400: L400S2 Replacing 14mm jib sheets to 12mm with dyneema core?

[CatNewBee]

I am pretty unsure, if this would be a good idea. The original 14mm sheets do not run nice on the clutches, they stick and must be manually pulled through / loosened when tacking.

I would like to replace them by 12mm sheets and to have the same strength it may be a good idea to go for the dyneema cored material. However dyneema ropes do not stretch and may put too much load on the travellers and sails in gusts, and very likely something else will break before they do.

What is your opinion? To stay with the 14mm sheets, to use normal 12mm or go for dyneema cored?

Btw, same for the main sheet, almost unuseable without manual help to ease it through the clutch.

[Bean Counter]

12mm Dyneema / Poly blend would be as strong or stronger than 14mm Poly and not nearly as expensive as 100% dyneema. We have changed our 14mm main sheet to 1/2" poly/dyneema blend (Samson XLS-T (USA) - goes much better through the clutch.

[Darksyde]

I have done it on our L 450 works brilliant

M

[cuffy]

I had dyneema jib sheets and found the shock loading noticeable.
I have since changed back to 12mm double braid and feel much happier with them.
As a side note all halyards remain dyneema, 10mm

[FabioC]

I changed my jib sheets last year to thinner dyneema core/poly cover and they work much better than the original poly double braid, so I would say go for it. I actually love the fact that they do not stretch, so you can just set them out of a tack and concentrate on other things. Choose one that has a nice cover and does not kink. It is worth to go to the store and try how different brands feel before buying, because they are noticeably different.

[MartinR]

Why dyneema? 12mm high quality double braid polyester is plenty strong enough.

[Dave22q]

The cost of dynamics is justified be less strech. Wrong for sheets, good for halyards. Any 1/2 " line will be slightly smaller (1.5mm).

[Mike Banks]

I would be keeping the 14 mm. Much easier on the hands and fits more closely the clutches on self-tailing winches.

[roland stockham]

Generally sheets are sized to give good grip and handling not strength. Blocks are the same, their strength is well below the max size polyester double braid that they will handle. 12mm polyester has a break load of about 8,500lb but to get 8000lb+ break load on a block it would generally be size to take up to 16mm line. so pretty sure that unless you have some very high tech sheaves and massive reinforcements on the track fittings it will be the track and/or sheaves that are the week point.

[Bean Counter]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

Generally sheets are sized to give good grip and handling not strength. Blocks are the same, their strength is well below the max size polyester double braid that they will handle. 12mm polyester has a break load of about 8,500lb but to get 8000lb+ break load on a block it would generally be size to take up to 16mm line. so pretty sure that unless you have some very high tech sheaves and massive reinforcements on the track fittings it will be the track and/or sheaves that are the week point.

Until there is a bowline attaching the sheet to the clew.

[Taipe]

Dyneema core is a good idea for halyards and a polyester double braid, such as New England Sta-set X works nicely for sheets where you want a small amount of stretch, and ought to slide through your blocks if you match them with the correct diameter line.

[Tillsbury]

Another vote for a quality double braid poly 12mm to leave a bit of “give” on sheets. Lack of stretch just isn’t relevant for these. 10mm dyneema core for halyards where you want them to stay put.

14mm is overkill for a 40’ cat jib sheet.

Get them spliced one end and use a soft shackle to avoid losing strength.

[SundayMorning]

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

Another vote for a quality double braid poly 12mm to leave a bit of “give” on sheets. Lack of stretch just isn’t relevant for these. 10mm dyneema core for halyards where you want them to stay put.

14mm is overkill for a 40’ cat jib sheet.

Get them spliced one end and use a soft shackle to avoid losing strength.

+1