Tapered Spinnaker Sheets

Submitted by johncallis on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 16:06
I'm interested in purchasing new spinnaker sheets, and am under the impression that if I'm willing to spend the money on 1/4 inch tapered sheets with a spectra core, they will offer the best of both worlds. They will be light enough for light wind, and strong, and grippy enough for heavy wind. I've been out on days where the wind is strong but later dies down which left me wishing I had my light air sheets. In addition I am considering New England - Flight Line which has a Polypropylene Cover and a Dyneema SK-75 Core which I think is similar to spectra. It has a tensile strength of 2500 lbs. Another line I’m considering is Yalelight Competition with a Polypropylene Cover and a Polypropylene/Spectra Core. It also has a tensile strength of 2500 lbs. but I’m not sure if it is strippable. Thanks in advance for your thoughts, and recommendations John.
‹ Digging out to go racing The Midwinters are Coming ›

Comments

John, We have tapered spin sheets that we really like.

Submitted by tweisleder on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 10:54.
John, We have tapered spin sheets that we really like. I forget the diameter, but they are probaly the 1/4. That is all we use for all conditions. We bought these from Layline, but I know APS also has great product and either can help you select the proper line. Travis Weisleder 5341

John, Well worth it.

Submitted by bcattanach on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 18:07.
John, Well worth it. We have the Layline Sheets. They do a great job on the taper and it saves us the question every race day -- "Should we use the heavy or light air spin sheets?" Bruce Cattanach Monmouth Boat Club Jollymon #3817

You could also make up your own.

Submitted by Gallus 102 on Thu, 02/21/2008 - 11:04.
You could also make up your own. I considered purchasing a set of tapered sheets last season, but first I decided to take the old ones and try my hand at it. The job took me about an hour one afternoon whilst awaiting for the breeze to come up. All the techniques I needed were from the New England Ropes web-page: http://www.neropes.com/SplicingGuideChoice.aspx Strip 13 feet of the cover off the end. Then whip the cover about 9 inched behind where you cut it. Carefully un-weave the cover strands. Weave the strands into the core braid; trim 1/3 of the strands off after you've weaved then in a couple of passes; go a few more weaves and trim half; then bury the remainder. I spliced brummel hooks in each sheet (no knots to hang-up on the forestay). The sheets have been very nice to hold in the breeze, and they are cosiderably lighter and allow the chute to fill in the zephyrs. They have held up with no problems through half a season of racing in all conditions. The professionally spliced sheets will look nicer than my first attempt, but functionally, mine are completely satisfactory.

One of the first things I did on my Scot was change to tapered s

Submitted by Dave812 on Thu, 02/21/2008 - 16:35.
One of the first things I did on my Scot was change to tapered sheets. I used 1/8" Amsteel and covered it with 1/4" for the cockpit end. It works great and eliminates the light air / heavy air sheet decision. One thing to consider is the 1/8" portion reportedly does not hold well in the cam cleat mounted near the shrouds. I don't have those cleats so have not experienced that personally but if you do you might consider that issue. The next set I make will be made from 1/4"Flightline.

Gents I made my own tapered sheets, starting with 3/8 line but h

Submitted by karafiath on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 17:29.
Gents I made my own tapered sheets, starting with 3/8 line but had the opposite approach to that presented by Gallus. I modified about the same 9 ft length that he did. However I just pulled most of the core out of the braided cover, keeping the braided cover intact. After working the first one or two strands of the core out of the cover the rest went really quickly. My sheet is truly tapered in that not all of the core is pulled out and toward the thicker end I left more of the core in. All that is needed is some patience.good luck. Gabor FS 3512