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Old 15-06-2009, 08:35   #1
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Jib Sheet Length

I have a Hunter 34. Need to get some jib sheets. I have a 150% genoa on a furler. Hiw long should the sheets be? I've heard 1.5 the lenght of the boat. Is this correct?
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Old 15-06-2009, 08:57   #2
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Old 15-06-2009, 09:03   #3
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Different boat, but just about 1' shorter than you.

The sheets on my genoa are about 1.3x the length of my boat, which still seems to be even longer than needed.
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Old 15-06-2009, 09:19   #4
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Maybe the fact that MERIDIAN is 38 ft on deck, and the roller furling for the genoa is another 2 ft forward on the pulpit, makes my boat about 6 ft longer than your 34 ft Hunter..........but the general rule for genoa sheets is 1.5 times the boat length. I am thinking that it allows for a dead downwind run, where the clew of the genoa can get way out there.
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Old 15-06-2009, 13:25   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fotoman View Post
... I have a 150% genoa on a furler. Hiw long should the sheets be? I've heard 1.5 the lenght of the boat. Is this correct?
Yes.
For the working jib only, you need just slightly more than the length of your boat for each sheet.
For genoas, figure 1.5 times boat length.
If you have a staysail, add in some extra length to accommodate the staysail stay.

Some folks even recommend that sheets be long enough to go from the clew on the leeward side, around the mast to the winch on the windward side of the boat, with at least 8 feet of line as a tail piece in the cockpit for pulling the sheet back for tacking.
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Old 15-06-2009, 14:04   #6
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with the genoa clew all the way back on the port side, Measure from your primary winch on the starboard side, around all things such as the staysail stay and around to the genoa clew. Add enough for wraps around the winch, a 4 ft tail and 2 ft for bowline.
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Old 15-06-2009, 14:50   #7
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I've found 1.5 a bit short and needed to add about 3 extra feet. I clearly do not have a 150% Genoa. Cheechakako has a better formula. You really want a few extra feet on the ends so you can hack off a few feet if the bowline at the clew wears. It's not too hard to measure those distances. As for size a 10mm (3/8) is large enough but I would go 7/16th or 1/2 if you want it to handle well. My last sheets were 10mm and on the tack the line would whip and smack you in the face. The Admiral does not like that any more than I do. A little bigger on the sheets is easier on the hand and face.
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Old 15-06-2009, 19:08   #8
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Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try an old halyard to see if 1.5 times is about right.
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Old 15-06-2009, 19:37   #9
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Were there sheets on the headsail already? Use them as a measure - add if they are too short. Mine are long enough to go from sheeted in on port, around the baby stay down starboard side and back into cockpit with enough to grab hold of in there. I have been on boats where they are too short and had to chase the end at the turning block on the deck each time we tacked!
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Old 15-06-2009, 20:41   #10
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Racing we have only about 12 inches of free end in the most adverse position - cars back close hauled. But this is for speed and efficiency.

Paul's idea is what we use on our boat. We purposefully got extra length for the eventuallity of being able to trim some off at wear points and change the wear points.

Our sheets are led from the clew to the cars aft of the winch. If this is your case, and you plan to cut it "close" make sure the cars are all the way back when you measure. (Ask me how I know...)

Measure twice - cut once.
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