Jib sheet knots

[Frank Nowak]

Here is another jib question. The genoa on our 1982 Hunter 27 has the sheets attached to the clew with bowlines and when ever tacking in light to medium winds, they get caught in the side stays. You have to get them really flapping to release the tangled knots then its OK. Any solution to this? Maybe making up a new, one piece sheet splicing the center right to the clew? Or, splicing in a ring of some kind which can then be attached to the clew. Any help appreciated.

 

[Paul Akers]

Try rigging tape?

Frank, maybe if you wrapped them with rigging tape to smooth them out, they would slide around the shrouds more easily?Another idea woild be to buy loose-fitting shroud protectors in which the knots would roll off of the shrouds at the protectors. Those are the white plastic piping that you buy at the nautical store.

 

[Mac Bentley]

Maybe this ...

I don't have a genoa and wouldn't know what to do with one, but on my jib I have one long sheet, just find the mid-point, slip it through the clew making a loop on the other side, then slip the sheet ends through the loop and then back to the cockpit. Doesn't make much of a "knot" to get caught on anything.Mac

 

[Andy]

shroud rollers

Our 150% has the same system as Mac, one sheet looped through the clew at the mid point. It still gets hung up. Tacking with a 150 is difficult anyway and we spend most of the season with the 110. My attitude is "live with it." HOWEVER, I did read an article, perhaps Don Casey, about rigging rollers on the offending shrouds and the jib is suppose to slip right off. Andy

 

[Paul Akers]

Shroud Rollers are available...

...but pricey. Most times they are made of teak. That's why I suggested the oversized, plastic shroud protectors.