Apples, Oranges or Bananas?

[Windseeker]

I'm ordering new Genoa sheets. I'm a cruiser not a racer. For a 35' boat, I'm looking at 1/2" Polyester Double Braid. I see three choices:

Sta Set - New England
XLS - Samson
ULS Yacht Braid - Yale

There is a 30% price difference from the lowest to the highest, and the highest price doesn't have the highest breaking strength. So... what do you think the difference is? For the small difference, I could order the most expensive and be done. Or, I could save the money and order the least expensive and be done. But... experience is the best teacher. So...

Which polyester double braid line do you like best and why?

[SaltyMonkey]

bananas

[Coops]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

bananas

Too slippery.

Coops.

[Orion Jim]

New England or Samson. I use both and both are easy (hah) to splice and seem to be quite abrasion resistant. They are both superior products. Buy what's on sale.

[roverhi]

Double braid is pretty much double braid from major manufacturers, buy the cheapest. There are different qualities of braid from off brand mfg, however.

[osirissail]

Agree with roverhi - remember these are "sheets" not halyards so you want a line that has stretch in it like double-braid.

With a "sheet" you want a line that can absorb the shock of an unexpected tack or jibe and not rattle or shock load the boom or in the case of the foresail and block or fairleads between the sail and your winches.

And you want a line that is easy on the hands to hold and work - so I use "Regatta" braid. See http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/brow...2-/4,1202.html

[JPA Cate]

1/2" will probably do, but you will get more chafe resistance if you go slightly larger diameter. Polyester double braid should be fine, for sheets, you don't need fancier line, most likely.

Ann

[transmitterdan]

For foresail sheets only we use 8-Strand Plait called Intrepid. In 1/2" size for the staysail and 5/8" for the big genoa. I think the 1/2" would be ok for your foresail and it is nice on the hands, works well in self tailing winches and best of all I think it is cheaper than all 3 you listed. It gets fuzzy over time but holds up well.

[Stumble]

Assuming you have the stock Harken 32.2st's I wouldn't go with 1/2". They are rated to it, but won't really fit well in the ST. I would stick with 10mm. I don't see a real need for superhigh tech lines here, but I would probably go for them anyway. The price difference isn't that big, and they last much longer.

[ozskipper]

The one that doesn't cut the Genoa trimmers hands. Youre only cruising. Buy the comfy one!

[HappyMdRSailor]

If you are using breaking strength as one of the criteria for genny sheets for a 35... you are doing something wrong....

Soft... not too fuzzy... I think you're looking for a kiwi or a kumquat...

[HopCar]

For your application you might want to save a few bucks and go with Samson LS.
Link: Product

[roverhi]

FWIW, used 7/16" for the sheets on my 35' boat. Large enough diameter that it's easy on my sometimes arthritic fingers but not so large it creates a too large pile. Tried 1/2" but it was just too much of a jumble in the cockpit. Also tried 3/8" but it was too small for things like sheets that often get constant attention. 3/8" is okay where it's a set and pretty much forget use and have the time to grind on a winch. I've used low stretch line in that size for the halyards except the spinnaker halyard. The spinnaker halyard often requires applying a lot of force on a hoist or retrieval so have gone with 7/16" for that

For the metric impaired, 6mm is 1/4", 8mm 5/16". 10mm 3/8", 11mm 7/16" and 12mm 1/2". Thats a rough approximation of size comparison if you need to make a conversion

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

The one that doesn't cut the Genoa trimmers hands. Youre only cruising. Buy the comfy one!

Best answer. Go to the place where you buy the line. Grab hold of a few sizes and get the size that feels best to you when you tug on it. It certainly will be strong enough no matter what brand. Get the cheapest in that size. Don't buy slippery small line for sheets. It just doesn't make sense.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Best answer. Go to the place where you buy the line. Grab hold of a few sizes and get the size that feels best to you when you tug on it. It certainly will be strong enough no matter what brand. Get the cheapest in that size. Don't buy slippery small line for sheets. It just doesn't make sense.

There ya go... like sitting in the waiting room waiting for the girls to walk by.... You'll know the right one ....