Genoa Sheets Catching on Shrouds

[Billy Buck]

Have I said before how much I love Cruiser's Forum?!?!?

Thanks everyone for all the advice. We decided on new sheets and either bowlines or soft shackles. Soft shackles probably just so I can buy some. They are rather cool.

We also decided on tacking better. Why not, huh?!?

Thanks again.

c.

ps - the boat is a Cheoy Lee Perry 35. The sheets that came with it are old and about a foot and a half in diameter it would seem.

[accomplice]

With an eye splice a shackle may not be necessary - you can attach luggage tags style.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Billy Buck

. Soft shackles probably just so I can buy some. They are rather cool.

No need to buy them. Well worth learning to make your own, plenty of howto videos on YouTube etc and some very good discussions on improvements to the design here on CF.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by GILow

No need to buy them. Well worth learning to make your own, plenty of howto videos on YouTube etc and some very good discussions on improvements to the design here on CF.

Mmmm. True, but maybe he'd rather be sailing than learning the diamond knot!

[GILow]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Mmmm. True, but maybe he'd rather be sailing than learning the diamond knot!

There is that, but you get to feel so damn salty when you finally get it right.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Billy Buck

Our headsail sheets are large diameter and where they come together at a knot attached to the flew by a single shackle things get quite gangly. It also snags on the shrouds every light to moderate wind tack.

Don't want to purchase new sheet rope at the moment. Any DIY genius out there to smooth our tacking future?

Get rid of the shackles no matter what else you do. Flogging shackle can cause damage and injury.

I suggest you make up a short pennant with an eye splice on each end. Pass one end through the other and move the sheets to the free end using a bowline. If you make your own eye splice, do it directly at the clew.

[thereefgeek]

Cow hitch.
Never hangs up on the shrouds, but sometimes tacking our big Gennie around the inner forestay on our cutter rig can be a bit exciting...

[JBsurfin]

Get rid of the shackle.. Staggered Bowline knots have always worked on every headsail I've used, including boats we raced on.

[Kelkara]

I've been using a soft shackle to attach my sheet to the genoa, but I've noticed that the sheet has started to chafe a bit where it goes round the soft shackle.



I could just cow-hitch the sheet to the clew, but I like the soft-shackle for convenience when changing sails.



Is there a way to attach a single line sheet to the soft-shackle without chafing, or do I need to cut the line in two and splice thimbles into the ends?

[swordds]

I am currently using tucked sheet bends because I have had problems with bowline knots snagging. I have also used a flat overhand bend with success.

[GrowleyMonster]

All of my headsails on all of my boats have always had their own sheets, spliced to the clew. My preference, not necessarily my recommendation. Soft shackles are good, too, and probably the best option for most folks. Rope isn't cheap. Bowlines I don't really like, for jib sheets. Steel shackles, neither. But there are workarounds. Like holding back a bit before letting the old lee sheet go. Or jibing. Or using a forehaul line. Or having a crew go forward to tend the clew, if available.

[AKA-None]

+1 on the eye spliced sheets with soft shackles

[Billy Buck]

An update and a thank you.

I went with staggered bowlines. Feels right for this boat. Got to try my hand at whipping too.

Thanks for all the help. Much appreciated.

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by Billy Buck

An update and a thank you.

I went with staggered bowlines. Feels right for this boat. Got to try my hand at whipping too.

Thanks for all the help. Much appreciated. Attachment 199727Attachment 199728

Pro tip... always whip twice. One comes off, you still got one.