Jib sheetline blocks

[Jim Seamans]

After a fun weekend of sailing, I'vecome to the realization the v-blocksfor the jib sheet lines are not goingto work. My wife, Joan got rope burnedtrying to release the jib line. Whenshe got it out of the block the line took off and of course she wanted to hold on to it. Winds were 20kts...Are any of you replacing this and withwhat? I was thinking about a clutch.Any advice from the group would be nice.Jims/v Java

 

[Jeff Davis]

gloves

Get the girl some sailing gloves, buddy. Also, it's a good idea to use the winch.

 

[John Nantz]

Trade Places

To have a really good time sailing, year after year, try trading places. Let your wife work the helm and you run the sheets. To make sheeting in easier when tacking, try a pause when comming about just after the boat passes the eye of the wind. Sheet in nearly all the way and when the boat picks up speed gradually harden up on the sheet with the winch.

 

[Greg Stebbins]

Ratchet blocks

Control when you need it.GregH23 Faster-

 

[Ron Mehringer]

Winches

Jim, you should have the jib lead take a turn or two around the winch before it goes to the cleat. As long as you keep a little tension on the tail as you uncleat, the winch should take the load, keeping your wife's hands safe. That's how we do it on the H26, perhaps the 260 is a little different.Do whatever it takes to keep the wife happy. A happy spouse it the key to happy (and frequent) sailing.

 

[Gary]

Wife

I long for the day my wife gives up the tiller. (;^}>

 

[Jim Seamans]

Oh SHE makes me take turns.

Good ideas All, I'll look at the rachet block.On the 260, the v-blocks (hope thats the correct name) are in frontof the winch. She was getting alittle nervous at our heel, we over about 20-25 degrees when she decided to release the jib. She had one foot in the sinkand one on the stair trying to release the jib. The rest is history.I found it diffcult to release even using the winch, since the line comes inlow over the v-block to the winch. It still pops up with alot of force and youbetter have about four turns on the winch. jim

 

[alan]

v-blocks?

I guess thats their proper name. I had been calling them jam cleats. Anyway I have a 26 and a friend has a 260 with the fixed keel. The arraingement on the 260 seems very cumbersome as they are practically tucked under the stanchions. In the 26 they are abaft and medial (don't know proper word for closer to midline on a vessel) of the winches and easier to use but not much. For single handed sailing I have used the stern docking cleats with good results. The ends are tied off to the stern rail so they won't get away from me. My friend put his jib sheets through rope clutches. No rope burn just lift the release. They are very easy to handle and combined with a stopper knot will not let the sheets get away from you. I will do the same, soon, anyday, when I have time.

 

[Rick Webb]

PX Cleats

I have Spinlock PX cleats on my 23.5 and they work great. I would not hink the load would be that much greater on a 26 or 260. One of y'all should try them. It made my wife real happy and my girlfreind thought they worked well also (just kidding, sweetheart).

 

[Jim Loats]

Just ordered cam cleats

I am amazed at how awkward the stock arrangement is for jibsheets on the Hunter 26. I come from Hobies and a Catalina 22 where the jib is controlled by convenient, easy-to-use cam cleats.I plan to mount the new cam cleats on the slanted surface just under where the jibsheet comes off the winch. (I.e. on the forward "side" of the cockpit, not on the deck.) Being able to "pop" the sheet and re-adjust seems so much better than taking turns around the cleat everytime.Rant: Why on earth does Hunter use this system? Are they pretending that the 26/260 is a "really BIG" sailboat? If so, put on self-tailing winches that work! End of Rant!

 

[Jim Seamans]

Correct name is jam cleats

Name! Names!I ordered a pair of clutch blocks today to replace them.Jim

 

[Ray Trombino]

Automatic Rope Clutch

I'm not sure of the technical name for the rope clutches I put on my 260 (it was over a year ago), but they work like this: lift up on the line and it releases the clutch; snap down to lock it. I can control the sheet from the helm with one hand. I used large stainless steel washers as a backing plate, and was able to reach the bolts through the access panels in the overhead by the galley and in the head. I had to use a turning block on the starboard side to keep the line from chaffing against the main halyard clutch. A year later, it's still working great.