Jib sheet knots?

[bluedragon]

[ QUOTE ]
Take the single long sheet & form a small loop in the centre. Whip the Port & Starboard sheets together in parallel to make the loop permanent. ie. lash "vertically" at bottom of loop below;

________0_______

Then use a lanyard to lash the loop to your clew using several turns finished with a couple of half turns.

This is easily untied, or if you feel the need to cut it urgently, it is cheap & easy to replace the lanyard. The sheets present a nice smooth surface to the baby stay or any other obstruction and will not snag. AND there is no shackle to poke your eye out or split a lip when you go head to wind to drop the genny.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've tried that, but there is still a "V" under the loop which catches on the shroud...or am I missing something here? The idea of two loose loops on a caribiner looks more likely to slip past any wire obstruction. I agree that avoiding knots is a good idea, but then the problem just transfers to the bottom of the loop in my experience.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
a "V" under the loop which catches on the shroud...or am I missing something here?

[/ QUOTE ] I had that originally and yes, it does hook up on the shroud.

 

[bilbobaggins]

One way that may do it for you, is to splice a long eye into the active end of each sheet - which are then attached to the jib clew by securing each eye to the clew ring by a 'cow hitch'

Should you have room on the clew ring, passing the eye of each loop through itself twice ( instead of once ) has the advantage of being rather easier to undo.

Enjoi!

 

[hollandd]

one piece of rope doubled passed through cringle etc never slips or catches

 

[samwise]

Makes it hard to end for end the ropes though!

 

[Stemar]

I used to whip my sheets in an eys, but they caught on the shrouds. I've just got new sheets, so I'm trying a single line fed through the cringle then tied in a reef knot. So far, so good, no problems, though not tried in a real blow yet.

 

[alec]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks everyone for some good ideas, which I will try.
Mind you I dont like the idea of a shackle flailing about, which could give a sore one on the noggin.
Snowgoose, did I not see you on the Fairlie roads yesterday? or is there another Snowgoose?

[/ QUOTE ]

Was not me but would have been nice to say hello.

I'am much further down in the Thames Estuary. Snowgoose is as common as Sharon & Tracey down here.

Regards,

 

[jhughes]

Just seen these on Ebay. Might help.

 

[svDreamchaser]

I recently dropped my jib to take it in for some repairs. I was looking at the sheets and contemplating the notion of replacing them and securing them with a shackle or carabiner, since my present rig pretty much obliged me to pack up the sheets along with the sail rather than try to untie the very tight and somewhat stiff knots. My online search along these lines resulted in finding your very well set up forum. I think I agree that a properly done rig with a shackle or carabiner (especially liked your photo, LakeSailor)would be no more of a danger to your head than a couple of stout bowlines in large line. I'd be somewhat concerned with scuffing the mast but more concerned with the proper size of line and fastener to do this job. With the new lines available I feel I can downsize a bit and still maintain the strength needed for my boat (40' center cockpit ketch). Can anybody comment as to the proper size line and hardware that would be appropriate for cruising conditions?

 

[Guest]

I use one of two methods ...

My Motor Sailer has sheets attached with a quick link ... ok - it's a metal item and if it hit you would hurt ... but in fact is smaller than a set of knots etc. and IMHO would only do as much as a load of bowlines ... It has the advantage of having a swivel built in ... The sheets are attached such that each comes of with at least 2 round truns of sheet in the eye between them. That spacing is important to a) reduce twisting of the sheets when hauling in ... b) help to stop catching on stays etc.

My other small boat uses 2 separate sheets made of with bowlines to the jib ... being light lines they don't make any size.

My race boat - the previous owner used a quick link and he used a unique method to make it work ....

The eye of the link where sheets attached .... he had at least 3 turns of the sheet before doing the securing knots on each side ... it gave a good spread to the sheets .... and also meant that the connection was soft by the rope being the main outer cover.

As regards stopping most gennys catching masts / stays ... the old method of backing the genny before letting fly with old sheet works wonders for my boats ... and also creates a very fast tack ... For those who are confused !! - Hard over on helm .... hold genny sheet until genny back-fills .. it then DRIVES the boats head through the wind when you then let fly - taking up the other sheet fast ... the genny should have literally flown through across to other side clear of all ... your tack should have been faster and cleaner than when you let fly as helm goes over ...
On my race boat it could mean a win or lose !!
On my Motor sailer which is sluggish and tends to hang up into wind - it gets her through lovely.

 

[Drascomber]

The recommended way on a Drascombe (don't see why it shouldn't work on a bigger yacht if the eye is big enough) is to have a single long sheet. Pass one end through the eye in the sail, tie a single half hitch with a second turn then pass the end through the eye again in the same direction (two thicknesses now through the eye) then turn the circle of knot so that knot itself is in the eye and the two ends of the sheet extend on either side. Pull tight.

Very resistant to catching on anything.