacking. Needs some kind of tube to smooth off the lead from sheet to knot?

Geoff


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[davidbuttriss]

Surely sheet bends?

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[tugboat]

Never use shackles - sure recipe for headaches or sail damage. I always use bowlines and leave a 6 inch tail for safety. Also it cuts down chafe if you take a round turn through the clew fitting before tying the bowline.

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[bedouin]

I don't like bowlines as I find they tend to catch on the forward lowers when tacking - really looking for a better way that results in a smaller knot

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[jerryat]

Yep! Agree with the general view - strictly bowlines only!!

Jerry

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[mirabriani]

As an alternative to bowlines or shackles, see p 57 Yachting Monthly October
Look for "A hidden clew" made by T-Ring Ltd. Expensive but no doubt will become cheaper in time.
At the back on my mind, I believe I have recently seen another device to do the same job recently. No doubt somebody will pipe up.
Regards Briani

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[Gunfleet]

Mine do too - and I would also like to find a smooth solution. You can fit rollers to the forward shrouds, I suppose. I'm not convinced they're any good!

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[Rob_Webb]

The best solution

Saw an article in 'new products' seciton of local NZ boating mag recently that showed new design from one of the sailmakers - it includes a velcro 'pocket' around the eye - allows you to fasten the sheets using small-ish bowlines and then cover them under a neat veclro cover. End result is that it looks like an extension of the sail and has benefit of being completely smooth, no snagging potential etc.

I'll try to find it over weekend and attach a picture and name of sailmaker.

Spose only downside is no loop for whsiker pole I.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: The best solution

Thanks.I would be very interested. I only have a spinnaker pole so if I ever stick it on the genoa in a fit of enthusiasm I do uphaul, downhaul and let the sheet run free through the jaws on the end, so I won't miss the loop.

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[tome]

<cuts down chafe if you take a round turn>

Not possible for us as the clew eye isn't big enough to take 4 sheets. Don't like to tie one sheet through another, prefer both through clew.

Make do with regular inspection - can always end-for-end, cut or replace.

Big genoas in a breeze cause the problem with sheets when tacking IMO. I've recently added a No 3 jib and it's tame as lamb, problem solved.

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[alahol2]

I've seen a boat that had a short length of relatively thin 3 strand eye spliced to the clew. The genoa sheet was a single length of rope. The thin rope was double sheet bended (I think) to the middle of the sheet. Looked very neat and much smaller than bowlines. I assume it worked!


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