Twist in mainsheets and other lines

[Captain Larry-DH]

This article from Practical Sailor has something I never heard about before: To avoid twist in double and triple block the upper and lower blocks should be aligned at 90-degrees to each other. Check out Image #3 and link to article below.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/is...lor:e36860:99383a:&st=email&s=p_Grabbag020418

 

[Will Gilmore]

That makes perfect sense when you see it like that.
After all, I'm a twisted blockhead or so my wife says sometimes

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Jackdaw]

As they note in the article, using a single braid line will also stop it, with the added benefit that it is much less likely to hockle and jam. The favorite for this task worldwide is Maffioli Swiftcord, which is braided dyneema with condura mixed in for a very very nice hand feel.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Looked again at image 2, and got thinking: I don't think I would choose a snap shackle to attach a boom sheet, unless it was oversized by quite a bit. Am I wrong about this? (I'm thinking about the dynamic loads in a jybe).

 

[jssailem]

@Larry -- DH the images are not of boom sheets but of block and tackles for dinghy davits.
You are correct about main sheets on a boom. Use a shackle and wire tie the pin for safety.

 

[LeeandRick]

As they note in the article, using a single braid line will also stop it, with the added benefit that it is much less likely to hockle and jam. The favorite for this task worldwide is Maffioli Swiftcord, which is braided dyneema with condura mixed in for a very very nice hand feel.

Just teaching people the proper way to coil double braid at the end of the day helps with hockles ( is that plural for more than one hockle) and jams.

 

[thinwater]

Looked again at image 2, and got thinking: I don't think I would choose a snap shackle to attach a boom sheet, unless it was oversized by quite a bit. Am I wrong about this? (I'm thinking about the dynamic loads in a jybe).

I wouldn't either... but it was my boat and I will tell you how that came to be.

It came with 2:1 purchase and I decided to switch to 3:1 for better no-winch grinding trim in lighter winds. I had a few spare blocks from who-knows-where, and the one that ended up at the top of the tackle had a snap shackle fitted. I slapped it on, as-is while I trialed it, later replacing it with a D-shackle.

I'm sure quite sure it was strong enough, but it's a pretty useless thing to have right there. I'm not a snap shackle fan.

Mouse it? Few shackles that size will have a hole and it ain't standing rigging.

 

[thubbard84]

Here's a great video on how to properly coil & stow braided line. I've been doing it wrong my whole life...

 

[LeeandRick]

Here's a great video on how to properly coil & stow braided line. I've been doing it wrong my whole life...

I was wondering how long it would take someone to look that up. I've been explaining that technique to my sailing mates for forty years. Just don't do 3 strand like that. Many of the parallel core and high tech lines don't like the figure 8 either.