What knot for genoa?

[SpcAlan1]

I have a roller furling ( not that I think that matters ).. but when I tack with the genoa out the 2 knots ( one for each sheet ) get caught on the lifeline 'poles'..

basically I have a big a** wad of knots at the end of the genoa that gets hung up almost everytime I try to tack..

Any ideas on how to fix this, and still have a fail safe knot?

Thanks.

( diagrams would be great - tying ties can be tricky for me )...

[CharlieCobra]

Larks-head on a single line. That's the way I do it anyway.

[SpcAlan1]

But I have 2 lines.. one for each side of the boat...
So a larks head on each line?

[Jeff_H]

You don't say what sized boat that you have but generally on small boats with a single continuous sheet, a cowhitch (larks head) will work, and on larger boats a bowline is the way to go.

Here is a link to a step by step slide show on how to tie a cow hitch. http://www.iwillknot.com/cow_hitch/

If you have a small boat (under 25 feet) and two separate sheets then you might use a pedigree cow hitch (but I prefer a bowline which is easier to untie and a bit more reliable).How to tie a pedigree cow hitch knot with animated help | Wonder How To

Here is a link with a step by steo slide show on how to tie a bowline (pronounced bo-lynn)

The Bowline

Jeff

[donradclife]

The normal genoa sheet knot is a bowline. There are two sides to the knot, and one tends to catch on things a bit more than others. Tie it both ways to see which works better.

If you continue to have a problem, another solution is to take one long continous line, fold it in the middle, push the folded part through the sail grommet, and then pull both ends through the loop you have created. The knot will tighten up and not slip, but if you want to make sure, take a needle and whipping twine and make a few passes through the knot.

[JohnRPollard]

What kind of knot are you using now?

The usual knot for genoa sheets is the bowline. Easily made, easily opened. Sometimes, if you experiment with the size of the loop, you can reduce the amount it hangs up on the shrouds.

We had the same problem, so I went to a single continuous sheet that simply loops through the clew and back around itself. I suddenly am drawing a blank on the name...somebody help me out. Here's a photo, you can sort of see it.





Edit: Ah yes, cow hitch/larks head. Thanks. I see a bunch of us posted near simultaneously. Sorry for the redundant info.

[cormeum]

The only problem with that is all the chafe will occur in the middle of the line. Gets expen$ive when you're running 3/4" genoa sheets.

[AE28]

John...
Posting pix like that isn't going to make it any easier to make it through this winter!!!

Paul

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by cormeum

The only problem with that is all the chafe will occur in the middle of the line. Gets expen$ive when you're running 3/4" genoa sheets.

If it ever comes to that, I'll cut the line at the larks head, whip the two new ends, reverse the two sheets, and secure them to the sail with the conventional bowline. I added enough extra length to the sheet to accommodate this possibility.

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by AE28

John...
Posting pix like that isn't going to make it any easier to make it through this winter!!!

Paul

Sorry, Paul. If it makes you feel any better, most of us will be suffering right along with you.