How to rig double sided main sheet to helm

[baycloud]

Hey all, I feel like there was some thread that I read with hunter legend who brought back the main sheet to the helm and added an extra winch. Am I dreaming or does anyone else remember a person who posted about that? The main sheet would terminate both where it normally does, but additionally at a winch beside the helm.

With my new jib furling arrangement, and then this modification, I feel like single handing will be within reach. Most of my sailing hours are single handed but I find this boat difficult as it's set up. Planning on my first small solo trip potentially the next 2 weeks

 

[jviss]

My friend's Morris 37 has a double-ended mainsheet. I got the impression any boat could be set up this way, and as a matter of fact, he has the same Offshore Spars boom as my boat. But I confess I don't know how it's rigged, offhand. I'll ask him.

 

[baycloud]

Without being at the boat, my first go at it would put the line here. When I get back to the boat I'll experiment with it more.

edit to note: the top of the blue line is the last part of the main sheet; currently the sheets bitter end terminates at the pulley directly below it.

Instead of terminating the line here on deck; I'd run it back to the cockpit as shown.

 

[jviss]

Your mainsheet setup looks remarkably similar to mine! I see what you're getting at, makes sense. My intuition would be to put a block on the traveler car, or maybe switch to a triple block there, but I don't know why I think that.

 

[Tally Ho]

Good discussion here:

Do Twin Sheets Better Control the Mainsail? - Practical Sailor

Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.

www.practical-sailor.com

I single hand all the time, and have never had a reason to look anything other than my traveller/mainsheet setup, but I can see where it could be more stable in DW sailing and may eliminate the need for a preventer.

Greg

 

[baycloud]

Good discussion here:

Do Twin Sheets Better Control the Mainsail? - Practical Sailor

Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.

www.practical-sailor.com

I single hand all the time, and have never had a reason to look anything other than my traveller/mainsheet setup, but I can see where it could be more stable in DW sailing and may eliminate the need for a preventer.

Greg

My objective is actually just for a more ergonomic *location* of the main sheet sheeting location - I want to be able to trim the main from the helm, rather than having to leave the helm during a gust etc.

So with my idea, the main could be sheeted in from 2 separate locations: by the companway, or at the helm.

I just edited my previous post so it will hopefully make more sense.

 

[jssailem]

Control of the main sheet and thus the sail is the critical point. Even more so than the convenience of where the sheet is being controlled. The trend towards center boom control (from end of boom control) evolved due to preferred convenience of cockpit use. Get the rigging out of my way I want to sip cocktails without all the ropes. It was not developed for better control of the boom.

The idea of twin sheets may solve one issue as stated, but add further complexity to the handling.

Perfecting boom position and twist requires adjusting both in a trial and error process. Dumping a sheet in a gust increases twist, but not as quickly or dramatically as releasing a single sheet. (article in link)​

It would be worth testing on your boat to see if the results improve your line management. Consider all types of conditions before you leap into a permanent change. Then practice the movements so you can tell crew to act when you need boat hands on the helm.

 

[jviss]

Good discussion here:

Do Twin Sheets Better Control the Mainsail? - Practical Sailor

Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.

www.practical-sailor.com

I single hand all the time, and have never had a reason to look anything other than my traveller/mainsheet setup, but I can see where it could be more stable in DW sailing and may eliminate the need for a preventer.

Greg

I think you're confused. He's not talking about a twin mainsheet system, he's talking about a double-ended single mainsheet. Instead of securing one end fo the mainsheet, it's led to the cockpit like the other end.

 

[Tally Ho]

I think you're confused. He's not talking about a twin mainsheet system, he's talking about a double-ended single mainsheet. Instead of securing one end fo the mainsheet, it's led to the cockpit like the other end.

Ah…thanks for the clarification.

I guess I don’t know what a double-ended mainsheet is. Will have to look at that.

Greg

 

[baycloud]

Control of the main sheet and thus the sail is the critical point. Even more so than the convenience of where the sheet is being controlled. The trend towards center boom control (from end of boom control) evolved due to preferred convenience of cockpit use. Get the rigging out of my way I want to sip cocktails without all the ropes. It was not developed for better control of the boom.

The idea of twin sheets may solve one issue as stated, but add further complexity to the handling.

Perfecting boom position and twist requires adjusting both in a trial and error process. Dumping a sheet in a gust increases twist, but not as quickly or dramatically as releasing a single sheet. (article in link)​

It would be worth testing on your boat to see if the results improve your line management. Consider all types of conditions before you leap into a permanent change. Then practice the movements so you can tell crew to act when you need boat hands on the helm.

To me, ergonomics is both a safety as well as performance issue, especially single-handed. I agree that the downside is complexity etc which is the other big variable in the decision making process.

Wish I could find who posted that old thread about doing this

 

[Dalliance]

Ah…thanks for the clarification.

I guess I don’t know what a double-ended mainsheet is. Will have to look at that.

Greg

I believe my H30 originally had a double ended mainsheet. It was long ago switched to the more common traveler and single mainsheet configuration, which I never questioned and have since upgraded for more purchase on each. I can see how a double ended mainsheet would work on the boat. The simplicity is appealing and I’ve noticed it on some newer European boats, (Hanse for sure, maybe Delphia or Beneteau) at a few boat shows.

I sometimes sail on a friend’s Block Island 40 yawl with twin mainsheets. It originally had a traveler in the cockpit and the twin mainsheets was a way to make the cockpit more comfortable. Seems like it adds some complexity to handling the mainsail, but then my little H30 is about half as much boat and more simple to sail in many ways.