To much line on jib sheet

[frankies56]

Hello friends, last weekend I took the boat out on a sail nice blow at 15 knots. great day on the water. my question is how long sould the jib sheets be is there a formula? I have a 130 genoa and unfureled to about 100 percent. with that said I had my step son on board and told him to undo the port jib sheet. of we went great day up and down wind. when I got back to the dock and putting things away I noticed the he never unraveled the jib sheet and frankly I never noticed I never needed all that line. I think I have way to much line. if anyone has a 130 or about how much line do you use I think have about 52 feet on each side but it,s been a while and don,t remember but I think its to long.any advice would be helpful. Thanks

 

[LeslieTroyer]

with the jib furled and 4-5 wraps of the sheets around the sail - I have about 3 feet of tail after 3 wraps around the winch.

 

[jssailem]

Les I have about the same on my boat.

 

[Roland5048]

It doesn't matter how big the sail is, it still has to wrap around the headstay. Figure about a foot a wrap on both the sail and winch, add to that the distance from the clew, when wrapped, to the winch and add a few feet more. Taking Leslie's example, 5 feet for the sail wrap plus 3 feet for the winch wrap plus 3 feet left over plus the distance to from the clew to winch as it goes thru your sheet car, (remember, this is not a straight line) add a little and you should be on target. However, more is better. You can always shorten your existing line if the excess bothers you. I'm sure someone out there has an easier way to figure this.

 

[jssailem]

I have not come across any easier or better way to figure it then what you described Roland. When it is all said and done each boat owner knows how much they need. The issues always arise when you cut the rope too short...

 

[SFS]

It doesn't matter how big the sail is, it still has to wrap around the headstay. Figure about a foot a wrap on both the sail and winch, add to that the distance from the clew, when wrapped, to the winch and add a few feet more. Taking Leslie's example, 5 feet for the sail wrap plus 3 feet for the winch wrap plus 3 feet left over plus the distance to from the clew to winch as it goes thru your sheet car, (remember, this is not a straight line) add a little and you should be on target. However, more is better. You can always shorten your existing line if the excess bothers you. I'm sure someone out there has an easier way to figure this.

Don't you need to add more length to that, to account for how far aft the clew is when using the sail? I'm probably not saying this well, but it seems to me that the lazy sheet has farther to run to get to the clew than the working sheet. The lazy sheet runs forward, around the shrouds/stays, and runs aft to where it is attached to the clew. This may require more line length than just the run up to the furler. (Wraps at both ends have already been accounted for.)

 

[Roland5048]

Don't you need to add more length to that, to account for how far aft the clew is when using the sail? I'm probably not saying this well, but it seems to me that the lazy sheet has farther to run to get to the clew than the working sheet. The lazy sheet runs forward, around the shrouds/stays, and runs aft to where it is attached to the clew. This may require more line length than just the run up to the furler. (Wraps at both ends have already been accounted for.)

That has never presented itself as a problem as long as the line is long enough. I don't think the two distances are all that different. I still have a good five feet of lazy sheet left when my 130 is fully out.

 

[SFS]

Yes, I agree that if the line is long enough, it will reach to where it has to go. I was referring to the calculation for determining "long enough". I guess if the distance from the furler to the shrouds is about the same as the distance from the shrounds to the clew when the sail is filled, then the method presented will work out ok.

 

[frankies56]

Les, seems to be right on with everbody. just one thing what about wisker pole should I add to the equation lets say it,s around 16 feet more or less as it is adjustable. thank you for the replys

 

[Joe]

Leave them the way they are.... the real concern is if they are long enough... since they aren't... there's no problem. FYI standard upwind headsail sheets are usually cut at 1 1/2 times boat length. Each sheet must be long enough to go from winch...around the shrouds... and back to the clew position on leeward side....plus additional length for winch use and easing sheets outboard.

 

[Dalliance]

Leave them the way they are.... the real concern is if they are long enough... since they aren't... there's no problem. FYI standard upwind headsail sheets are usually cut at 1 1/2 times boat length. Each sheet must be long enough to go from winch...around the shrouds... and back to the clew position on leeward side....plus additional length for winch use and easing sheets outboard.

1 1/2 times boat length is the rule of thumb I've also heard. I have 45 ft genoa sheets on a 30 ft boat for a 150 genoa which is often furled in to 130 or less. It's actually a single 90 ft line attached to the clew with a half hitch knot.

 

[Joe]

1 1/2 times boat length is the rule of thumb I've also heard. I have 45 ft genoa sheets on a 30 ft boat for a 150 genoa which is often furled in to 130 or less. It's actually a single 90 ft line attached to the clew with a half hitch knot.

Yep.. that also leaves enough for bringing the tail across the cockpit to use the upwind winch .... pretty handy if you're single handing and sitting on the coaming for the upwind view.

 

[Roland5048]

I've also had to use the upwind winch to pull an override out. Glad the tail was long enough. Was already sheeted in tight and couldn't get any slack in the working sheet.