Jib sheets - Cow Hitch?

[bp]

Cow Hitch...What If

I'm a longtime two line - bowline using sailor. To those of you using a cow hitch (and I didn't know that was the name of that knot either) what would you do if your jib sheet parted near the clew and that caused the knot to slip out and let the jib flog. Probably an unlikely event, but what would you do?

 

[Fred Ficarra7897]

You noticed that too, huh Tony?

I like to point that kind of stuff out to anybody who'll listen. Drives my wife crazy!

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Bp

I would roll up the roller furling. A bit loose, but it would still work.If I didnt have roller furling, i would head into the wind and tie a new line or drop the jib. Probably not much different from your bowline breaking.If you do enough sailing, most of this stuff happens or at least something close to it happens. Last week my roller furling jammed open. We continued sailing while I went forward and unwrapped the furling retreival line by hand. Then I rolled up the jib by turning the drum by hand. We continued sailing with main and then back to the dock. Our guest, that had some limited sailing experience many years ago never even flinched or felt that anything was wrong.The difference between an adventure and a disaster is your attitude.No matter how well you prepare, s**t happens.Tony B

 

[Ross]

I use two sheets with bowlines at the clew and yes

they do hang up on the shrouds in light air but I have never had them untie. You can tie a bowline inside-out. Then when the tail snags it can capsize and spill. The bowline didn't earn its reputation unjustly. I think it gets bad press from people that tie it incorrectly.

 

[RAD]

Why just today while

Setting up my head sail I secured the sheet with a cow hitch or luggage hitch cause thats the way its been and noticed I need to replace the sheets and thought maybe I should replace the sheets with two and secure them with bowlines, came home to read this post and now I'm confused *o BTWMoved the boat today and had the first sail of the season,it was cold but worth it

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Fred

When I was a real avid woodworker, I read just about every book and magazine on the subject. More than one book or mag had stuff in it that I knew that the author didnt have a clue as what he was writing and there was no way that the technique he was describing could work. It was obvious that he was writing something similar to a book report on other books. Its akin to some instruction manuals wherein the object could not be assembled in the order the instruction manual tell you. Tony B

 

[Fred Ficarra7897]

And women wonder

why men don't read instuctions.

 

[Terry Cox]

Just a follow-up note...

Actually I tie double bowline knots on my genoa sheets. For those who feel better wearing suspenders and a belt to keep their pants up one could lock the bowline with a half hitch on the tail. I, too have never had a bowline come undone even when the genoa was flogging hard.Terry

 

[Ross]

If you are terribly concerned with the integrity of a bowline seize the tail to

constrictor knot .

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Oftentimes....

Gee, i love the way that sounds. Oftentimes, our back-up systems become the problem. Imagine getting hit by a giant 5 lb. knot that cant come apart. It would serve another purpose also. It would be too heavy to lift up and snag the shrouds.Are we all that bored tonite?Tony B

 

[Peter2231]

Terry, I know what book you read

I read it too...Tag me as one more vote for bowlines.

 

[Jadedcrew]

Jib Sheet Attachment

I have always used two separate sheets secured with bowlines. I don't consider the occasional hang ups a nuisance. I consider any other method as being un-nautical.

 

[BarryL]

cow hitch

Hello,If you don't race or (or change headsails frequently), and have a roller furler, the cow hitch will work great. It can be difficult to undo at the end of the year, but a minute with a marlinspike and you can undo the hitch without damaging the sheet. You can end for end the line, or move it a foot or so in each direction to keep the line from becoming worn in one spot.I have used the cow hitch for a few years now. I find that it is easy to do, doesn't slip, weighs less than two bowlines, makes a smaller knot than bowline, doesn't hurt as much as getting hit with a bowline (or two) and works for me.I really don't care if anyone thinks it 'nautical' or 'seamanlike' or anything else like that. It's my boat and it works fine for me. Barry

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

According to ....

freedictionary.com, anyone that would use the word 'un-nautical' is very unseamanlike.On the more serious side, it seems like most experiences with a cow hitch are positive. Just to be on the safe side, I will apply a seizing. It is very important that I dont get hung-up on the shrouds because with ratlines, it happens with much greater frequency.I was atending a seminar/demonstration by a famous woodworker named Tage Frid many years ago. When asked "what is the best joint to use" he recommended Columbian. Oh well, I just made that up. Anyway, his reply was "use the easiest joint you can make that will still get the job done". I was at a similar seminar with Sam Maloof, another famous woodworker ( he made JFK's Rocking Chair) also way back when and when asked the same question, he gave the same answer. " Go for the Columbian", or was it the other answer. I forget a lot these days. Anyway, I guess the same goes for marlinspike seamanship, use the easiest one that will get the job done.P.S. Dont smoke nylon ropeTony B

 

[bffatcat]

Jib sheets my 2c

I have to agree with Ross & Warren bowlines are the way to go. I always tie themwith the bulge away from the stays so they never catch. Im sure using a cow hitchin the middle of one long sheet will work ok, but than you need a set for every jib.

 

[Ross]

There are several ways to tie a bowline incorrectly

Correctly tied and the tail lays inside the loop and may be seized to the loop with some small stuff. Incorrectly tied and the tail is on the outside of the loop or even worse the tail becomes the standing part.

 

[filthy liberal scum]

ross

if a bowline is made incorrectly, then its not a bowline.as to attaching sheets to a head sail or anything else, why would anyone ever want to use a knot that is difficult to release or undo. all sailing ship knots were designed to hold fast under load but be easy to release when not under load.i sure as hell would'nt want to fight a cow hitch, whatever that is, to get it undone if i had to do it in a hurry, such as when a big blow came up and i had to get it undone for whatever reason quickly. Oh Well, i guess that's what rigging knives are for!S/V Que Pasa?

 

[Ross]

Capt Jim, If you set out to tie a bowline there are several ways to get it wrong

They are all so bad that they don't have names. A badly made reef knot is a granny. And the bunt line was attached to the clew of a sail on a ship with a buntline hitch. A buntline hitch when drawn up and used under load can only be loosen with a marline spike. So much for easily released knots on sailing ships. One of my favorites is the hatchet bowline.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Interesting thread...

You all got me to do some research, since no one ever explained what a cow hitch was. My jib sheets are just as they were when I bought the boat, a single line with a lark's head in the center. The Boy Scout Handbook taught me how to tie a lark's head when I was a boy, and I've been using it ever since, when needed. I had never heard of a cow hitch, so I looked it up to find it is the same as a lark's head- and a Lark's foot, Girth hitch, Ring hitch, Lanyard hitch, or Baggage Tag Loop. Names can be confusing sometimes... ;D -Paul

 

[Ross]

This is my favorite knot page on the web

http://www.animatedknots.com/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg