How do you attach your jib sheets?

[Roger (Ninette Manitoba)]

I always thought this was the cowhitch

Anyhow this is the knot I use.

 

[Maine Sail]

The cow hitch..

The cow hitch is also sometimes called a girth hitch, larks head or lanyard hitch. My grand father was a veterinarian so I've always called it a cows hitch...

 

[newly anonymous]

Re: The cow hitch..

the problem with a cow hitch is that you can't reverse the sheets and thus prolong their life.

 

[Joe]

bowline.... two separate sheets....

You

 

[Alan]

"J" Locks. They're great for fast easy sail changes. Also fit easily through the genoa cars. Never snag.

 

[Maine Sail]

the problem with a cow hitch is that you can't reverse the sheets and thus prolong their life.

Sure you can .. When they get to the point, after many years of use, that they need to be reversed simply undo the cow's hitch, cut the line, whip the ends and end for end them using a bowline or buntline for the next 5-7 years..

I've used bowlines, buntlines and cow hitches on my personal boats and it just depends upon the situation and my preference at the time. I've used bowlines on my cruising jib sheets for years, and years and years and never had one come undone nor have I had a buntline come undone but I have had them not be able to come undone.. Many racing boats, that I race or have raced on, use the low mass cows hitch..

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Whisker Pole???

Bowlines. Not because they are better than one continuous line but because the PO had them that way and I haven't replaced them. I will say the continuous sheets don't permit a loop to put your whisker pole into.

I can't figure this remark...How so?
Any lines with any knot are going to be run through the clew grommet, even a shackle will be clipped into the clew grommet. There is still some room to poke the whisker pole tip through the grommet even with knots there. Actually knots or continuous lines would provide a better surface against the whisker pole tip. My whisker pole has a blunt point on the clew end and a clip for the mast attachement. The blunt point will go through the clew grommet even with line there.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

Stu, I need help!!!

Most people make the knot facing the bow (with the jib either on the deck or hoisted). That doesn't work. Face aft so that the tail of the knot (after it comes up through that dagnabbit rabbit hole) is facing forward into the loop. The part of the jib sheet going aft to the fairleads is used to make the "loop" - not facing forward to the clew. Then the loop part of the knot used to UNDO the knot slides aft onto the long part of the jib sheets going aft, and not forward into itself.

Boat's on the hard :cry: so I just threw two bowlines around an upright.

The one one the left was tied "facing forward" and the one on the right was tied "facing aft".

Which one is better and why?

What am I missing?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[ITMaster]

I use the bowlines, one knot for each sheet (2) and whenever I want to untie it, it comes undone with ease.

 

[newly anonymous]

seven more years?

When they get to the point, after many years of use, that they need to be reversed simply undo the cow's hitch, cut the line, whip the ends and end for end them using a bowline or buntline for the next 5-7 years.

Maine, you're doing too much waxing and not enough sailing! My sheets are toast after three years, to the point where I've actually had one burst under strain in its fourth year. Of course, there's a bit more pressure on the sheets out here, and we don't give up sailing for the winter just because the World Series is over.

 

[David in Sandusky]

We use two bowlines. Never had any problem getting them untied, and they don't hang up on our foredeck.

 

[Maine Sail]

Maine, you're doing too much waxing and not enough sailing! My sheets are toast after three years, to the point where I've actually had one burst under strain in its fourth year. Of course, there's a bit more pressure on the sheets out here, and we don't give up sailing for the winter just because the World Series is over.

I only gave those numbers so I would not be lambasted by the tight wads who would chime in and say a genny sheet should last 20+ years.

I generally replace mine about every 3-4 max. We do have shorter seasons and light summer winds for the most part. Spring and fall can blow though. I find that they usually wear out at the ST winches and need to be over ended but again I often use bowlines on my boat..

 

[Stu Jackson]

The one one the left was tied "facing forward" and the one on the right was tied "facing aft". Which one is better and why? What am I missing?

They look the same to me, only appear to be left and right handed, rather than forward and aft as I suggested. The, for lack of a better phrase, "release" loop is on the bottom of each of your knots, along the long tail end of the sheet that would go back to the fairleads and the winch, and, so, enable easy knot release.

What folks do, in trying to make the loop through the clew as small as possible, in making up the knots looking forward as I mentioned previously, there's no room to undo the knot without either great difficulty, or having to cut it. If I get some time, I'll do a picture like you did.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

Stu, the thought crossed my mind...

They look the same to me, only appear to be left and right handed, rather than forward and aft as I suggested. The, for lack of a better phrase, "release" loop is on the bottom of each of your knots, along the long tail end of the sheet that would go back to the fairleads and the winch, and, so, enable easy knot release.

What folks do, in trying to make the loop through the clew as small as possible, in making up the knots looking forward as I mentioned previously, there's no room to undo the knot without either great difficulty, or having to cut it. If I get some time, I'll do a picture like you did.

when you talk about looking forward or looking aft, are you talking about the knot itself or the person tying the knot?

If you're talking about the person, most folks I know always tie a bowline "as if they were facing aft". In other words, as if tying the bowline around themselves.

Tying a bowline "facing forwards" or around someone standing in front of you is a very different set of motions (hopefully, with the same resulting knot!!!).


Paul