Knot work for sail clew

[marshden]

I just bent on my new sails, but am puzzled as to the type of attachmet to use at the clew. My knotwork to this point has been very bulky and ugly. Can someone make a suggestion/post a pic for me? I would appreciate it very much.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

http://www.netknots.com/html/bowline.html

[marshden]

http://www.netknots.com/html/bowline.html

Thank you for the suggestion. I have the bowline down pat for the boom. Are you suggesting a bowline also for attaching the line to the clew of the sail?

[Ray Frechette Jr]

I basically use three knots on boats.

Stopper knots, slippery reef knots and Bowlines.

[Jim Stumpf]

I just bent on my new sails, but am puzzled as to the type of attachmet to use at the clew. My knotwork to this point has been very bulky and ugly. Can someone make a suggestion/post a pic for me? I would appreciate it very much.

A buntline hitch is a good knot for your purpose. It can be slid up tight to the clew unlike the bowline, making it a little neater in appearance. That being said I too use a bowline on just about everything because I can tie it in my sleep so it is quick and efficient for many things.

http://www.netknots.com/html/buntline_hitch.html

Jim

[John Turpin]

Thank you for the suggestion. I have the bowline down pat for the boom. Are you suggesting a bowline also for attaching the line to the clew of the sail?

Hi,

Can you identify your boat and sail type? On my sprit-rigged boat, the sprit tip goes through the sail clew and the block hangs from the sprit from a bowline. But, you mentioned that you have a boom. What sail plan are we discussing here?

John

[Peter HK]

Hi,

Can you identify your boat and sail type? On my sprit-rigged boat, the sprit tip goes through the sail clew and the block hangs from the sprit from a bowline. But, you mentioned that you have a boom. What sail plan are we discussing here?

John

John

In a earlier post he mentioned a CS15 ( link) so I believe he is talking about the spritboom of the CS rigs. Technically, "sprit" without any qualification would usually refer to a spritsail rig eg this catspaw from the B & B site.

Cheers

Peter HK

[Hirilonde]

For halyards, sheets, painters, moorings (unless an eye splice is already in place) and virtually everything that will be under variable tension I use a bowline. It will not loosen up, it will not jamb so tight it can not be untied. When in doubt, tie a bowline. It is the most secure knot known to man. I know of no circumstance where it is a bad choice and many where it is the best choice.

[Charlie Jones]

For halyards, sheets, painters, moorings (unless an eye splice is already in place) and virtually everything that will be under variable tension I use a bowline. It will not loosen up, it will not jamb so tight it can not be untied. When in doubt, tie a bowline. It is the most secure knot known to man. I know of no circumstance where it is a bad choice and many where it is the best choice.

Can't totally agree, although it is a great knot. But I've seen bowlines flog out from a jib clew.

For halyards I use a Buntline hitch (from the square rigger days). THAT is a totally secure hitch, but has the disadvantage of jamming tight and being almost impossible to undo. Not a problem in a halyard, since usually when those are undone, you can use a knife

For a jib clew I now use a button type arrangement- If these pics work they show the arrangement open and in use. I like it because I can easily move the connection to the reefing grommet on the jib and there's no heavy hardware to clonk heads. It does require a doubled jib sheet though, so not something you can just "add"

[Hirilonde]

But I've seen bowlines flog out from a jib clew.

Why were you flogging your jib?

[rattus]

Undoubtedly for morale improvement.

[Charlie Jones]

Undoubtedly for morale improvement.

Yep- it had been very bad