Mainsheet carabiner/hook?

dgadee

dgadee

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Main is 40 m2 and I am thinking of putting a carabiner/hook onto the bottom of the mainsheet to enable moving it aside and also lifting from end of the boom. What sort should I be using - will a Wichard with sprung hook be likely to unfasten if caught up on something? Various options here:

https://www.s3i.co.uk/carbine-hooks.php

And, what kind of swl should I be looking at?
 
Don't like carabiners for main sheet applications, the loads can be considerable. What's wrong with a shackle, or a snap shackle if you must.

Plank
 
I wouldn't like a carabiner or a snaphook on the mainsheet if ever there is an unplanned gybe because the shock load will be tremendous. A carabiner of the type that screws shut (climbing type) will probably be OK but it is bulky and is no real improvement on a plain but good quality shackle.
 
I understand the hesitation. I am thinking about ease of pulling someone back on board, I suppose. A carabiner seems better than a shackle.
 
Stork_III said:
I use a snap shackle on each end, so it can be moved to side in port, and also reversed to use as a crane if necessary.
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+1 I use a climbing one but only because I have loads spare. They are all rated around 22kn but you can get more highly rated ones for high lining.
 
Pye_End said:
I use a Wichard snap hook similar to this:

https://www.s3i.co.uk/100mm-Wichard-Snap-Hook.html

Not sure which size, but the larger ones appear fairly strong, and very easy to move.

Not sure I would use it for man overboard as you still need something to control the boom, so might be easier to rig up an extra tackle (could use the same type of hooks).
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I was in US with work and brought back a Dutchman boom brake which is what got me thinking about using it as a MOB system. They suggest it could be usable in that way.
 
If you nave a regular, branded set of mainsheet blocks, you should be able to get clevis fittings to replace the ends.
I'd choose clevis or snapshackle ends rather than carabiners or screwgates because they are designed to be loaded in shear rather than tension,They are quicker to open than shackles and if you want, you can fit dropnose pins or nitronic pins with P-clips instead.
 
dgadee said:
Main is 40 m2 and I am thinking of putting a carabiner/hook onto the bottom of the mainsheet to enable moving it aside and also lifting from end of the boom. What sort should I be using - will a Wichard with sprung hook be likely to unfasten if caught up on something? Various options here:

https://www.s3i.co.uk/carbine-hooks.php

And, what kind of swl should I be looking at?
Click to expand...

To calculate the load you can use this calculator http://www.harken.com/MainsheetLoading/
 
My main is only 109 sq ft, but I have had an oversize carabiner of the type in post 1 for 25-30 years with no snags - literally, it's never caught on anything or looked like opening.

The idea is for assisting MOB, and it has been used - on me !

I managed to capsize my rigid tender alongside the boat at the mooring.

I was wearing a lifejacket / harness, and the guardrail pelican hooks at the pushpit were already unclipped.

I instructed my novice crew to unclip the mainsheet carabiner from the traveller and pass it to me, and it was very helpful indeed in securing me against the tide trying to sweep me away.

We ran into problems when the mainsheet went choc-a-block, and my crew couldn't work out how to use the topping lift ( which is led to the cockpit ).

In the end I climbed over the pushpit using a step on the transom, which was a bit hairy as if I lost grip for a second I'd have been off downtide.

The idea with the mainsheet & carabiner worked fine, I just need to brief crew better and if possible, certainly before any long trip, give them a practice go.
 
Many thanks for all the suggestions. I will have a think about how exaclty to put it all together, but it seems worthwhile using the mainsheet for MoB lifting.
 
Pye_End said:
Not sure I would use it for man overboard as you still need something to control the boom
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+1

In Seajet's case it worked because he'd fallen overboard from the tender at the mooring, but it would be a different story at sea with the sail set.

Pete
 
Pete,

I have a strong topping lift for this reason, yes the crew - or I - would need to at least scandalise, more likely lower the sail; without going into another long MOB thread, I think having the boom available as a derrick is a facility well worth having, can be used for lifting heavy things like engines to and from a pontoon etc too, and costs next to nothing to have.
 
Seajet said:
Pete,

I have a strong topping lift for this reason, yes the crew - or I - would need to at least scandalise, more likely lower the sail; without going into another long MOB thread, I think having the boom available as a derrick is a facility well worth having, can be used for lifting heavy things like engines to and from a pontoon etc too, and costs next to nothing to have.
Click to expand...

The 'up and down' forces are rather less of an issue than a boom thrashing about in a seaway, with the means of taming it over the side. Also, it may well be that the boom is being used as a derrick whilst hove to - difficult if the sheet has been disconnected.
 
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