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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Jib and Main sheet type and size?

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monty0
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/22/2007 : 11:30:07

I'm looking to replace my 2 jib sheet lines to my 150 furling jib with just one line that we will loop through the clew, as the jib sheet bowlines keep getting caught up on the shrouds. I've been looking at the Catalina 25 informational material I have and I can't seem to find what type or size of line they recommend for either the jib or mainsail sheets. We are weekend sailers on a lake and am looking for something affordable, yet will do the job. I estimate we need 50 feet of jib line.

Monty

1977 Catalina 25 #66 SRSK "Prana"

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2007 : 12:36:14

50 feet probably isn't enough -- remember you have to account for the lazy sheet wrapping around to the lee side of the boat, as well as around the winch with some tail left over. Better to have too much than too little. I think my sheet -- also continuous -- is 65'.

If your bowlines are hanging on the shrouds, you're probably releasing the sheet too early in the tack. Let the jib backwind before you release the sheet -- that will help push the bow of the boat through the tack. When the jib is backwinded and you release the sheet, the jib clew will fly to the lee side. Many folks install jib rollers to help with the process, but after I learned to backwind the jib I never had a hung sheet again, so removed the rollers.

There's a fair bit of debate in this forum about sheet size -- somewhere between 5/16 and 7/16, with the average (predictably) 3/8. I think it depends more on your winches and mainsheet cleat setup -- if you have self-tailing winches, they limit your sheet diameter. So will your mainsheet cleat.

I've gone to 7/16 single braid, which is fatter than what most people like, because it cleats well in my system and is easier to hand hold. I suspect that 3/8 double braid is the average choice by most C25 sailors. Go to the boat store and play with the line!

Brooke

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2007 : 20:47:52

For the proper length for your new jib sheets just measure the length of your current sheets.

I replaced my continuous line jib sheet with 3/8" Samson XLS Extra T. My local West Marine matched the Defender price. West Marine currently has it for $1.87/ft and Defender $1.01/ft.

Edited by - dlucier on 07/22/2007 20:51:16

dblitz
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2007 : 20:40:32

What do you mean by continuous line jib sheets? I recently saw (for the 1st time) a continuous sheet that was ONE line, for both port and starboard sheets. It was on a Melges 24. This boat has no winches, the sheet is banjoed in using the cleat on the opposite side.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2007 : 19:48:04

Dan,

By continuous I mean that my jib sheets are actually one long piece of line that is attached to the clew of the headsail with a cow's hitch at the center of the line.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2007 : 12:18:59

Length of jib sheets varies according to the jib size.
For a 110% - each sheet the length of the boat
150% - " " 1 1/2 times boat length
Spinnaker - twice the boat length.
Hope this helps.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2007 : 15:50:45

I second Brooke's suggestion of single-braid. Passage came to us with 1/2" double-braid sheets--they offer some advantage on the hands, but they're just too big. A friend went to single-braid, and I was sold--much nicer on the hands, easier to coil, less likely to hockle (get tangled due to twisting), and stretch isn't much of an issue with sheets. I would have bought 3/8" single braid for genny and main if I'd kept the boat.

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Curtis
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2007 : 10:58:11

Everyone gave info regarding the length of jib sheets, what about the main sheet length?? I was curious to see what people said since I'll soon be replacing my main sheet (I know I can measure it out...I'm just being lazy! :-) By the way, I've got a '85 standard rig/full keel.

Edited by - Curtis on 07/30/2007 11:03:15

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2007 : 13:48:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Curtis
 ...(I know I can measure it out...I'm just being lazy! :-) By the way, I've got a '85 standard rig/full keel.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I had one too, but I'm too lazy to drive the 60 miles (to the new owners') to measure it--sorry. But it's easy to measure without unrigging (if you remember your multiplication tables).

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2007 : 15:35:38

The main sheet needs to be long enough to allow the boom to go out all the way. In this position the mainsheet becomes the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle with 2 sides of 10'. Basic math produces a length of 14.14'. From boom end to traveler is probably 4' on a SR. Assuming a 3 to 1 purchase you will need (14 x 3) + (3 x 4) = 54' Add about 5' for a tail and it totals 59'. (If using a 4 to 1 purchase, add another 14').

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 09:58:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Derek Crawford
 The main sheet needs to be long enough to allow the boom to go out all the way. In this position the mainsheet becomes the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle with 2 sides of 10'. Basic math produces a length of 14.14'. From boom end to traveler is probably 4' on a SR. Assuming a 3 to 1 purchase you will need (14 x 3) + (3 x 4) = 54' Add about 5' for a tail and it totals 59'. (If using a 4 to 1 purchase, add another 14').
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It also depends on whether you want to use your main sheet tackle to help raise or lower the mast. If so, you need a lot more length. Yes, that does get in the way while sailing.

Brooke

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2007 : 08:42:03

Monty, I have two sets of sheets available, with no hockles. We replaced the sails on our boat with a roller furler. I am selling the sails and also the sheets. I will take $25.00 for the set of 110 sheets and $25.00 for the set of 150 sheets, plus shipping. If interested you can email me @ aclark1325@woh.rr.com they have only been used in freshwater.

Edited by - Alan Clark on 08/07/2007 11:18:37

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2007 : 14:45:37

I prefer to buy new line long and trim once in place - it's a drag to be 2' short...

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2007 : 14:50:11

Both of these are from our Catalina 25 and will fit, they also have a nice hand.

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