Keeping genoa sheets from snagging on mast mounted winches

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thinwater
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Keeping genoa sheets from snagging on mast mounted winches

Post by thinwater »

I've always had a problem with the genoa sheets snagging on the mast mounted winches, particularly when the wind is above 15 knots. My latest version, which works but needs fine tuning, involves a line from the top lazy jack pad eye (front of mast level with spreaders) to the ends of the self-tacking jib track. It eliminates snagging completely, but it does slow tacking just a bit (the sail must be dragged further in front of the mast, and it tends to hang on these new lines just a bit; the wind does blow it free once well through the eye.

a. I think placing the deck attachments closer together and closer to the mast will help, but short of drilling holes and dropping the salon headliner, there is no place.

b. I tried a single line to the aft end of the tramp lacing. That seemed worse to me.

c. They don't seem to be in the way, working around the mast. In fact, one more thing to hold on to.

d. I need to come up with a less snag prone genoa attachment now. I tried attaching the soft shackles via an 18" climbing sling; that seemed to help.

Ideas welcome.
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Re: Keeping genoa sheets from snagging on mast mounted winch

Post by thinwater »

Solved!

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2014/ ... tears.html

Image

a. The stays are obvious, from the track ends to a pad eye near the spreaders.

b. The sling to ease the clew around the stay is less obvious (see blog post) but really slick. The sail just slides around, easy as can be.

FWIW, the stays are my old Spectra main travele line; I swapped it out for 8mm climbing rope, which much smoother jibing. A non-stretch line is better for a stay. Horses for courses.
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Re: Keeping genoa sheets from snagging on mast mounted winches

Post by thinwater »

A better picture. Thought it might help.

Image

I've also found these to be useful as vertical jacklines, while working at the mast. They are polyester/Dyneema DB, attached at the jib track ends and at the lazy jack eye on the front of the mast.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2014/ ... tears.html
Writing full time since 2014.
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Book Store. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2017/ ... store.html
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Re: Keeping genoa sheets from snagging on mast mounted winches

Post by Phenix-former-owner »

I've wanted to do this since I saw the original post. Your new picture has given me motivation.

What do you use for sheets on the genoa? It looks like it is about a 135%?
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Re: Keeping genoa sheets from snagging on mast mounted winches

Post by thinwater »

135% sounds right (it comes about feet past the shrouds when in tight). I am sheeted inside the shrouds on the picture, though not quite hard on the weather. When beating the sheet bears on the hard top.

1/2" double braid polyester is good. I have Warpspeed on the inside sheet, but only because I got it for free. The working load is over 1000 pounds with 20 knots true.

The reason there are 2 sheets is that I have inside and outside tracks. I have to roll it up to about 110% to use the inside track to the weather, and so when I were order a new sail I will go for 110% instead (just short of the shrouds); better shape to windward. That will cost a little reaching speed, but I think the upwind performance will be worth it. There sheets can be removed (soft shackles), but often I'm lazy about that. You can tack with them on, it's just a little slower.

Definitely add inside tracks if you want to use a genoa to windward.

Image

Do NOT use the snatch block on the track unless you like monster winch overrides under full load (very hard to clear). Use the low-lead blocks.
Image

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2013/ ... an-90.html
Writing full time since 2014.
"Rigging Modern Anchors,"Seaworthy Press, https://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Modern-A ... 1948494078
Book Store. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2017/ ... store.html
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