Jib Sail Hanks - Piston vs Snaps

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by SpiritofGlenans

"Always reduce sail when you first think you might need to"

Yep, and apparently you have never been tethered. Can't disagree with reducing first. For some reason the deep blue doesn't give you that option at times and I wouldn't want to have something that took two hands.

[Hydra]

I would not recommend straddling the bow in a seaway: this would cause being drenched when a wave rises up to the rail. I prefer to kneel on the sail.

On the boat I had 30 years ago, the genoa was fitted with one-hand piston hanks: it was possible to open them by pulling a small tab with 2 fingers.

Alain

[Svanen]

Originally Posted by SpiritofGlenans

I would recommend piston hanks. You can get over the problem of needing one hand for holding on if you sit on the deck with one leg hanging down each side of the bow.

You described your technique for getting by with piston hanks, but didn't say why you prefer them. Please elaborate.

Originally Posted by Schrewsburyduo

You will be spending some money on those hanks - have you thought about a basic furler instead ... you can then furl/reef based on the wind

Reefing a roller-furled headsail is a pretty poor show compared with changing down to a hanked-on smaller jib. Not saying that the convenience may not be worth the reduced performance, just that there is no free lunch.

[SpiritofGlenans]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Yep, and apparently you have never been tethered. Can't disagree with reducing first. For some reason the deep blue doesn't give you that option at times and I wouldn't want to have something that took two hands.

You were correct in your observation about day-sailers. I instruct on Glenans 5.70's which are 19ft dayboats. They have no pulpits or guardrails, so you can see that for sail-changes under way, straddling the bow and sometimes gripping on with the thighs, like on a horse, is necessary. It is standard practice for trainees to clip their tether onto the jackstay when going to the bow. Unfortunately the instructor sometimes does not practise what he preaches

[SpiritofGlenans]

Originally Posted by Hydra

I would not recommend straddling the bow in a seaway: this would cause being drenched when a wave rises up to the rail. I prefer to kneel on the sail.

On the boat I had 30 years ago, the genoa was fitted with one-hand piston hanks: it was possible to open them by pulling a small tab with 2 fingers.

Alain

You will find that most Glenans instructors will ask trainees to straddle the bow and sit on the sail while changing headsails. You CAN get drenched, but hey, it's a watersport. Good oilskins and boots help.
When my wife and I took our first Glenans course many years ago we were taught in this way. Another trainee on the boat observed that he now knew why the French called the genoa "le foc"; the technique of sitting on the sail while at the same time pulling the hanks up the sail caused him to repeat the word "foc " repeatedly during the procedure

[SpiritofGlenans]

Originally Posted by Svanen

You described your technique for getting by with piston hanks, but didn't say why you prefer them. Please elaborate.

Svanen, you have drawn my attention to the fact that I was confusing the Wichard snaps with some awful plastic dinghy-style things that came with the new headsails on our G5.70s. Now that I realise what the Wichard Snaps are, I heartily recommend them.

[Benz]

My vote is for bronze piston hanks. Stainless clips on Stainless wire means that both the wire and the clips will need to be replaced. Soon? depends on how much you sail. Also, as another poster pointed out, the little clip gate can snag other things, which a piston hank cannot. It is not too acrobatic to use the hand with which you are holding on to the forestay to also hold a hank while you pull the piston with the other hand.
Ben
zartmancruising dot com