Genoa Sheets

[Touching Cloth]

My genoa sheets are rather tired, and need replacing.

Any recommendations for rope spec and where to purchase?

Thank you.

 

[johnalison]

It is mostly about what you want to handle. Almost any line of the appropriate size will handle the load but they can feel very different. My last boats, or maybe all of them, came with matt braid which feels fine but I got fed up with how it fed itself round the rigging so slowly, and prefer something shinier. I am not up to date with modern stuff, but I would just see what feels best.

 

[dunedin]

Depends a lot on the type and size of boat.
For our 38 foot moderate high performance boat we chose cruising dyneema to reduce stretch going upwind - and bought LIROS Dynamic Plus from Jimmy Green Marine.
But would be vast overkill for a Westerly Centaur, or if don’t care about upwind performance.

 

[thinwater]

My genoa sheets are rather tired, and need replacing.

Any recommendations for rope spec and where to purchase?

Thank you.

This is a trick question (no boat description).

Yes, Dyneema will reduce stretch (a few inches in the short distance between the clew and winch), but it can be problematic in clutches (the core can slip inside the cover). Honestly, for a moderately sized boat, you will probably be happiest with a polyester doublebraid like you had before. Any major brand. In the US I would recommend Yale, New England Ropes Sayset (Teufelberger), or Samson XLS.

If you are a racer or performance buff, then Dyneema is for you.

 

[Touching Cloth]

This is a trick question (no boat description).

Yes, Dyneema will reduce stretch (a few inches in the short distance between the clew and winch), but it can be problematic in clutches (the core can slip inside the cover). Honestly, for a moderately sized boat, you will probably be happiest with a polyester doublebraid like you had before. Any major brand. In the US I would recommend Yale, New England Ropes Sayset (Teufelberger), or Samson XLS.

If you are a racer or performance buff, then Dyneema is for you.

Definitely a cruiser (Moody 34), with soft southerner hands.

 

[Tranona]

12mm braid on braid will be fine. Liros is probably the most common brand.

 

[wonkywinch]

I just bought some English Braid stuff at a discount.

Thread 'English Braids - 15% off code thanks to Sailing Fair Isle'

13 Feb 2026

Steve's latest "Tech Corner" video on replacing running rigging was interesting and he's organised a generous 15% discount via Kildale Marine using code FAIRISLE15

English Braids

Good timing as I need to replace some of my sheets and a halyard.

• wonkywinch
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Practical Boat Owner's Reader to Reader

• 

 

[Stemar]

Unless you're looking for the last 0.001 of a knot racing, a low stretch polyester that's fat enough to handle comfortably will do just fine.

 

[Refueler]

I bought a reel of Kingfisher braid on braid .... whole reel was way cheaper than buying chandlers stuff !! 5yrs later - still good ...

 

[thinwater]

12mm braid on braid will be fine. Liros is probably the most common brand.

The important thing is a good fit in the winch self-tailor jaws and clutch (if applicable--I don't like puting the Genoa sheet in a clutch).

Oversized lines can increase friction and slow handling in many applications (but 12 mm sounds about right for your sheets). Wearing gloves helps soft hands and reduces future arthritis in hard hands.