Rope type for main sheet and vang

[PabloPicasso]

Is dyneema good for the main sheet and vang? Or should another type of rope be used?

 

[sailorman]

mainsheet matt braid on braid for me

 

[lpdsn]

I prefer lines with a bit more stretch for those. Remember if you gybe a lot of load will come on the kicker when the boom reaches the end of its travel and lifts. Better to have a line that will absorb some of the shock.

With the mainsheet you're going to be adjusting it frequently anyway so a bit of stretch isn't a big downside. Is it for racing?

 

[johnalison]

Shiny braided stuff. The strands slide past each other better.

 

[[70521]]

Braid on braid for me.

 

[PabloPicasso]

I prefer lines with a bit more stretch for those. Remember if you gybe a lot of load will come on the kicker when the boom reaches the end of its travel and lifts. Better to have a line that will absorb some of the shock.

With the mainsheet you're going to be adjusting it frequently anyway so a bit of stretch isn't a big downside. Is it for racing?

Mainly evening club races. Occasional family cruises

 

[Kukri]

You actually want a bit of stretch in it, for giving, and you want it to be soft, to run through the blocks easily, and not too small, so you can grip it.

So braid on braid

 

[lpdsn]

Mainly evening club races. Occasional family cruises

If you're going to use dyneema anywhere use it for the main & genny halyards. A bit of stretch in those can ruin the sail shape. Your main trimmer will be playing the main so any stretch will be irrelevant. And as I say having some shock absorbtion in the kicker is always a good thing.

 

[PabloPicasso]

If you're going to use dyneema anywhere use it for the main & genny halyards. A bit of stretch in those can ruin the sail shape. Your main trimmer will be playing the main so any stretch will be irrelevant. And as I say having some shock absorbtion in the kicker is always a good thing.

Ok thank you

 

[lw395]

Probably no benetic in dyneema for the sheet, but on some boats you will find it an improvement for the vang.
It can help avoid the scenario where you tighten the vang to suit the average wind, but the elasticity cause it to shorten in every lull. This is horrible to sail with in a dinghy where we have more roach, and use the kicker more. May not be an issue in a lot of yachts.
Absolutely agree, dyneema for halyards is its best use. And spinnaker guys....

 

[thinwater]

Braid on braid is a construction, not a material. Dyneema is available as braid on braid. I believe polyester double braid is what people mean. A good choice.

I once swapped a polyester traveler line for polyester over Spectra (it was free). Jibing was like hitting a brick wall. I then went to nylon for the traveler, which I like better. However, that is too stretchy for the sheet.

I wouldn't use Dyneema until the loads were so high that polyester was over 5/8-inch diameter.

Halyards and jib sheets are a different topic.