genoa sheets

[Gunfleet]

This is similar to one of the solutions I considered. An eye sewn into one long genoa sheet, then a piece of hi-tec line securing it to the clew.

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[machurley22]

I converted to a one-piece genoa sheet secured to the clew with a cow hitch variant (basically a cow hitch with an extra (locking) turn) in the middle of the sheet. I have a baby stay and bowlines were a real nuisance in light airs.

This has worked a treat this season. (My storm jib flies on the baby stay and has it's own sheets.)

Dave

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[Gordonmc]

A variant on the theme...
I have an eye in the middle of one long sheet, with a short tail, about six inches long, also in the splice.
0
/|\ _ / \_

The eye goes through the clew and the tail goes through the eye. To change the sail, just pull the tail out and the sheet is free. So far I have never had the tail come out unintentionally.


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[aitchw]

I have single length of 5mm Dyneema spliced to the centre of the sheet. Mine is about 2' long but it could any convenient length. It has a plastic ball end on it. I just form a loop near the ball and pass the loop throught he clew and and trap the free end with the ball under the loop and pull down snug. It is the same method used on many dinghies for attaching the main halyard to the head of the sail. I don't have furling gear so when at anchor I can quickly detach the sheet and wrap the foresail round the stay. The sheet stays threaded through the fairleads all the time the boat is in the water. It is quick, cheap and v simple.

Works for me.

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[dickh]

I would like to try this 'loop & tail' method but you need a double length sheet and I'd have to buy a new long sheet to try it out - Hmm - maybe I'll try it on a long warp first and see if it stops the snagging on the lower shrouds......

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[MarkV]

Mine has got a single long sheet through the clew there is an overhand knot each side, means that I can not remove the sheet and the corner of the sail snags on the shroud, have plans to change it this winter. While reading this thread I have realised that if I reverse the side that the sheet runs to it will turn the clew outwards and stop the snagging.

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[samuel]

I definitely prefer the whipped loop with a short length of thicker rope whipped in the eye.
As a contributor said earlier it is dead easy to undo with cold hands. It is smaller than 2 bowlines so when the flogging sail hits you round the earhole it does not hurt as much as a couple of bowlines or a great big shackle. Crews tying bowlines tend to make the loops too big so eventually the loops catch on things such as cleats on the mast.
The thing to remember is that the short piece of rope has to be thick enough to prevent the loop plus rope end being drawn through the sail eye when under load.
This method was detailed in PBO a couple of years ago.
I once tried a snap shackle & the damned thing decided to shackle itself on to the rail when tacking in a difficult area. ( Sod's law etc)

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[Abigail]

Absolutely agree about the 'soft shackle' with a loop and end through the clew. If you have hanked on sails, a seperate peg of this kind is easier than the one use a whipped loop in the sheets (imho) as easier to handle sail changes. Sailed with one for ages and never had a problem. At the moment still with bowlines as two sheets, but thinking of changing it because it is less to bash you round the head at the wrong moment.

Definitely don't use a snap shackle - can be v dangerous.



<hr width=100% size=1>Sarah & Pip

www.greatlittleboats.com
UK & Ireland distributors of Swifgig

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I must be the odd one out! I use one long sheet which is doubled and a bowline on a bight if formed with the doubled sheet passing through the clew ring before the knot is completed. Work the whole thing snugly up to the ring and there are no tails, nothing in fact, to catch on the stays. My boat also has a baby stay.
My reasoning is that since the genoa is on a furler and stays there all the year round, apart from yearly washing, there is not much sense in removing the sheets each time I come back. So the sun hurts the sheets? Big deal! The genoa costs more and just lives there without complaining; so why not the sheets?
Fair Winds!

<hr width=100% size=1>Wally