Special request

[knothead]

Hi All,
I have a customer who's 88 year old Dad needs to replace his genoa sheets.
My customer wants to get the new sheets for a father's day present.
It's really important to me to please these people and I want to recommend the right product.
The gentleman has expressed a desire for a soft line that doesn't kink. The sheets are currently 9/16".
My initial thoughts were a spun polyester or a single braid.

As I said, it's important to me to do right by these folks. There's just not too many of the real old time sailors left. This guy is one of them . I would appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks,
Steve

[Ian McColgin]

12 strand single braid spun is about as pleasant on the hand as anything around. Because it has no core, it flattens a bit around a winch making for very easy tailing. I've seen some problems with self-tailing winches but that's mostly using a single braid at the small end of where a double braid or cored line of that size would have worked.

Many are prejudiced against three strand on the theory that the direct loading causes a slight unlay that leads to twists. I've not seen that myself, but any line will kink if not let fall or flaked correctly. Hense, my own first choise would be spun three strand but most would shy from that.

G'luck

[andert]

I have a single braid polyester in 7/16 on my boat. Easy on the hands, low stretch, good, supple feel. I lik the way it gets almost fuzzy-soft as it ages. I love the look of three-strand, and the grip you can get on it, but I think 3-stand is impractical for headsail sheets, and it's tough to find anything but stretchy nylon three-strand in the local West Marine. By "tough" I mean "impossible".

[knothead]

Guys, Thank you for your thoughts. Looks like single braid wins the day.

[seawolf]

Hello,
I am also thinking of replacing old double braid sheets on my head sails and main sail with single braid.
My mainsail blocks have a cam cleat on it. What are your thoughts regarding possible problems with using this line regarding chafe at the cam cleat?
It seems it may be a little rough on the sheet.
Bob

[knothead]

I don't think that single braid would have a big problem with chafe. The only thing I remember that was bad about it was that a strand would sometimes catch on something and have to be worked back into place.
I don't see why a cam cleat would be a problem for it.

Reading the NER stuff on Regatta Braid, it says it's applications are for main sheets and furling lines. Oddly enough, jib sheets aren't mentioned. Don't know why.

[seawolf]

Knothead,
Thanks for the input. I was wondering the same thing when I looked at the info.
Sheets were not included. Seems odd. Possibly the little extra stretch is the reason. Along with not good with self tailers as mentioned above.
I have original winches on my 1962 Columbia, and the service is pretty slick. I was hoping that the single braid flattening out a bit will offer a better grip around the winch along with the benefit of easy on the hands.
Fair winds.
Bob

[andert]

My mainsheet runs through a rope-clutch on the cabin top...not sure I'd use single braid for that, I'd worry about chafe, and the falttening of the line seems like it would make for less purchase. My jib sheets cleat after the winch, so no slippage or extraordinary chafe problems there. I'm not a racer, so I don't worry about a little more stretch in the sheets...softens the gusts a little, and absorbs a little of the shock to the gear in a gybe. I much prefer the Regatta braid I curently use for the jib sheets to the Stay-set that I used to have on there. 5:00 on a Friday here in Washington...time to go down to the boat for a nice cold beer!

[sparola]

Regatta braid would be my first thought as it is a very flexable single braid polyester with a small amount of spun polyester fiber mixed in to make the rope soft to the hand. My only concern is the winch drum; if the drum has a very agressive surface it can pull the spun fiber out of the rope giving it a tattered look.