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Knot usage for sheets and halyards

7K views 55 replies 17 participants last post by  KeelHaulin 
#1 ·
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).
 
#5 ·
I like the buntline hitch for halyards... The one downside of a good buntline hitch is that it is almost impossible to untie.
 
#6 ·
poopdeckpappy said:
No different than a Jib
Only difference is the single rope used might have to be a bit longer if you have a genoa rather than a jib.
 
#9 ·
Zanshin-

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.
 
#10 ·
Electrical tape?!

No shackles on halyards?

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.
 
#11 ·
HS—

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.
 
#12 ·
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
 
#14 ·
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.
 
#17 ·
Skrap-

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.
 
#18 ·
Skrap, mines hanked,

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
 
#19 ·
poopdeckpappy said:
Skrap, mines hanked,

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
my sheets clip to the clew of the jib. when I get done sailing, I pull off my sheets and roll them up and stow them below, then I remove the jib.

the clip makes it easy to do this.
 
#20 ·
poopdeckpappy said:
Skrap, mines hanked,

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... :D 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.
 
#22 ·
CapnHand-

Most knots have at least one or two names for them.
 
#23 · (Edited)
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
 
#24 ·
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.
 
#26 ·
SimonV said:
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.:rolleyes:
 
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