Sheet lengths

[drumbeater]

I'll admit I've never measured the sheets on my boat, and I assume they are original, everything else is.

When we are sailing, there is always a lot of extra sheet for the jib sheets and main sheets. We end up with them always in a tangled pile in the floor of the cockpit, even when on downwind on a broad reach. How much extra do we really need?

Ours are again believed to be original equipment from 1982, so they are looking kind of sad and swollen. I was going to replace them and considering shortening them also.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Even if your sheets were exactly the correct length, you will still have plies in the cockpit. Managing the running rigging while sailing is always required.

I'm a little fussy about my lines and replace them more frequently than most, 3 or 4 years. I don't have any lines that are over 20 years old. Replaced lines are very useful around the house.

I always get them extra long. Even when I have others on board, my boat handling is almost exclusively solo. I like to be able to hang onto the jib sheets from anywhere in the cockpit. The main sheet is a very useful block and tackle for other tasks (raising the mast) so I don't cut it short either.

I find that good quality yacht braids that are not 'sad and swollen' tend to untangle with just a shake.