laika
Well-Known Member
Dyneema-cored spinnaker sheets: pointless expense on a relatively heavy cruising boat just to be able to use thinner line?
Spinnaker Sheet Material
- Thread starter laika
- Start date
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
Smaller, lighter, easier to handle and stow. There's plenty of advantages except the cost really.
laika
Well-Known Member
All the things I was thinking of (particularly "easier to stow") but I was wondering if there were any reasons other than cost why 10mm dyneema-cored spinnaker sheets might be a worse idea than 12mm braid on braid (spinnaker sheet winches (lewmar st30s) are spec-ed for 8-12mm)
Resolution
Well-Known Member
+1
And less stretch so more power in gusts transmitted to the boat, not lost in the rope. (Probably not of importance to a heavy cruiser tho.)
Quandary
Well-Known Member
I would agree regarding guys but even when racing one design when every inch mattered, I always liked my sheets to absorb a bit of shock but then we were prone to let the kite fill with a bang from time to time when close reaching, perhaps we should have been trimming better?
I am prejudiced though as I hate the 'feel' of dyneema if you have to hold it all day.
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
There are Dyneema ropes that is just as soft to hold. I have ropes with Dyneema core that is just as soft as my braid on braid.
Using Dyneema it's also possible to remove the cover on part of the rope to reduce weight even more.
On my asymmetric I use a thinner lighter Dyneema tail attached to the clew that both sheets connect to.
Triassic
Well-Known Member
It may just be the particular dyneema lines I have but I've found them much more prone to snagging than alternatives. My spinnaker halyard is a braid on braid dyneema core (I need the strength and lack of stretch as I also use it to raise and lower the mast) and we always have to religiously flake it out on the the cabin top to avoid any twist snagging the clutch on the drop. The tack line however we've just replaced with a line of kernmantle construction with a braid outer and a twisted fibre core and this is much more supple and doesn't seem to snag or catch on anything, even when its just thrown in a heap on the net. We use a braid on braid for the sheet at the moment and because it's endless it doesn't get the chance to develop any twists (well not often anyhow...) but I've been so impressed with the kernmantle I'm thinking of doing the sheet in the same material. When I read up on the kernmantle it seems it's a popular rope with climbers, but I guess their priorities of having a strong rope which is supple and easy to handle are similar to ours.
lw395
Well-Known Member
Depends if you have separate sheets and guys IMHO.
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
Dynema is "just another fiber" I have both braided Dyneema and normal double braid. I think you will have a hard time telling them apart.
Most of my Dyneema stuff is in fact triple braid, Dyneema core a soft middle layer with cover.
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