JimC
Well-Known Member
What size rope would the forum suggest for jib sheets for a 200 square foot jib on a 31 foot boat?
Rope dia for new jib sheets
- Thread starter JimC
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nigelmercier
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There will be a calculator on the rope manufacturer's web site, but the handling of the sheet and the capacity of your winches are more important. Mine are 22mm (or perhaps 24mm), and are very easy to handle, but I will probably replace them with sheets a couple of sizes down.
[Later] See Pete's more succinct reply below.
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prv
Well-Known Member
sailorman
Well-Known Member
12 >14 m/m matt braid on braid
VicS
Well-Known Member
14 mm.
There is loads of info including a rope size guide on the Technical Articles tab of Jimmy Green's website
http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/p/technical
.
ditchcrawler
Well-Known Member
Depends how big your turning blocks are(if you have them) but I have the same size boat and find that 12mm is ideal and concur with Sailorman that matt braid on braid is ideal as it is nice and soft on the hands.
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
Agree; any modern rope that is comfortable to handle will be amply strong enough.
JimC
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that, and also to all the other respondents. That Jimmy Green website is pretty good isn't it.
prv
Well-Known Member
Yep - although, as others have mentioned, you do need to have half an eye on winches (especially if self-tailers) and other fittings. Then again, they'll mostly be sized such that "a nice size to hold" will work fine.
Pete
dt4134
Well-Known Member
And check what any turning blocks in the system are designed to take.
The Jimmy Green website is a bit like the waiters in an Indian restaurant. Both encourage you to buy far more than you need.
I find 12mm perfectly adequate for a 36 square metre jib, so nearly twice the size of yours. The released sheet goes out far quicker than the previous 14mm did so we can do a decent tack, sheeting it home without having to grind like mad on the winch.
The Jimmy Green website is a bit like the waiters in an Indian restaurant. Both encourage you to buy far more than you need.
I find 12mm perfectly adequate for a 36 square metre jib, so nearly twice the size of yours. The released sheet goes out far quicker than the previous 14mm did so we can do a decent tack, sheeting it home without having to grind like mad on the winch.
Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
You have 24mm diameter sheets
That probably has a breaking strength of 14000kg. Do you hang your boat from it?
What sort of a boat is that?
I have a 18000kg boat with a 750 sq foot genoa and 14mm is way enough.
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nigelmercier
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Bavaria 47. The sheets were on when I bought her, and I agree they are a bit big. I think 18mm would still have a nice grip, but I have big hands!
micha571
Well-Known Member
200 square feet is 19 square meters. That is not a very big genoa.
We have a 30 square meters genoa on our 33-footer, that is 322 square feet. Our sheets are 10mm and they are thick enough. No problem with handling.
We have a 30 square meters genoa on our 33-footer, that is 322 square feet. Our sheets are 10mm and they are thick enough. No problem with handling.
JimC
Well-Known Member
Nevertheless it's the biggest that can be fitted to my Hunter Channel 31 because of the shroud positions: they are taken out to the gunwales which gives a strong construction but limits the size of foresail you can fit to about 20 square metres. The self-tacking jib that is Hunters' standard fit is smaller still. The Hunter rig concentrates most of the power in the main but I'm contemplating fitting a conventionally sheeted jib with a small overlap (about 110%) which was offered as an option at one time. Other C31 owners who have them report improved light wind performance and, unlike the standard self-tacker, they can be poled out for downwind sailing.
I know 10mm would be more than adequately strong but thought it might be a bit hard on the hands?
micha571
Well-Known Member
Jim,
10mm will really not be tough on the hands. On our old 28footer we had a jib about the same size (20qm) and 8mm-sheets. Even that was good to handle.
I wouldn't use sheets thicker than 10mm, because I'd think they will run harder around the blocks, especially with a self tacker.
10mm will really not be tough on the hands. On our old 28footer we had a jib about the same size (20qm) and 8mm-sheets. Even that was good to handle.
I wouldn't use sheets thicker than 10mm, because I'd think they will run harder around the blocks, especially with a self tacker.
JimC
Well-Known Member
OK, 10 mm it is then. Thanks all.
Marsupial
Well-Known Member
The answer is the largest diameter that will fit in your deck hardware, my 30ft Mirage had 16mm current 43ft Jeanneau has 18mm so strength is never an issue, 10mm seems a bit small to get a good grip on.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
VicS
Well-Known Member
10mm is OK on my little boat... but for a comfortable grip I'd definitely want thicker on a larger boat.
Earlier I suggested 14mm . I'd not go smaller than 12 mm
bob234
Well-Known Member
Nigel,
We also have a Bavaria 47. The genoa sheets are 14mm and the main is 12mm. Surely you can't possibly have 18mm or more! They wouldn't fit in the self tailers.
Bob
