Best knot to attach single line to jib clew?

[teneicm]

We have a spare jib sheet that I want to use for our storm jib. This spare is long enough where if I can attach the center point of the line at the clew, I have enough line to run sheets to both sides of the boat. I'd prefer not to have to cut the line so it can still be used as a spare for the normal jib, but concerned about the best knot to use. I'm assuming a standard hitch would slowly slip through the clew? Any suggestions?


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Seaworthy Lass]

Soft shackles.

[deblen]

Cow hitch

[Paul Elliott]

The cow hitch will slowly slip under high load *if* the clew attachment is a ring. This probably depends on the type of line you're using too. It's a matter of friction. If the clew attachment is a grommet surrounded by sailcloth then the cow hitch is quite secure.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by deblen

Cow hitch

The Cow Hitch (or sometimes called a Lark's Head, I think) will work, but often jams under big loads and becomes quite hard to remove.

Jim

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Soft shackles.

Not clear to me how one uses soft shackles to attach the center of a single long sheet... explain, if you please SWL!

Jim

[Sailboatminder]

You cant go wrong with a bowline.

[CAELESTIS]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Not clear to me how one uses soft shackles to attach the center of a single long sheet... explain, if you please SWL!

Jim

Have an eye sliced into the sheet end, then use the soft shackle to attach the clew to the sheet.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by CAELESTIS

Have an eye sliced into the sheet end, then use the soft shackle to attach the clew to the sheet.

As I understood the OP, he wanted to attach the long sheet in it's center to the clew of his storm jib, providing two shorter lengths for sheeting to either side.

I use sheets with eye splices and soft shackles myself... good setup IMO, but not what the OP was after (I think).

Jim

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Paul Elliott

The cow hitch will slowly slip under high load *if* the clew attachment is a ring. This probably depends on the type of line you're using too. It's a matter of friction. If the clew attachment is a grommet surrounded by sailcloth then the cow hitch is quite secure.

Hmmm... I wonder if one doubled the Cow Hitch, turning it into a Prussic Hitch, if it would cure both the potential slippage and the jamming?

Any thoughts from the knot gurus?

Jim

[Steve Bean]

Middle the sheet; this makes a bight. Pass the bight through the sail cringle or ring. Make a bowline.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Not clear to me how one uses soft shackles to attach the center of a single long sheet... explain, if you please SWL!

Jim

CAELESTIS beat me to it: eyesplices.

If you want a continuous sheet I would go with a bowline on the bight (coupled with a soft shackle). The load can be taken from either side with a loop like this.

I have seen an Alpine Butterfly loop used with a soft shackle, but after seeing how the Alpine Butterfly jams when the tension it applied to the loop and one end (it needs to be cut off if sufficient tension is applied), I don't favour this option.the AB loop is best if load is applied to the two ends.

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Hmmm... I wonder if one doubled the Cow Hitch, turning it into a Prussic Hitch, if it would cure both the potential slippage and the jamming?
Jim

Knot enough room generally.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Steve Bean

Middle the sheet; this makes a bight. Pass the bight through the sail cringle or ring. Make a bowline.

The problem with this I think, is a very bulky knot. It can catch the rigging etc, plus not a nice thing to be whacked with .

SWL

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Not clear to me how one uses soft shackles to attach the center of a single long sheet... explain, if you please SWL!

Jim

This should be relatively easy with an extra long shackle. Another option is a shackle with a tie. Etc.

Since soft shackles are made like a dozen an hour it is easy to quick prototype and chose the best style.

HOWEVER I would not use a soft shackle where there is actually very little need for one. Just maybe tie the sheet onto the (ring, webbing or grommet) and roll on.

b.

[teneicm]

There is just a ring for the clew, otherwise I would just use a simple/ cow hitch. My inclination is to double up the hitch to make a Prussic type knot, but was wanting to see what others thought. Bowline on a bight would work, but as someone mentioned, it ends up being big and clunky looking...


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum