Tie or Shackle to Genoa?

windward54 · Jul 16, 2012

I always tie. Last thing I want to have happen is to have a shackle hit me if I have to go forward to take care of a problem.

SEMIJim · Jul 16, 2012

Tie!

You really don't want bits of metal banging on your shrouds, mast, etc., up forward, not to mention any crew that might happen to be up there, do you?

Jim

thinwater · Jul 16, 2012

Come on guys! Even his cat's wearing a helmet. He'd be OK with a shackle.

capta · Jul 16, 2012

I tried an expensive (so in theory, good) snap shackle on our Yankee jib, but it disconnected itself in a storm in the Gulfstream on the way to Bermuda & we had to bring the sail down to reconnect. Pain in the a**!
I spliced small eyes in the end of each sheet (bowlines are just too big w/ 3/4" line) & at the suggestion of a sail maker, use a tiny piece of Spectra (1/8th inch) to lash the eyes to the clew. Works perfectly; no big knots, strong enough to take 40+ knots of wind (or more? I hope not to find out) & very easy to undo to remove the sail or change to the Genoa.

jsnaulty · Jul 16, 2012

june 6, 1972. went yup forward on my tanker 22 to lower the jib. shackle ln luffing jib flies top and hits me in the forehead. 25 stitches and my face looked like frankenstein for the first two weeks of my internship at MGH. scared the beezejus out of my patients. tie the damn thing. the knots may still hit you, but they ca't do as much damage as a shackle.

steve naulty
Ericson 35-3 'anodyne'
shadyside MD

jsnaulty · Jul 16, 2012

that's 'went up forward' and 'tanzer 22'. damn autocorrect.....

steve naulty

DougM · Jul 16, 2012

I would never use shackles on the sheets, way too dangerous. Also, in light air, the added weight on the clew makes it even more challenging to keep the sail filled.

caguy · Jul 16, 2012

I've always just looped the sheet through the clew. With the furler I haven't had to change sheets but if I had to I would consider the following.

http://sailing.about.com/od/equipmentgear/ss/softshacklehowto_4.htm

Eddie7045 · Jul 16, 2012

caguy, hey, I like that. The jib clew is no place for

a shackle.

kenn · Jul 16, 2012

Tie. Caguy's solution is neat too.

finding41 · Jul 16, 2012

Tie here. I never thought of any other way.
My fore sails all have there own sheet. A loop is made in the middle and that is put through the clew then the remaining sheet put through the new loop on the other side of the sail.

JonnyQuest · Jul 16, 2012

is this "Soft shackle" going to stay fastened when slack?

Had I read this thread on saturday I would have probably thought a shackle was the way to go--had them on my first boat years ago. BUT while sailing on Sunday and having a fair doozey of a summer thunderstorm pop up on us, I'm changing my mind. My genoa bowline knot came undone at the clew in the heavy wind and let the genoa violently flap in the winds. I had to go forward and retie the genoa sheet--right arm wrapped around 3/4 furled genny, left hand holding genny from flying away from me in the 20mph winds (my guess) and trying to keep it near my right hand so I could retie a bowline one handed, all while riding a wet fiberglass bucking bull in a thunderstorm.

Ouch! am I sore today.

Got it tied but the clew felt a whole lot better smacking me, like it repeatedly did, without any heavy metal parts.

So I assume that the fancy "soft shackle" somehow stays taut and does not have a problem coming loose when not under load? Can someone with experience clarify that point on this soft shackle? I need to make final adjustments to my genny sheets and add half hitches to my bowlines, but am interested in this soft shackle idea.

justsomeguy · Jul 16, 2012

finding41 said:
Tie here. I never thought of any other way.
My fore sails all have there own sheet. A loop is made in the middle and that is put through the clew then the remaining sheet put through the new loop on the other side of the sail.

Yep. Cow hitch seems to work just fine. Sometimes, when I don't sufficiently backwind the foresail when coming about, it'll get caught up on a lifeline or shroud, but I find that to be merely an annoyance.

hutch5151 · Jul 16, 2012

When cruising, I always tie using a bowline and I leave a little bow in the line so I can attach the whisker pole. When racing, using mutiple headsails, shackles are the only way to go.

SEMIJim · Jul 16, 2012

The only "real race boat" upon which I've crewed was a J/36. He ties his.

Jim

bffatcat · Jul 16, 2012

fastening jib sheets

The only people Ive ever met in the last 1/2 century that dont tie bowlines on their jib sheets come in two catagories. 1. beginners that do not know how to tie bowline and dont know any better, and 2. obstinate sailors looking for something different. Oh and lets not forget the people that wear helmets, face masks and heavy padded gloves. Get wacked in the face or head once with a flying shackle and you wont use one on a jib clew again In 50 years of sailing I have never had a bowline I tied come out by itself

redhead78 · Jul 16, 2012

What r u going to use to attach sheet to the shackle???? Duh a bowline knot... Brilliant Watson... Red

SEMIJim · Jul 16, 2012

redhead78 said:
What r u going to use to attach sheet to the shackle???? Duh a bowline knot...

Duh, an eye splice.

redhead78 said:
Brilliant Watson... Red

*Ahem*

Jim

Witzend · Jul 16, 2012

I have an interesting problem.
I recently received my new 135 from Rolly Tasker. It has a 17mm ring than has a bar across the center (to keep from distorting under load) with leather covering half of the ring opening.
My 9/16" sheets will just fit, but now the tang on the end of my whisker pole won't fit.
Either I get a new ring installed or I shackle, or I put the tang thru the loaded bowline loop.
Any other ideas?