New jib sheet

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pij27

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My 18ft boat needs a new jib sheet, should I replace with a single 8mm rope 11m long, looped through the jib (or via a snap link) or 2 times 5.5m lengths? Find conflicting comments when searching. Or should I increase size to 10mm rope. Vessel is used for cruising only
 
You will receive conflicting opinions because there is no "right" way so go with your own preference. Larger is generally better from the handling point of view but the limiting factor is often fittings - block, bullseyes, winches, cleats and a break point in sizes is often at 8mm, so check the 10mm will run freely.
 
I think that only you can answer the size question, since this is largely dictated by handling requirements. Most of us cruisers have larger sheets than strictly necessary simply because they are easier on the hands. In you case, how much you want will be dictated by the size of the jib and the forces you will be handling. Provided the blocks and winches will take it, the larger size would probably be nicer.

Jib attachments cause almost as much argument as anchors. Again, it can depend on your needs. The advantage of two lines is that they can be reversed to even out the wear and extend life.
 
On my 18ft boat I have just changed from 4mm sheets to 6mm. The 6 I find perfectly OK, as was the 4 - I only changed so I could use the 4 for spinnaker sheets.
Mine are cow hitched to a snap shackle but it's a matter of personal preference whether you want one length or two.
 
My 18 foot boat has 8mm gib sheets, single piece of rope with a snap shackle whipped in place. 8mm is fine for handling - thick enough to be comfortable without being too thick for the track and jammer eyes. I think that going up to 10mm would make things too thick to run easily through the gear for minimal gain in the handling comfort. No winches, so don’t need to consider that.
The reason the rope is a single piece and has a snap shackle is because that’s what came with the boat and I see no need to change it! If I needed new lines now, I’d stick with the same solution. On our bigger boat, we have 2 separate lines but at 40 feet, the whole thing is obviously bigger and subject to greater stress, so I prefer the flexibility of two separate sheets.
 
pij27 said:
My 18ft boat needs a new jib sheet, should I replace with a single 8mm rope 11m long, looped through the jib (or via a snap link) or 2 times 5.5m lengths? Find conflicting comments when searching. Or should I increase size to 10mm rope. Vessel is used for cruising only
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Mine is 10mm

It was originally 10mm and when I replaced it I stayed with the same size as it seemed right.

The original was one piece with a loop in the centre with a shackle to attach to the sail .......... metal shackles hurt if they clout you round the head.

The new one has a loop whipped in the centre with a short length of 6mm whipped to it as well. The piece of 6mm hasa stopper knot at the end,

In use the loop passes through the clew of the sail, the knotted piece of 6mm then passes though the loop. Result no shackle to whack my ears, just rope
 
Two separate sheets means two bowlines on your jib clew. Plus, I’m going to guess, a shackle. I know it’s only a small boat, but when you’re sorting things out on the foredeck in a blow that's one hell of a whacking you can get on your cheek.

I would always use one sheet with a loop/ hitch/ splice in the middle, for that reason. And if you make (or else have to buy) a soft shackle for the job in place of a metal one, you’ve just de-fanged your foredeck monster.

Sheet thickness is about ease of handling (thinner is tougher on the hands) vs friction. If you found your 8mm hard to handle in a blow, go up to 10mm. But if you feel heavier sheets will weigh down your jib in light airs, or will drag in your blocks or fairleads, leave the diameter as it is?
 
I moved from a single line with shackle many years ago because the shackle came loose in a big blow leaving an unsecured jib going everywhere. Two lines means one can go and you are still in control
 
RupertW said:
I moved from a single line with shackle many years ago because the shackle came loose in a big blow leaving an unsecured jib going everywhere. Two lines means one can go and you are still in control
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Do you think the problem was your hitch or splice, or do you think there was something wrong with the shackle?
 
My only observaion would be to use a soft shakle. These don't hurt so much and they don't "shake themselves off " if the sail flaps in a blow.
 
BelleSerene said:
Do you think the problem was your hitch or splice, or do you think there was something wrong with the shackle?
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I think I was wrong to use anything with a single point of failure - in this case it was a snapshackle that eventually shook free - but the principle of having a backup wherever possible is the lesson I learnt. Having to roll the job all the way out uncontrollably to drop it and put on two sheets was horrible in strong (to me) winds and nasty waves. Easy to prevent it ever being a problem again by having two separate sheets.
 
Agree having been whacked by a shackle when I used that method. Much prefer two sheets as very secure if you know how to do a bowline. Only downside is they can snag when tacking, but found that less common now I don't have a huge genoa!
 
OP will see there are lots of options. I would say do not have a heavy shackle of any form on the jib clew just too dangerous as said. I currently use 2 sheets 10mm on 21fter with 2 bow line knots on the clew. It does make it easier when changing jibs. (hank on) Also tends to move the max wear point around as the knot is made slightly different position each time. Easy to end for end it too. You can tie like a bow line in the middle of the one sheet. But very difficult to tie and remove. You can also try one sheet tied with 2 bow lines to the clew. ie an endless sheet. A shorter rope will suffice here.
As for size yes I use 10mm on 21fter but 8mm might suit you. You can only try. I find jib sheets a major wear item but then I like to race with perhaps 20 tacks on a Sunday afternoon. Almost every week of season. (just 2 weeks to go till first race)
ol'will
 
I have never used a metal shackle for the reasons given above. Our genoa is large and heavy and even without a shackle a whack on the head from it is not enjoyable. We used twin bowlines for many years but, having a babystay, we suffered many hangups when tacking. Ultimately I bought my first soft shackle quite a few years ago and eye-spliced the sheets, as shown. This same shackle is still in use despite the UV damage provided by Greek sunshine.
 
It's an 18' boat...what are the arrangements for jib sheeting? Does she have winches? How big is the jib? You could be talking some big overlapping masthead thing or a small fractional jib. Is she a trailer sailer? Furling jib or hank on? Do you leave the boat afloat?

I'm a big advocate of soft shackles, slightly different application but on my cruising chute I have spliced loops in the sheets plus a soft shackle...extremely strong and won't shake out. I also use soft shackles all over my dinghy too. However if it's a standard big roller genny that stays rigged all the time I'd just use bowlines.
 
For an 18ft boat with a bit of weight to it and a fair-sized sail, 10mm would not sound excessive to me.
I prefer to sail without gloves a lot of the time.
My preference is to taper the sheets down to perhaps 4mm dyneema and then simply tie bowlines to the sail.
Continuous sheets may or may not be a good idea, depends on the layout of the boat, but can reduce the total rope needed. Tapering reduces the amount of expensive rope needed, if you can taper dyneema into some easily handled rope. One of my boats has this for the kite sheets, not really a 'taper', more of an abrupt step where the cover stops, but this transition doesn't need to run through any blocks.
 
I would go for a continuous sheet (that is, one length of line, both ends bowline to the clew). If you decide you don't like it you can then revert to conventional sheets with a hitch or soft shackle.

Personally I don't see an advantage to having separate sheets, at least on a reasonably small yacht.
 
TLouth7 said:
I would go for a continuous sheet (that is, one length of line, both ends bowline to the clew). If you decide you don't like it you can then revert to conventional sheets with a hitch or soft shackle.

Personally I don't see an advantage to having separate sheets, at least on a reasonably small yacht.
Click to expand...

Some boats you want to be able to re-reeve the sheet to an outer track for example.
 
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