To tie a clew

[Jacob Bogatch]

What is the best way to connect the jib sheet to the clew?
I have been using a snap shackle that keeps opening, always at the worst time. I taped it shut, for the meantime, but now it is more a ballast than a “snap”.
I would like to know if there is a special knot or a splice for the task?
Jacob Bogatch
"Fhloston Paradise"
CD30C Hull # 363



jbogatch@yahoo.com

[zeida]

Jacob Bogatch
"Fhloston Paradise"
CD30C Hull # 363

Hi, Jacob... the most secure and safe way, IMHO, is to tie each sheet to the clew with a bowline. End of problem.

Zeida



zcecil@attglobal.net

[Stan W.]

Shackles on jib sheets are generally considered a bad idea because they could inflict injury if the sail flails around while someone is on the foredeck. If you use one long line for both sheets, you don't need a knot. Just push the midpoint through the clew cringle to form a loop and then thread the ends through that loop. If you prefer separate lines for each sheet, attach them with bowline knots. If you don't know how to tie a bowline knot yet, virtually any book on sailing will show you how it is done.



smwheatley@capecod.net

[Bill]

I agree with Stan and use his method aboard Rhapsody. It is not as likily to snag on the shrouds and is really simple. And for me simple is better.

FWFS

Bill

What is the best way to connect the jib sheet to the clew?
I have been using a snap shackle that keeps opening, always at the worst time. I taped it shut, for the meantime, but now it is more a ballast than a “snap”.
I would like to know if there is a special knot or a splice for the task?
Jacob Bogatch
"Fhloston Paradise"
CD30C Hull # 363

cd25d@rhapsodysails.com

[Will W.]

I use an eye-splice. Pros are, less weight flying around, no knots to get hung up on rigging etc. and retains about 90% rope strength (vs 65% for a bowline). Cons are, rope permanently attatched to sail and it is a lot harder to tie one. In fact unless you tied them all the time I seriously doubt you could tie one standing on a rolling bow. I had fun learning it though, and I think it was worth the effort.

William Wheatley
s/v Suzi Q
CD25

What is the best way to connect the jib sheet to the clew?
I have been using a snap shackle that keeps opening, always at the worst time. I taped it shut, for the meantime, but now it is more a ballast than a “snap”.
I would like to know if there is a special knot or a splice for the task?
Jacob Bogatch
"Fhloston Paradise"
CD30C Hull # 363

willwheatley@starpower.net

[Bob B]

I have always used two lines with a bowline on each. A bowline is one of the best sailing knots out there but you do have to watch out for it. Make sure that the tails of the bowline are tied inside the loop (There is a right way for the rabit to run around the tree, before going back into the hole.)so that when it goes across the shrouds, it will not tend to untie your knot. Also, a bowline will shake loose if it is not snugged up really good. When we climb, we always had to tie off the end of the rope to make sure this doesn't happen. I had a jib flailing around last weekend as I reefed the main short handed and it shook the knot loose. A quick turn to backwind the jib and heave to, allowed me to retie the knot with no problem.

Bob B.



BundyR@aol.com

[Larry DeMers]

The best way I have found in 30 years of sailing, is a bowline with a bight. All of the comments about bowlines mention that you have to be carefull of the tails so they don't unravel. This method fixes that problem. They also mention that there are two knots now, which hang up on the shrouds..this method mediates that also, making it less of a problem by 50%. Here's how:

Take a line that is as long as you will need for *both* sheets. Do not cut it in half, but find the mid point. Feed the line through the clew, up to that point. Then tie a bowline in the line, capturing that bight in the clew. The knot will flow easily over the shrouds, and there are no loose ends to come undone. Best part is that the knot can be disassembled partially so that you can adjust the lengths of the two sheet halves if needed. Ours has been tied for 10 years now, and has never been a problem.

***Never*** ever use hardware to attach the line to the clew. That piece of hardware can maim or damage you and the boat if it should strike you in the head while the sail is flapping at the right moment and with enough force. This is a very dangerous arrangement, not well thought out.

Cheers,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~~Sailing Lake Superior~~~

What is the best way to connect the jib sheet to the clew?
I have been using a snap shackle that keeps opening, always at the worst time. I taped it shut, for the meantime, but now it is more a ballast than a ?snap?.
I would like to know if there is a special knot or a splice for the task?
Jacob Bogatch
"Fhloston Paradise"
CD30C Hull # 363

demers@sgi.com

[Jim]

Jacob Bogatch
"Fhloston Paradise"
CD30C Hull # 363

Hi, Jacob... the most secure and safe way, IMHO, is to tie each sheet to the clew with a bowline. End of problem.

Zeida

For my CD25 I take one long sheet, fold in half, take loop thru, run bitter ends thru this and no knot needed. Hasn't slip, it' clean and strong.



Jfsjr@aol.com

[Eric]

The above-described way is the best, IMHO. No Knot to come undone

[Warren Kaplan]

For my CD25 I take one long sheet, fold in half, take loop thru, run bitter ends thru this and no knot needed. Hasn't slip, it' clean and strong.

That's what I do. No knots at all. In the 2 years that I've been sailing my CD27 in all kinds of wind, the sheets have not slipped at the clew.

Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27



Setsail728@aol.com

[Al Levesque]

For my CD25 I take one long sheet, fold in half, take loop thru, run bitter ends thru this and no knot needed. Hasn't slip, it' clean and strong.

Based on something I read either here or in rec.boats.cruising I tried something very similar. I used a clove hitch. Makes for a rather long line to feed thru twice but it seems to hold very well and has no bulk.

Al



albertlevesque@cove.com

[greg phillips]

What is the best way to connect the jib sheet to the clew?
I have been using a snap shackle that keeps opening, always at the worst time. I taped it shut, for the meantime, but now it is more a ballast than a “snap”.
I would like to know if there is a special knot or a splice for the task?
Jacob Bogatch
"Fhloston Paradise"
CD30C Hull # 363

Jacob, the merits of not tying a knot should be well taken. However, I remember well the difficulty I had learning my sailing knots and the fact that I used bowlines on my sheets forced me to tie them every time I sailed. Maybe you should take the same opportunity and use bowlines on your sheets until you are proficient at tying them?



2mileyc@digitalexp.com