Jib sheets - two versus one

[KiddSpinn]

We purchased an O'Day 272 last year and have just launched her this spring. We are replacing some of the lines. The manual calls for 2 lines for the jib sheet (some of the lines we are replacing) which creates a bulk of knots that get caught on the mast while tacking. We ran a single line that was is looped thru the jib instead which doesn't catch as bad.
So we are wondering why you would use two lines instead of one?

[BarryL]

Hello,

If you have a number of different headsails, and you change them often, it's easier to use two sheets.

If you use one headsail most / all of the time, a single sheet is easier.

Barry

[KeelHaulin]

If you use a single line; be sure that if one side breaks or needs to be cut the opposite side will not untie at the clew.

You can eye splice the lines onto the clew and that will eliminate the need for bowlines.

[sailingdog]

You can also end-for-end two single lines and get a bit more life out of them by spreading out where the chafe and wear occurs. Can't do that with a single line.

[Faster]

A single sheet on a bight or spliced eyes work great if you always leave the sheets attached to that particular sail. This is actually not a bad idea if you want to do that, your sheets for the 150 are going to be longer than necessary for the blade jib, so having dedicated sheets can keep the cockpit cleaner when conditions warrant the smaller headsail.

[tweitz]

We had an O'Day 272LE for a number of years. Great boat, good luck with her.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

You can also end-for-end two single lines and get a bit more life out of them by spreading out where the chafe and wear occurs. Can't do that with a single line.

If you use a single line tied to the clew it can be cut into two pieces when it starts to wear and then end for ended.
I think that as others have said, if you are using a dedicated sheet then it makes sense to leave it one piece.

[blt2ski]

I have to admit, all my lines are single dedicated to the headsail at hand. Recently I was crewing on a C&C 115, they had two jib leads. Came in handy when we had the jib lead over the spin pole, and when dropping and tacking, to either untie and put below the pole at the clew, or at times pull from the back over pole then back under to the back.

In the end, there are plus's and minus's to all methods, choose your poison for your usage etc.

marty

[KiddSpinn]

Thanks for all the input! We might try a few diffrent things suggested!