Dave, I think the size of the soft shackle (if youre just using one) may be part of the issue. Soft shackles are made from high modulus fibers, usually either Dyneema or Spectra (both UHMWPE) or some generic version of the same material. All of which are far stronger than your sheets thus allowing you to downsize your soft shackle to something smaller than the sheet itself. Conventional wisdom with regards to virtually anybody buying sheets or sheet attachments is they want them large enough to handle easily and similarly, the soft shackles are a bit easier to handle with gloves if theyre sized appropriately large. But they dont need to be. If youre using a 7/16 genoa sheet, the largest that soft shackle needs to be regarding strength is either 3/16 or ¼ diameter. That alone should make it easier for the shackle to pass by the shrouds. On my boat, the issue becomes the sheet hanging up on the turnbuckles of the shrouds. Ive solved that issue by putting turnbuckle boots made of a chafe material over the offending hardware and have no problems whatsoever.
Back to the soft shackles, you mentioned you use a single soft shackle to hold both sheets. Ive been a fan of using 2 smaller soft shackles which serves two purposes. If I have a sheet issue (like a winch override, an unfortunate wrap around something or the need to change a jib), its easier to do so with individual shackles so you can simply change tacks and release each sheet independently. That also allows for slightly smaller shackles as well. Just my 2 cents.. Chuck Gilchrest 1983 Landfall 35 From: David Knecht via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2022 1:45 PM To: Jeffrey A. Laman <jlam...@outlook.com> Cc: CnC CnC discussion list <CnC-List@cnc-list.com>; David Knecht <davidakne...@gmail.com> Subject: Stus-List Re: Genoa sheets catch on shrouds The sheets have loops spliced into the ends and the soft shackle just goes through the two loops and attaches to itself. I have no problem with my 100% genoa, but my 145 hangs up often. Do you have protective tubes around your shrouds or bare rod? Dave S/V Aries 1990 C&C 34+ New London, CT On Jun 16, 2022, at 1:36 PM, Jeffrey A. Laman <jlam...@outlook.com <mailto:jlam...@outlook.com> > wrote: Dave, I am curious how your soft shackle is installed and why that hasn't solved your problem. After attaching sheets with a soft shackle a couple years ago, I have not had a single hangup. Jeff Laman 81C&C34 Harmony Ludington, MI _____ From: David Knecht via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2022 1:32 PM To: CnC CnC discussion list <CnC-List@cnc-list.com <mailto:CnC-List@cnc-list.com> > Cc: David Knecht <davidakne...@gmail.com <mailto:davidakne...@gmail.com> > Subject: Stus-List Genoa sheets catch on shrouds What have people found to be the best way to keep the genoa sheet attachment from catching on the shrouds during a tack? I use a dyneema soft shackle to attach the sheets to the clew, but that has not solved the problem over knots. Thanks- Dave S/V Aries 1990 C&C 34+ New London, CT <pastedGraphic.tiff>
