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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Mainsheet line size.

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bjoyce
1st Mate

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51 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/21/2005 : 19:44:20

What would one recommend for a mainsheet, as far as rope size?

Barry

"Impulse"
79' C-25 SR/SK #1370

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2005 : 20:07:29

Hi Barry????????????????length or thickness??????????????

I don't remember the length, When last I changed over I just measured by arm length and did the same with the new. The girth of the line was my primary reason for changing. I prefer 1/2" line on the mainsheet and main halyard and 5/8" on the jibsheet.
I suppose the length of line may be found on the active topic area of the forum.

Val on Calista # 3936

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2005 : 21:22:03

7/16 for me, main and jib sheets.

Brooke

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2005 : 09:36:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">1/2" line on the mainsheet and main halyard<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
1/2" halyard? How'd you do that?

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2005 : 10:01:37

I use 3/8" polyester double braid for main and jib sheets, with a spare set of 5/16" for the headsail in very light air. (I also use 3/8" polyester double braid for halyards which seems plenty large.)

-- Leon Sisson

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2005 : 11:57:04

I like 7/16" for mainsheets, but be sure to check that your existing blocks will take a different size of line before you go out and buy it, especially if going up in size. For jib sheets, if you have self-tailing winches, you are restricted to whatever size line the winches were designed for - the top clamshell part will not grab and feed smaller line properly, and will not accept larger line. The Lewmar #14ST's and #16ST's that you see on most Catalina 25's (that have self-tailers), are designed to operate best with a specific size of double-braid. The #14 winch works best with 3/8" and will accept 5/16" line, and I think the #16 works best with 7/16" and will accept 3/8" line (My winches are #14's, so I don't know for sure about the #16's).

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2005 : 12:14:56

Hey Larry,
We both have 89 wings. My jib sheet winches are Lewmar 16 self tailers. How come yours are 14's?
I use 7/16" Samson yachtbraid for my sheets, both main, and headsail. They have the "fuzzy" cover which makes it easy to handle, and for the self tailer to grab onto.
I do with my cabin top winches were larger than Lewmar 8's. They are too short and you can get line wrap real quickly.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2005 : 14:13:06

Dan,

Howdy, 1/2" halyard from the masthead to the cockpit, above that it's mated to ss wire down to the sail.

Val on Calista # 3936

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2005 : 20:33:31

Ok - now I get it.
Thanks,
Dan

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2005 : 23:15:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bjoyce
 What would one recommend for a mainsheet, as far as rope size?

Barry
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My mainsheet is 1/2" and it feels better in the hand.

Here's what you do to find a good mainsheet size...Go to the bulk line area of your local boat store and let out a few feet of line from various spools. Next, stand on the line and pull hard on the bitter end. Buy the line that hurts your hand the least.

Edited by - dlucier on 05/22/2005 23:24:56

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2005 : 08:34:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 Hey Larry,
We both have 89 wings. My jib sheet winches are Lewmar 16 self tailers. How come yours are 14's?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

They are not Factory installed as I assume yours were. My boat was built with none of the extra-cost options except the Tall Rig, and the original winches were Lewmar #7's (non-self-tailers). I bought the #14ST's on sale from SailNet and installed them myself. I wish they were #16's, but those would have cost $350 more for a pair of them compared to the sale price that the #14's were being offered at. I waited for a long time to see if #16ST's would go on sale somewhere, but I have never seen any. The #14ST's work okay with the 3/8" jib sheets, but they won't take 7/16"

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2005 : 11:26:06

Don,

I use a simpler technique...if you have difficulty (pain)opening an aspirin bottles go for the 1/2" line. I do and the line can't be too large to suit me. I find that the pain handeling a line decreases as the line's girth increases.

Val on Calista # 3936

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2005 : 09:41:12

You should be okay getting anything in the 3/8 to 9/16ths range. As mentioned above, go see what size you like. There are a number of companies that make a softer line that still doesn't stretch all that much. I'd recommend going with that style line, which I believe has a higher cotton content. It will stretch some, but not all that much.

Length - Depending on your block setup - you will want to measure the distance from the end of your boom to the traveler while the boom is all the way out to starboard and the traveler is all the way to port. Count the number of sheaves (pulleys) on both ends of your mainsheet tackle and add one. Multiply the distance by that result. For example, you have a five to one mainsheet setup and the distance is 15ft (guess) you’ll need 90 feet of line. 6x15

dw

Edited by - Champipple on 05/25/2005 09:41:55

mfasis
Navigator

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114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2005 : 10:45:15

This is a little off topic but, has anybody installed the Double Ended Mainsheet with Ratchet Blocks https://www.catalinadirect.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=10638 available from Catalina Direct? I sail mostly single-handed and I just have never felt very confident with my ability to let the mainsheet out in a puff. I was out this past weekend in some relatively light wind when a front came through and scared the heck out of me. It took me way to long to release the mainsheet. This looks like a good idea because it would give you better access to the mainsheet.

Edited by - mfasis on 05/25/2005 10:45:49

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