Jib sheet running rigging

[tessmar]

In addition to a working jib, my boat came with two additional headsails. Both are about 130% when running with a sloop rig (the boat can also be rigged as cutter). One is a masthead sail and the other is about a 3/4 or more fractional.

Now that I have rationalized the in-cabin storage I would like to actually carry these with me as they do little good sitting at home in a cabinet. While my working jib has jib sheets neither of these sails do. The working jib has what appears to be double braided line of 1/2 inch diameter.

I would like to purchase lines to use as sheets for these sails but the choices are bewildering. 1/2 inch seems like overkill to me but maybe that is just my lack of knowledge. I also am unsure of what length to get. The distance from the mast step to the winches is about eight feet (this is on a V21)...so I was thinking to allow twice this for each sheet but am uncertain if this is adequate.

I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks

[Johnacuda]

1/2" seems about right 3/8 would work, but not feel as good on the hands. but check to make sure it fits your winch, cleat and pulley hardware. I seem to remember reading a ballpark 1.5 x boat length for the sheet length. That's right about the 32' you were thinking about. You might want to add anothe 5 or 6 to make sure you don't lose the windward sheet on a reach.

[tessmar]

1/2" seems about right 3/8 would work, but not feel as good on the hands. but check to make sure it fits your winch, cleat and pulley hardware. I seem to remember reading a ballpark 1.5 x boat length for the sheet length. That's right about the 32' you were thinking about. You might want to add another 5 or 6 to make sure you don't lose the windward sheet on a reach.

Thanks for the tips. I will check both the length and the diameter of the sheets on the working jib. The diameter does seem to be 1/2, but I don't think the length of each sheet is anywhere near 30 feet (I was thinking of 16 feet for each sheet or a total of 32!)

I was planning to raise the mast with the boat on the driveway when it warms up to check a couple of things so I'll measure the sheets on the jib and hold it out as if I was on a reach or a run and see where things fall relative to the cleats and winches. But with your info it sounds like I might need 60 feet or so total per sail.