Question about buying new jib sheets.

[needabiggerboat]

Hello,
We are looking to buy new jib sheets for our C&C 30. We need two lengths of 40' each. We aren't racing this year, so we can be economical.

We typically use a 150 genoa for cruising. Our winches are good but they aren't self-tailing.

Any clues you could provide us re: type, cost, requirements, would be very appreciated. Thanks!

[donradclife]

half inch or 7/16 double braid--the 7/16 is strong enough, but the half inch is easier on your hands.\

Half inch is $1.40/ft from WMP, or $0.86 from Defender--try a boat show for discounts.

[catamount]

Take a look at Yale Cordage's "new" Yacht Braid -- it has the low-stretch characteristics of New England Ropes StaSet-X but the handling characteristics and price of regular polyester double-braid (e.g. NER Sta-Set). I have 7/16 for my jib sheets and 3/8 for my main sheet, all new this year. Nice stuff, I like it. Yale may be harder to find that the ubiquitous New England Ropes, but maybe worth a little bit of a search at least. You could try HamiltonMarine.com

[paulk]

You might want to go a tad longer on those sheets. Genny sheets (especially 150%'s) are usually 1.5x the boat's length. If your old ones were 40' and they worked, though, it's hard to argue with that. Check Sailnet's prices first, of course, since we're all here at their largesse.

[JimsCAL]

I would go with a low stretch double braid like Samson XLS or New England Sta-Set X. And 3/8" is plenty for a 30-footer.

[MARC2012]

I bought some from ebay 1/2 in about 40 cents per foot.Had them 2yrs now work fine.I use one length looped on sail eliminates the knots.marc

[imagine2frolic]

I use sta-set, so there is a we bit of give in a gust, but then again I am a cruiser.......i2f

[SEMIJim]

Sta-Set is fine for jib sheets, even if you are racing. It's the halyards you really want to be low-stretch. We have 7/16 Sta-Set on Abracadabra, if memory serves.

NABB, if you can hold off, WM usually has a 20% off sale on rope later on in the season.

Jim

[PalmettoSailor]

First 1/2" seems way overkill for a 30' boat. My 36' boat specified 7/16" jib/genoa sheets, but I went up to 1/2 because I was having some slippage on the primaries.

If you're looking for something a bit higher tech than Stayset, Yachtbraid or XLS you might take a look at Yale's new Phd. I considered it for genoa sheets on my boat, but the rigger at APS disuaded me indicating he thought Phd was better suited to boats less than 35'. I ended up finding a deal on some 1/2" Samson XLS Extra T (which I think was discontinued), but was good for my requirements. XLS Extra T is a Dyneema/Polyester blend similar to NER's VPC but quite a bit more flexible. I have a VPC main halyard and like the line for that purpose, but worried about how it would run when used as a sheet as its fairly stiff. Both VPC and XLS extra T offer much less stretch than straight polyester, but at lower cost than the full on racing products.

I also chose to use Trophy Braid for the mainsheet, even though its stretchier than the other lines I chose. Trophy Braid's cover is super grippy and feels great in the hand, so I thought that made good sense for the mainsheet on a cruising boat like mine. I think it would also be a decent choice for genoa sheets on a cruising boat if you didn't mind a bit more stretch.

Finally, if you have a roller furling headsail I'd also consider going with one length and attaching to the sail in the center with a larks head. I went to that arrangement this year and am happy with it as there is less to hang up in a tack.

[pdqaltair]

I would be careful about over-sizing. I have owned 2 boats where the PO thought that way, and in both cases the ropes didn't run well or fit the cleats and self-tailers well. 7/16" is a nice size for the hand and 3/8" would work. Also, I find oversize ropes seem to hang-up more often.

I've had Stayset-X and hated it, even for a halyard. Not for a sheet, no way.


(My boat is 32' with 7/16" genoa sheets, 3/8" self-tacker sheets 3/8" spin sheets, and 3/8" mainsheet)