Are my sheets too thick?

Moderator: GreenLake

Are my sheets too thick?

Postby mnic001 » Tue May 18, 2021 2:56 pm

The sheets that came on my DS clone are 1/2" thick. I'm not a super experienced sailor aside from Sunfish as a kid so I'm still very much getting up to speed here. It feels to me like there is too much friction on the main sheet and jib sheet. In lighter winds, the friction on the main sheet will keep it in place even when it's not cleated. Similarly, when tacking I have to pull the jib sheet backwards through the block or it will just remain stuck.

Am I missing something?

Here's what the mainsheet looks like running through a block:
IMG_20210517_174933252.jpg
IMG_20210517_174933252.jpg (101.29 KiB) Viewed 3726 times
mnic001
 
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Re: Are my sheets too thick?

Postby GreenLake » Tue May 18, 2021 4:05 pm

You might want to check out this post on my thread "Rope for various lines".

I believe the rope is called Dinghy Sheet, and it may or may not be available. Still listed on the Fisheries Supply site. However, there's a "PRO" version of the same thing. A bit more expensive, but either one should give you superior results. (Metric sized, you want to go fairly close to 3/8" equivalent).

Do you have a traveler in the back or does the sheet form a triangle?

1318

This is an older picture, before I upgraded the sheets. It shows how the two parts going to the traveler begin to "twist". This is caused by twist accumulated inside the line; once I had 4 wraps and couldn't release my main at all in a gust; nearly T-boned a big racing yacht because I could not turn down to pass behind as planned. Scary moment. If that happens, you can't untwist by turning the block on the traveler, you actually have to remove the internal twist in the sheet.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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Re: Are my sheets too thick?

Postby mnic001 » Tue May 18, 2021 4:21 pm

Thanks GreenLake! Your commitment to this forum is super admirable and appreciated. I'll check out that post.

Yes, I have a similar setup to yours with a traveler:

IMG_20210411_131603206_HDR-min (1).jpg
IMG_20210411_131603206_HDR-min (1).jpg (180.25 KiB) Viewed 3722 times
mnic001
 
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Re: Are my sheets too thick?

Postby GreenLake » Wed May 19, 2021 12:22 pm

With that setup, you need to check that the sheet doesn't twist.

However, you can drop halyard size. I replaced the forward (middle of boom) block by a ratchet block (Ronstan 55mm) set on automatic and use ~3/8 w/o cleating the main. The ratchet block takes some of the strain so the only time you'll need full force is while trimming in.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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