Better bowlines for my genny

[malyea]

When I tack in light air, the knots (bowline) on the genny sheets often snag/catch on various parts of the standing rigging - mostly the shrouds, sometimes lifelines, etc.

In a nice breeze there's usually enough force when the genny is backwinded that the knots jump off the shroud pretty quick - but it definitely slows us down in a light breeze.

What's a good solution to help the knots slide across with zero snags?

I've thought about adding a 'filler' of foam around the knot and wrapping it with tape to smooth the knot ball.....

Ideas? Anything marketed commercially?

Thanks!

 

[s sauer]

Light Air Genoa Sheet(s)

I use one 3/8" Trophy Braid (soft fuzzy surface easy to hold) twice the length of your 'single' Genoa sheet. Find the center, make a 10" loop and tie a simple overhand knot in the loop, leaving about 6" of the loop as the 'eye'. Thread the 'eye' thru the Genoa cringle and then feed both standing parts thru the eye and tighten them so you now have two equal length Genoa sheets and only a single small overhand knot outside the 'eye' right at the clew. I think some call this a luggage tag knot. The luggage tag knot and dedicated light air sheets are much lighter than two larger diameter Geno sheets with bulky bowlines.

 

[Steve Dion]

Try a Lark's Head, but I think almost anything will hang up when there is little or no wind. This may just be a little less bulky.

http://www.google.com/images?rls=co...tle&resnum=3&ved=0CCsQsAQwAg&biw=1259&bih=650

 

[Bill1565]

If you spring for the single loong sheet, you don't need a knot. Just stuff a loopat the middle of the 2xl sheet thru the clew cringle, then pull both ends thru the loop. I have had two boats with forward lower shrouds and this solution works better than rollers, plastic sleeves and PVC pipe on the shrouds.

 

[Ed Schenck]

I like Bill's idea but have always owned the two separate green and red sheets for starboard and port. I use bowlines and those can be a problem on a cutter-rig with a mid-stay to clear on each tack. But I have always tacked by backwinding the foresail of whatever I am sailing. So even in light wind my H37C yankee(jib) snaps right through. I do understand that this may not work for a big jib that overlaps the shrouds.

 

[malyea]

Both my sheets are blue.....no wonder I keep getting lost!

Thanks for the loop / Lark's Head tip, they look one and the same and should be a good solution for me.

Cheers

 

[Ed A]

If you look carefully at a bowline tied in a line you will see that one side of the completed know is smoth, one side had a line across it like a saddle.
If you tie in your sheets with the smooth side in and the saddle out (outboard) they will be alot easier to handle as the knot wont hang up on the shrouds or stays nearly as much.

 

[Blaise]

If you really want to tack fast, get rid of the baby stay. You will also have to add a rail over your dorades or you will put them into orbit.

 

[Ray T]

I used the larkshead for years on my O'day 223 I found it better for the type of sailing I was doing at the time. I never removed the sheets when I put the sail away. In later years I was racing my 27 and would use bowlines because it gave more flexibility when changing headsails.

 

[Ed H]

I am a new owner of a 1981 Hunter 33 and I want to switch over to this single sheet system. The boat currently uses some type of shackle with a swivel that I fear will cause excessive wear to the clew. Anyone know the best size and length sheet for this boat? Seems like the 7/16 inch would be too small to comfortably handle ....As far as the type of sheet, should it be double braid? I appreciate the help from the experts. Ed

 

[Ed Schenck]

I have always used the New England rope chart in the West Marine catalog as my guide for choice of line. Here is their online selection guide: http://www.neropes.com/LineSelector.aspx . The size, 7/16", would be a maximum in my view. Even that seems too heavy to me. A continuous line is the way to go for the lightest, smoothest clew attachment. Just pull loop through the clew and pull the lines through it, no knot required. I have separate lines so use two bowlines.

 

[Bill1565]

Self Tailing winches have specific line size ranges. If yours are ST look up the manual on line for your winches. Use Dacron or high priced no stretch double braid, not nylon 3 strand. Length ought to be about 1-1/2 x boat length. Each side

 

[Ed H]

I'm going to get 100ft of the double braid. Not sure about 7/16 or smaller size. This weekend I'll see what size is currently rigged-up. Thanks guys. Ed

 

[Ed Schenck]

Good luck with your selection of the right sheet. But here in Cherubini land you have to sign off more specifically as there are at least three Eds. There is Ed A, Ed S, and now Ed H.
Ed S

 

[Ed H]

Will do..... Or maybe I should sign it "Little Ed" since my boat is a 33 and you both have 37's. Ed H