What knot?

[nigelmercier]

I've just bought a new "pack-a-main" sail cover. It's a bag running along the boom, held open by lines from the spreaders. When you drop the main sail, it falls neatly inside.

In the instructions, it says to attach the reefing lines to the boom "in the usual way". My main sail is loose-footed, and I've used a bow-line in the past, but I wondered if a knot that tightened to the boom would be better.

What knot would you suggest?

 

[Salty John]

A rolling hitch. Herreshoff declared this to be the right knot and who would argue?

 

[nigelmercier]

Isn't a rolling hitch for lateral movement, like a logger's hitch?

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
What knot would you suggest

[/ QUOTE ] A bowline sounds OK . A round tun and two half hitches if you want it tight on the boom maybe but not a rolling hitch. It will spill with a right angle pull.

Otherwise take your pick from http://www.animatedknots.com/indexboating.php?

Or even www.realknots.com

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I have just used bowlines, it might not be proper but has worked out for me. I have kept the tails as short as possible to prevent any catching, so far they have not fallen apart, I have either been lucky or they are ok for purpose.

I was a little concerned as I have built in adjustment to my lazy jacks and bowlines like to stay under pressure. Mind you, I have a comparatively small main so I am playing with light string really (6mm), I have also kept my topping lift, so the stays are not load bearing.

 

[Salty John]

Other advice notwithstanding, I think old Nat knew what he was about. A rolling hitch will, indeed, prevent the knot from sliding down the boom which may be why Doyle recommend it for the same purpose on their Stack-Pack:
http://www.doylesails.com/StackPackManual.pdf
When I bought a new main for Adriana the sailmaker came to the boat to fit it; he was distressed to see me tie the reefing lines to the boom with bowlines and told me the Herreshoff story, expertly retying my lines with rolling hitches which served me for the next three years of continuous cruising.
I, however, bow to the superior knowledge of others and urge you to treat this not as advice, but as the personal observation of one sailor.

 

[dt4134]

I thought the 'usual way' was a Running Bowline, but I guess the correct answer is whatever is usual on your boat.

 

[lw395]

I use bowlines, because I want them to slide. The reefing line then has a downward pulling bit to the boom, and and outward pulling bit to the sheave. A rolling hitch might be better if you want to have more outhaul and less downhaul, if its in exactly the right place.
Whatever set the sail best is the right answer!
Mr Herreshof was working with slightly different sails, and I wouldn't like to take his advice out of context.
One of my mains has a shelf/lens foot with slots for the bowlines, the outhaul won't work with rolling hitches.
On a wooden boom a rolling hitch will have the advantage of not moving, hence not rubbing the varnish off.

 

[john_morris_uk]

A very small running bowline is the answer in most cases. We can argue the toss about others and their rolling hitches, but I suggest you try a running bowline and see how you can get the sail tight and flat and then compare it with other methods.

If you are not sure what I (and others) mean by a running bowline, ask in the morning and I will try and explain!

 

[nigelmercier]

I've had a look, and found what look like two totally different knots! See here and here

The first just looks like a bowline with the standing part passed through the loop.

Edit: Hmmm... the close-up of the one on Wikipedia doesn't look like the staged photos. Time for bed I think /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
The first just looks like a bowline with the standing part passed through the loop

[/ QUOTE ] And if you stand on your head i think you'll find the second is not much different.

 

[dt4134]

They both look like Running Bowlines to me.

When rigging reefing lines, the easy way is to tie the bowline around the standing part rather than trying to pass the standing part through the loop.

 

[nigelmercier]

[ QUOTE ]
tie the bowline around the standing part ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah yes, I can see what is going on now.

The way the Wikipedia one is shown, it would chafe the cover due to the offset to the side. If I could get this as compact as the second example it would be fine, but it may change shape with the load applied.

 

[nigelmercier]

[ QUOTE ]
I've just bought a new "pack-a-main" sail cover. It's a bag running along the boom, held open by lines from the spreaders. When you drop the main sail, it falls neatly inside.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for all the replies. I've now heard back from C&J: they suggest using a bowline as normal.

By the way, the Pack-A-Main (and the Bimini cover) are both for sale on eBay: see my sig below.