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I wanted to see if there are differences of opinion (I know this is almost an inflammatory point of view) or suggestions on knot usage for my sheets and some of the halyards, particularly the main, genoa and boom vang. At present I use the classic bowline and use electrical tape to hold the ends tight, particularly for the genoa where I sometimes get a knot hooked onto a shroud when tacking.
Are there other (perhaps more compact) knots in common use for sheets? I like an anchor knot but am worried that it might become too tight after use, and I like to rotate my sheets end-to-end frequently otherwise I would whip them together (splicing multibraid is too much work for this purpose).
Lark head on the Jib or gennie, I learn that one here, and I like much better than the Bowline ( no longer hangs up ), however, I have bowline on the halyards, main and outhaul
I only have a small knot book here, my big one lists knot strengths and slippage information. Is the Lark's head sufficient for a Genoa? If so, it would seem I can tape the standing end to the working end and it won't hang up again!
When using a lark's head for the genoa sheets, they're using a single long line for both genoa sheets, and tying the larks head in the middle of it. No lashing or taping needed.
I still use bowlines for the genoa sheets but keep thinking there has to be a btter way, one that doesn't need metal headbangers and won't hang up on anything. I'm thinking there's probably a way to use two toggles...but keep tying bowlines meanwhile.
To clarify—I use pin-retaining shackles on mainsail halyard and topping lift, but use snap shackles on the spinnaker and genoa halyards. These are attached to the halyard via a buntline hitch.
I do not use shackles on the clew of any headsail, since that means instead of getting a bruise for your trouble, when trying to tame a flogging sail, you get a concussion or worse. I use bowlines for the genoa and spinnaker sheets, but will probably go to a lark's head and a single longer sheet at some point in the future.
One thing on the bowlines—leave the tails a bit on the long side and tie the loops as small as possible. This makes it much less likely that the bowlines will shake out, which can happen on stiffer, older lines.
One neat trick I've seen for genoa sheets is an eyesplice with a stiffened tail that is used to lock the eyesplice into the clew of the sail. I wouldn't recommend this for a larger boat though.
Man I wish I had a picture of the lark head knot, it's slick, I use it now on all 3 sails, a 150, 135 and a 90, the sail blows right threw and has never hung up on me, where the bowline did
Man I wish I had a picture of the lark head knot, it's slick, I use it now on all 3 sails, a 150, 135 and a 90, the sail blows right threw and has never hung up on me, where the bowline did
Sailingdog - ahh, that makes more sense. Since I've alread got 2 lines of appropriate length I'll have to use those. I checked up on the internet and it seems the cow hitch (or Lark's head or several other names) isn't quite what I was looking for.
HelloSailor - electrical tape to get the standing end out of the way. lol - not to carry any load. I have in-mast furling but you are correct, the genoa and mail halyards are spliced and shackled - I was looking at the topping lift which has a bowline.
ok wait, you use a larks head straight through the clew of your jenny? Mine is hank-on, so I am not sure I could do that, although I like the idea of not having to worry about it hanging up.
Why would being a hank-on sail affect whether you could use a lark's head knot for the jib sheets??? Granted, untying a lark's head from the clew of a jib, as you're trying to switch headsails is a royal PITA... but it would still be doable.
Also, I don't understanding why you would want or need to untie the sheets when you do a sail change, you wouldn't with anyother sail change/knot configuration
Also, I don't understanding why you would want or need to untie the sheets when you do a sail change, you wouldn't with anyother sail change/knot configuration
Also, I don't understanding why you would want or need to untie the sheets when you do a sail change, you wouldn't with anyother sail change/knot configuration
Some people don't have a dedicated set of sheets for every sail... So untying a lark's head knot, when doing a sail change, with 50-100' of wet jib sheet to pull through is going to be less than fun.
A stunsail halyard bend will give a compact knot for the boom vang. This page shows it on a spar but it could also work on a bail. Never tried it on a sheet.
I had no idea that knot had a name and I believe the Larks Head would work very well on a cruising boat. In a race however I think you would want seperate sheets for sail changes. You could obviously use one long sheet on each sail but that involves a lot more line on the deck during the change and they both have to be refed.
Think I will stick with a bowline and my fore deck clearing it across during the tacks.
Gary
For the larks head to work, you need tension on both ends, or the lose tail needs a half hitch to stop it working lose. I will stick with the bowline thanks and I can tie them one handed if needed.
For the larks head to work, you need tension on both ends, or the lose tail needs a half hitch to stop it working lose. I will stick with the bowline thanks and I can tie them one handed if needed.
That's why it is only generally used if you have a single long line being used as both port and starboard genoa/jib sheets.
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