Recently bought new sails (Offshore) - main and 135% furling genoa. Also bought the Schaefer Snapfurling system. Have not installed any of it yet. Looking at replacing the sheets on the genoa while I'm doing the upgrade. Current sheets are too short (e.g. when on the starboard tack the port sheet stopper knot is only a foot or so from the fairlead), and are "tied" to the sail by passing the ends of the line through a bight passed through the clew. Normally I've seen center mounted snap links or bowline knots. In any event, as I face they myriad of different sorts of lines, lengths, strengths, etc. - hoping to cut away some of the white noise. We cruise and daysail. We can get very high winds (30+ knots) on Lake Mead. Thanks in advance. SJK SENDS
Jib Sheet Replacement
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The hitch you descirbe is commonly called
a "cow hitch" it is small and light but pulls so tight that it will be difficult should you want to ever undo it. The bowline can be untied (hopefully) in the future. Using a snap or other hardware is introducing a piece of shrapnel that can damage decks from a flapping jib. Low stretch lines are more efficient for things like jib sheets where the stretch loses you a little power. I have been using Sta Set X on mine for about 6 mos., the low stretch properties are good but still don't really like the "feel" or "hand".
a "cow hitch" it is small and light but pulls so tight that it will be difficult should you want to ever undo it. The bowline can be untied (hopefully) in the future. Using a snap or other hardware is introducing a piece of shrapnel that can damage decks from a flapping jib. Low stretch lines are more efficient for things like jib sheets where the stretch loses you a little power. I have been using Sta Set X on mine for about 6 mos., the low stretch properties are good but still don't really like the "feel" or "hand".
stay away from sta-set X for sheets
Parallel core makes it stiff in the hand and on the winch. It's filament/spun cover is a big dirt collector, especially since it only comes in white. It's also hard to splice and I don't really like the way it knots. Get my drift. My suggestion is a traditional double braid polyester such as New England Sta-Set, Samson XLS, Yale Yacht Braid or Marlow's Marlowbraid. 5/16 would be perfect for your 22 footer. I'm guessing about 35 feet per sheet. But be safe and measure yourself. Use your old sheets and add whatever you think you'll need to that. You'll save a ton of money by buying them online (or look for a sale.) try pyacht.com or apsltd.com, for really good prices. You'll find West Marine prices quite a bit higher. 5/16 Sta-Set from pyacht is .49/ft white, .55/ft solid color. 5/16 Marlowbraid from Annapolis Performance Sailing (apsltd.com) is only .48/ft white or solid. APS also sells the very excellent Samson XLS for .60/ft white or solid. My favorite, though, is Yale Yachtbraid. Always use a bowline to connect the sheets. That way you can reverse them often to decrease wear and tear from the cleats and shrouds.
Parallel core makes it stiff in the hand and on the winch. It's filament/spun cover is a big dirt collector, especially since it only comes in white. It's also hard to splice and I don't really like the way it knots. Get my drift. My suggestion is a traditional double braid polyester such as New England Sta-Set, Samson XLS, Yale Yacht Braid or Marlow's Marlowbraid. 5/16 would be perfect for your 22 footer. I'm guessing about 35 feet per sheet. But be safe and measure yourself. Use your old sheets and add whatever you think you'll need to that. You'll save a ton of money by buying them online (or look for a sale.) try pyacht.com or apsltd.com, for really good prices. You'll find West Marine prices quite a bit higher. 5/16 Sta-Set from pyacht is .49/ft white, .55/ft solid color. 5/16 Marlowbraid from Annapolis Performance Sailing (apsltd.com) is only .48/ft white or solid. APS also sells the very excellent Samson XLS for .60/ft white or solid. My favorite, though, is Yale Yachtbraid. Always use a bowline to connect the sheets. That way you can reverse them often to decrease wear and tear from the cleats and shrouds.
Jib Sheets
I agree with everything Joe mentioned, especially attaching the individual sheets to the clew using bowline knots. Sta-Set X is meant for halyards, mainly.
I agree with everything Joe mentioned, especially attaching the individual sheets to the clew using bowline knots. Sta-Set X is meant for halyards, mainly.
Bowline on jib sheets
When you tie the bowline knot, tie it properly, by facing away from the loop through the cringle on the clew of the sail when you start the loop for th boline for the rabbit to come through the hole. That way you'll be able to undo the knot. Stu
When you tie the bowline knot, tie it properly, by facing away from the loop through the cringle on the clew of the sail when you start the loop for th boline for the rabbit to come through the hole. That way you'll be able to undo the knot. Stu
Thanks for the help
Thanks everyone for the quick assistance. Joe and Mick, appreciate the detail on the line selection - printed it and pulled out the West Marine catalog. Ted - thanks for naming the "cow hitch." As you mentioned, not the preferred solution - think I'll need an acetylene torch, five pounds of TNT for a cutting charge, some communion wine, and the summer solstice to get the current sheets off the old jib. Used to live in Dana Point - remain jealous. Stu - Someone once showed be how to tie the bowline one handed. Good to know that someone other than me still uses the "rabbit out of the hole" method. SJK SENDS
Thanks everyone for the quick assistance. Joe and Mick, appreciate the detail on the line selection - printed it and pulled out the West Marine catalog. Ted - thanks for naming the "cow hitch." As you mentioned, not the preferred solution - think I'll need an acetylene torch, five pounds of TNT for a cutting charge, some communion wine, and the summer solstice to get the current sheets off the old jib. Used to live in Dana Point - remain jealous. Stu - Someone once showed be how to tie the bowline one handed. Good to know that someone other than me still uses the "rabbit out of the hole" method. SJK SENDS
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