What is the preferred method of attaching new sheets to the genoa ...continious line knotted or mechanical fastener?
Jib sheets
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Not sure what you mean by mechanical fastener, but shackles and such are frowned upon because of the damage they can do to boat parts and people when flogging around in the breeze. I use bowlines. Some people use a cow hitch, but you will have to cut the line to remove it.
I have two jib sheets but saying that one sheet fastened to the jib in the middle makes a lot of sense as the knot can be kept smaller and thereby pass by the shrouds easier. The current knots can hang up on the shrouds when tacking. Also lighter is better allowing the sails to fill in slight winds.
2 seperate sheets, tied with bowlines, for the reasons already mentioned and if you're going to make a headsail change (hanked on sails) you can disconnect the lazy sheet from the working sail and attach it to the lazy sail (which is hanked on under the sail in use) and after lowering/raising the sails, you can tack right away and continue without a break in sailing.
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I Use A Single Line With A Cow Hitch
...and find that with patience and a lot of work, I can undo it without cutting the line. Twice in 15 years. I keep separate and attached sheets for the cutter and drifter.
I use a single line with a cow hitch on my current boat as I did on my two prior ones. I have never had any problem removing the sheet(s). I didn't have to cut them they just untie never had any difficulty.
I prefer 'buntline' attachment for jib sheets using 2 jibsheets - smaller knot and less prone to 'capsize' during violent flogging of a jibs clew than a bowline.
I really more prefer to use a long single line attached through the clew using a 'strangler knot', similar to a clove hitch but more resistant to shaking loose ... an absolute royal ***** to untie, and thats what I 'want'.
On my 'smaller' boats with small sail area jibs, I prefer using shackle attached double block using 1 jibsheet per side for 'fast' control when tacking, etc. Jib sheets are lead to hexaratchet fairleads ... if youre 'fast' you dont need winches; downside is there are 4 'ropes' up front to trip over.
I really more prefer to use a long single line attached through the clew using a 'strangler knot', similar to a clove hitch but more resistant to shaking loose ... an absolute royal ***** to untie, and thats what I 'want'.
On my 'smaller' boats with small sail area jibs, I prefer using shackle attached double block using 1 jibsheet per side for 'fast' control when tacking, etc. Jib sheets are lead to hexaratchet fairleads ... if youre 'fast' you dont need winches; downside is there are 4 'ropes' up front to trip over.
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I use a single line with a lark's head. This almost eliminates the catching on the lifelines. I find bowlines to be too much bulk on the clew. A lark's head may not work for bigger sails though. You are well advised to NOT use any kind of shackle or other hardware. They are convenient at the dock but not will the sail's luffing an your head is anywhere near it.
Used cow hitches on smaller boats (C22 & C25), too. Use bowlines on our C34. When tying the bowline, remember to tie it the correct way (facing away from the clew) or else you won't get it undone easily.
http://www.animatedknots.com/indexdecorative.phpI use a hitch in the middle of a single line. Each sail has its own lines.
Here are a couple knotty sites.
http://www.animatedknots.com/
http://www.igkt.net/knotgallery/main.php
and YouTube has tons of people tying knots in front of the camera...?
Here are a couple knotty sites.
http://www.animatedknots.com/
http://www.igkt.net/knotgallery/main.php
and YouTube has tons of people tying knots in front of the camera...?
My preference is a single line seized to the clew at midpoint. Make complete seizings (secured ends) with two or more pieces of the small stuff with ten or more wraps each so that if one seizing comes undone, there is a backup. On each pass take a round turn about the sheet to prevent slippage. Such makes a smooth connection that will pass the shrouds without a hangup like the knotted lines sometimes do.
FWIW, Geohan
If you stow your sail sheets on a furler, the consensus is to use the larks head or cow hitch (single line).
If you remove your headsail and stow it in a bag between uses....... use a bowline with two separate sheets. Do NOT stow the sheets in the bag with the sail.... it will damage the sail, think of the tennis shoe in the dryer technique.... One thing using separate sheet allows is the rotation of the sheets end for end, side for side...... that will lessen wear considerably, extending the life of your valuable cord. The other is the sheets can be stowed in the locker, out of the sun and elements that also shorten their life and quality.
I can't recall any situation where I've flogged my sails badly enough to loosen a properly tied bowline.... so I have never felt the need for a buntline hitch for that application. It's too hard to untie in a hurry....
On my Laser, I left the sheet on the mainsail.... one continous line, cow hitch style.... 'cause that's the way someone taught me.
On my Lido 14 and Nacra 5.2........ bowline..... but the buntline hitch might have been used, if I'd know about it back then.... because you never change headsails on those small boats.
On my Cat 27, with hank ons...... always separate sheets attached with bowlines... I change sails, but not sheets. .... just makes much more sense and is way faster.
Leaving a set of sheets attached to each sail in its bag... it's twice as much work and more wear and tear on the sails... so the only reason to do it is because you want to cow hitch the sheet because you think it makes it easier to tack the boat.......what other reason could it be? The solution is simple...... First learn to tie the bowline correctly and second, learn to tack your sailboat properly.
If you remove your headsail and stow it in a bag between uses....... use a bowline with two separate sheets. Do NOT stow the sheets in the bag with the sail.... it will damage the sail, think of the tennis shoe in the dryer technique.... One thing using separate sheet allows is the rotation of the sheets end for end, side for side...... that will lessen wear considerably, extending the life of your valuable cord. The other is the sheets can be stowed in the locker, out of the sun and elements that also shorten their life and quality.
I can't recall any situation where I've flogged my sails badly enough to loosen a properly tied bowline.... so I have never felt the need for a buntline hitch for that application. It's too hard to untie in a hurry....
On my Laser, I left the sheet on the mainsail.... one continous line, cow hitch style.... 'cause that's the way someone taught me.
On my Lido 14 and Nacra 5.2........ bowline..... but the buntline hitch might have been used, if I'd know about it back then.... because you never change headsails on those small boats.
On my Cat 27, with hank ons...... always separate sheets attached with bowlines... I change sails, but not sheets. .... just makes much more sense and is way faster.
Leaving a set of sheets attached to each sail in its bag... it's twice as much work and more wear and tear on the sails... so the only reason to do it is because you want to cow hitch the sheet because you think it makes it easier to tack the boat.......what other reason could it be? The solution is simple...... First learn to tie the bowline correctly and second, learn to tack your sailboat properly.
I use this. Then I can un-connect and move up when I reef the jib, or it makes it simple to change sheets to another jib. Been using this for years an have never had it come undone
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