(New sailor here) Using a larger (110 i think) jib. The knot that attaches the clew and the sheet catches on the foreward shrouds while tacking. In higher winds it gets caught there and I cant move it. I have the sheet led outside the shrouds to the genoa block and then to the winch. The sheet is actually one rope with a shackle attached through a large loop with a big overhand knot. Theres something wrong with this setup but I cant figure it out.
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Arguments abound about using shackles on jib sheets
for various crew safety issues. You say "big loop" Maybe the loop's too big. Have you tried either a cow hitch through the clew cringle if you have a continuous sheet, or separate bowline knots in lieu of the shackle? There's also technique involved during tacking of the timing between letting go of the old loaded sheet and the turning of the boat and the back-winding of the jib to have the sail come over to the other side. Could be more practice would help. That must be one big knot you have there.
We had a C22 and suffered the same issues until we learned a bit more.
for various crew safety issues. You say "big loop" Maybe the loop's too big. Have you tried either a cow hitch through the clew cringle if you have a continuous sheet, or separate bowline knots in lieu of the shackle? There's also technique involved during tacking of the timing between letting go of the old loaded sheet and the turning of the boat and the back-winding of the jib to have the sail come over to the other side. Could be more practice would help. That must be one big knot you have there.
We had a C22 and suffered the same issues until we learned a bit more.
sheet size
You also don't say what size sheets your using, like Stu I'd dump the shackle. I use 5/16" sheets and a cow hitch to attach, no problems tacking. You could also make yourself a set of shroud rollers using thin walled PVC mine are 1, 3 and 4' the 4' on the forward lowers, 3' on the uppers, and 1' on the rear lowers. The rollers would probably help you quite a bit. Again as Stu says its timing and practice.
You also don't say what size sheets your using, like Stu I'd dump the shackle. I use 5/16" sheets and a cow hitch to attach, no problems tacking. You could also make yourself a set of shroud rollers using thin walled PVC mine are 1, 3 and 4' the 4' on the forward lowers, 3' on the uppers, and 1' on the rear lowers. The rollers would probably help you quite a bit. Again as Stu says its timing and practice.
jib sheets
Thanks for your responses. Its a continuous sheet, 1/2 inch rope with a big overhand knot making a loop for the shackle. I like the idea of a cow hitch but maybe I should use 3/8" rope. I dont think 1/2 inch rope, doubled will fit through the clew. Thanks for setting me on the right track. Yes more practice=more sailing!
Thanks for your responses. Its a continuous sheet, 1/2 inch rope with a big overhand knot making a loop for the shackle. I like the idea of a cow hitch but maybe I should use 3/8" rope. I dont think 1/2 inch rope, doubled will fit through the clew. Thanks for setting me on the right track. Yes more practice=more sailing!
Good attitude
1/2 jib sheets on a C22 is way overkill. We use 1/2 on our C34!!! Go to www.catalina22.org and look up the manuals for the right recommended sized jib sheet sizes.
1/2 jib sheets on a C22 is way overkill. We use 1/2 on our C34!!! Go to www.catalina22.org and look up the manuals for the right recommended sized jib sheet sizes.
Dan......
... let me give you some of the most valuable sailing advice I can. Learn to tie a bowline knot. Second most valuable recommendation: Buy and study John Rousemaniere's Annapolis Book of Seamanship. Don't hesitate. Now... you need to invest in a new set of jib sheets. That would be two pieces, no larger than 3/8" diameter, rope length is approx. 1 1/2 time boat length. Good quality polyester double braid, such as New England Sta-set, Samson LS, Yale yacht braid, is more than adequate. Attach your sheets to the sail with a bowline. Absolutely no shackles, Please!!!!! Don't leave them attached all the time, remove them when you're away from the boat. They will last a lot longer because they are out of the weather and are getting rotated. Do not store your sheets in the bag with the sail, still attached. Bad for the sail. A continouse line with a cow hitch is okay for dinghy size boats, but not practical for boats over 25 feet. When tacking, try to let the wind carry the sail across the deck, rather than pulling it with the new sheet.
... let me give you some of the most valuable sailing advice I can. Learn to tie a bowline knot. Second most valuable recommendation: Buy and study John Rousemaniere's Annapolis Book of Seamanship. Don't hesitate. Now... you need to invest in a new set of jib sheets. That would be two pieces, no larger than 3/8" diameter, rope length is approx. 1 1/2 time boat length. Good quality polyester double braid, such as New England Sta-set, Samson LS, Yale yacht braid, is more than adequate. Attach your sheets to the sail with a bowline. Absolutely no shackles, Please!!!!! Don't leave them attached all the time, remove them when you're away from the boat. They will last a lot longer because they are out of the weather and are getting rotated. Do not store your sheets in the bag with the sail, still attached. Bad for the sail. A continouse line with a cow hitch is okay for dinghy size boats, but not practical for boats over 25 feet. When tacking, try to let the wind carry the sail across the deck, rather than pulling it with the new sheet.
Thank you
Great advice Joe, thank you. I'll use the snapshackle to attach the jib tack at the bow; I've been using a short length of rope. Joe, or anyone have any thoughts on raising the jib a few inches up off the deck? I've seen it rigged that way and I tried it and enjoyed the visibility. Thanks again, Dan
Great advice Joe, thank you. I'll use the snapshackle to attach the jib tack at the bow; I've been using a short length of rope. Joe, or anyone have any thoughts on raising the jib a few inches up off the deck? I've seen it rigged that way and I tried it and enjoyed the visibility. Thanks again, Dan
manual
My manual for a "new style" C1986 boat recommends 3/8" dacron line Jib-45 Ft and for Genoa 3/8" Dacron at 55 ft. This is for the port and starboard lines combined I believe. Make sure that if you replace the jib lines with a different size that they will work in your cleats. Some may not hold very much smaller diameter (or larger)lines. To get the correct length of lines, you need to determine which size foresail that you own. This can be done by measuring the length of the sails bottom edge or foot as it's called. For our C22 the foot of a 110 Jib is about 10.75 ft and for a Genoa it is 12.33 ft. Your problem of having the jib sheet knots hang on the forward lower is far more prevalent on a larger foresail because of it's foot length overlapping the shrouds. So the 110 jib shouldn't hang much if you allow the sail to back wind a bit before releasing the windward jib line and setting the leeward one. As suggested, I would not put the lines in the sail bag probably because they may be wet but you don't have to untie them. Just put the sail in first and let them hang out with a loose bag tie or if the sail and sheets are both wet, store outside of the bag. Inside of a closed boat on the water may not be good for a wet sail anyway because it is generally rather humid in the boat. The Sheets should be tied tho the jib with a bowline that doesn't have a long tail. http://www.apparent-wind.com/knots/bowline/ I have seen where it's not recommended to buy a long sheet and just tie it in the middle. They say to have two separate lines but the Catalina handbook suggests one long line.
My manual for a "new style" C1986 boat recommends 3/8" dacron line Jib-45 Ft and for Genoa 3/8" Dacron at 55 ft. This is for the port and starboard lines combined I believe. Make sure that if you replace the jib lines with a different size that they will work in your cleats. Some may not hold very much smaller diameter (or larger)lines. To get the correct length of lines, you need to determine which size foresail that you own. This can be done by measuring the length of the sails bottom edge or foot as it's called. For our C22 the foot of a 110 Jib is about 10.75 ft and for a Genoa it is 12.33 ft. Your problem of having the jib sheet knots hang on the forward lower is far more prevalent on a larger foresail because of it's foot length overlapping the shrouds. So the 110 jib shouldn't hang much if you allow the sail to back wind a bit before releasing the windward jib line and setting the leeward one. As suggested, I would not put the lines in the sail bag probably because they may be wet but you don't have to untie them. Just put the sail in first and let them hang out with a loose bag tie or if the sail and sheets are both wet, store outside of the bag. Inside of a closed boat on the water may not be good for a wet sail anyway because it is generally rather humid in the boat. The Sheets should be tied tho the jib with a bowline that doesn't have a long tail. http://www.apparent-wind.com/knots/bowline/ I have seen where it's not recommended to buy a long sheet and just tie it in the middle. They say to have two separate lines but the Catalina handbook suggests one long line.
I always used a single long line tied to jib, at middle of line, with a single knot that I cannot seem to remember name of. It is a single line over the two ends and has not slipped in 20 yrs on different boats. It makes a very small lump and slips through everything. A Bowline is nice but too big a knot. Maybe I can take a pic and post it later. Any kind of metal used there would be deadly for the gelcoat or anyone fooling around with jib during a tack. Liable to put scratches on mast, or gelcoat, or faces, hands, legs, heads..
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