jib sheets

[johnphilip]

It is normal to see two separate jib sheets on yachts, normally fixed with a bowline to the clew. I have recently bought a length of rope to replace sheets that had been damaged. Is there a good reason why I cannot keep them in 1 length and fix with, say a bowline on the bight. It would be 2 fewer ends to unravel/keep whipped. I suppose when thy start to wear and I want to "end for end" I will have to cut, but until then....

 

[dt4134]

It gives you more flexibility to re-run the sheets or change the headsail (say to a storm jib) if you have separate sheets attached with a bowline.

 

[ianat182]

You could try tying a knot at the midpoint of the continuous sheet, then thread the end through the clew, tie a second knot the other side of the clew;not elegant but less hassle than two bowlines if you have an inner forestay to tack around.
Also helps if the I/F has a conduit fitted to it ,or those nylon or PTFE "wheels"to help prevent chafing.

 

[doug748]

Push a loop through the clew ring and bring the ends through it. perfect. I shall do this next time, as I am fed up with snagging bowlines in fine weather. A light whipping will be needed to hold things in position.
If your sheet is long enough, offset it a metre or so, giving you an adjustment for chafe.

 

[johnphilip]

I did wonder about just looping the sheet through itself as Doug suggests, we used to do it on dinghies, but will it either slip or lock so solid you can never remove it? I just tried tying the double bowline in the sheet and the knot is huge, bound to catch on the shrouds.

 

[BAtoo]

I have used the one line looped trough; worked fine but when you need to undo it it is a real bu%%er!!

(Didn't need to whip it)

 

[Rabbie]

I have used this method for many years without any difficulty. Just redo in a slightly different position every so often to prevent it getting too tight whilst working.

 

[William_H]

I have found over the years that jib sheets get the most wear on my little boat. This is mainly from the point of chafe on the jib cringle and the jaws of the camcleat I use to hold the sheets. (after the winch) (but often crew do not give enough turns on the winch so puting more load on the cam cleat.)

What I currently do is use one piece of rope with a bow line onto each end onto the jib clew. Because I use separate jibs (no roll em ups for me thank you) The jib sheet is removed after each voyage. Inevitably the bow line is made in different place on the end of the rope so moving the point of wear both at the sail clew and the cam cleat.

There are other advantages of course. The the sheet can always be picked up on the windward side of the boat for adjustment and you can cope with a shorter rope. The disadvantage is that the sheet sometimes can get a twist in it which needs to be straightened (relieved).
I think that is what you descrribed in your question so yes.
If the sheet starts to show signs of wear you can easily use the other described methods. Or even cut it in half if it is long enough.

regards olewill