Vee Mainsheet Experiences

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rustylaru

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earth
So who has real life experience with a vee style main sheet on a multihull.

Please don't post picture of examples you've found online. I mean actual impression from using it.

I only sail on a F31 with a v sheet and it had a cross over at the boom so it was self balancing. This prohibited being able to move the boom slightly above center or achieve the same results you could gain from traveler main combo. However it was simple in the sense that you could release either side and get the same result.

What would it be like for dumping the main in an emergency over powered situation? I've not any experienced that, Has anyone here?

 
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mundt

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I got me a V on me L7.  Works well, though I'm sure that the inability to fine tune might bother some hard core racers.  It bothered me for a minute but the ease of use and the fact that I'm a hopeless, lazy hack soon overcame the negatives. Fact is, you can play with the geometry of the V and still pretend like you're super intelligent while muttering compliments to yourself.  Dumping seems to go about as fast as a regular setup, maybe even a little faster but I'm sure a professional geometrist will be able to explain better than I.  Whenever I get the slightest puff of breeze I let go of everything, including my bladder, close my eyes and squeal like a little girl!

 
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EarthBM

EarthBM

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Corona Del Mar, CA
Have you tried locking the sheet at the boom, this way you have all the fine tuning you need? And when you dump the windward sheet the leeward sheet acts as a preventer? The downside is that in some configurations (guessing close reach) the leeward sheet won’t be long enough to unclench the buttocks.

 
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rustylaru

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EarthBM said:
Have you tried locking the sheet at the boom, this way you have all the fine tuning you need? And when you dump the windward sheet the leeward sheet acts as a preventer? The downside is that in some configurations (guessing close reach) the leeward sheet won’t be long enough to unclench the buttocks.
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The f31 I experienced was as crew several years ago and I only bought it up to launch some talking points.

The preventer aspect seem like a positive.

Question for mundt. What is it like in super light with sloppy seas. Does the v stop the main from flogging any?

 
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mundt

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Super light and sloppy sounds like a porn star... Actually I wouldn't leave my main sheeted extremely loose in those conditions, mostly to reduce all the bouncy bounce, though, truth be told, there will be some of that going on.  Porn star and bouncy bounce, get it?  In real life when on a small multi those conditions do suck. 

 
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eric1207

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I didn't like it much on the Catana I sailed on for a few days.  Seemed like a lot of fiddling to get the boom where you wanted it and the leach tension the way you wanted it.  Others love it and are used to getting it set right on the first try.  I do like the preventer aspect but never sail that deep in a breeze on my F31 so don't feel that need.  Try searching/asking on the Catana Yahoo Group or the Fboat group at https://fct.groups.io/g/main/topics.  Also, you may know that a certain Mike L in Socal is a proponent of the system.  

 
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Russell Brown

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mundt said:
I got me a V on me L7.  Works well, though I'm sure that the inability to fine tune might bother some hard core racers.  It bothered me for a minute but the ease of use and the fact that I'm a hopeless, lazy hack soon overcame the negatives. Fact is, you can play with the geometry of the V and still pretend like you're super intelligent while muttering compliments to yourself.  Dumping seems to go about as fast as a regular setup, maybe even a little faster but I'm sure a professional geometrist will be able to explain better than I.  Whenever I get the slightest puff of breeze I let go of everything, including my bladder, close my eyes and squeal like a little girl!
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That was precious! I'll bet we'd get along fine.

 
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mundt

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I'm not so cute in person but I'd love to go for a sail with you. Your curriculum vitae is pretty darn impressive!

 
cyclone

cyclone

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Initially I set up two separate main sheets ala Sigi but have since switched to one continuous sheet as on the L7. With the line running through both blocks on the boom jibing seems more controlled . I’m able to get plenty of tension  on the forestay for heading upwind. The biggest asset is that the V arrangement combined with a topping lift and some temporary tensioners on the side stays really locks the rig down when moored and nothing shakes around when the boat is hobby horsing in the chop. Switching to Salsa line helped as well.

 
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bacq2bacq

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I'm interested in the "Leneman/Sigi" inverted-V-sheet for the F31 as well, but haven't tried yet.  Hull #1 came out a bit weird, an aft-cockpit model, but with the aft-cabin traveller bolted on, looking slightly out of place, and really gumming things up in the cockpit, especially as far as stern-access: too high to step over easily, too low to get under.  Pic below.

Not being one of the made-of-money-multihullers, I gasped when I saw the expense of all the stuff one might need to do it properly, especially if it took a few cracks to get it right.   Not knowing other's exact specs with respect to line diameters, lengths, tailing thin to thicker, etc, I haven't tried yet...

I've seen images, drawings, but never a decent parts list including block-specs like line and sheave diameters folks are using, lengths, etc.

I *think* because we cruise-not-race, the invert-V would offer more advantages than disadvantages by opening up the cockpit... but, again, to the real-worlders using it...  does it really open things up versus what you see here, or am I going to be ducking under diagonals and getting clobbered in the head by big blocks anyway?  Am I chasing a chimera? Ours is end-of-boom sheeted, and rolling, and I like it that way for now.  The geometrist in me thinks I'll find ways of getting it set as I like with a V, and the loose-bladdered squeeling little girl in me would like a way to pop that mainsheet without having to turn right around, squat, and take three dead-lift-tries at it before I finally get it out... when I am alone and have buried a float and really need to...(stock 8:1 purchase, spring cam-locks).

I'd appreciate any real-world details from anyone who has done this... salsa?  Diameter?  With or without bigger spliced tails for grip?  Anyone listening here doing one of the multiple-purchase approaches? 

cheers
b2b

PS: yes, I should mine the F-boat group for some of this... but can't recall having seen a succinct summary there either.  Another towing-thread...

IMAG1248.jpg

 
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mundt

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I have a Leneman V and it works very well but if I already had the above pictured setup I don't think I'd bother to change it.  The V would still occupy that same space and you would be violating the "if it ain't broke" law.  Maybe worth the time to move the traveller down flush with the combing?

 
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mundt

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when a gust hits first I pee myself, then squeal like a little girl, then blow the weather sheet.  I've never been super happy with the angle of release so if I think there's any chance of the slightest puff the sheet is most likely uncleated and in my hand already.  I do think the leeward sheet would work to ease pretty equally, though some with more expertise might say that which sheet is eased may effect sail shape differently.  I haven't noticed much difference since it's a continuous line.  No traveller to ease first so that's a bit different too.

 
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bacq2bacq

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Mundt, I have found that if I aim the pee correctly (I being of the pro- as opposed to retro-mingent sort) I can pre-lube the sheaves and thus dump power from the main even faster.  The disadvantage for me (pic above) is that I have to turn right around, losing forward vision, in order to lube the lower blocks most effectively.  Retro-mingent folk would not have this problem, of course.  I'll mention it to First Mate, but it won't help me when soloing, unless I get some surgery.  I'm usually too busy to remember to squeal properly, my hat's off to you!

But serially... If you have any pics/specs on your setup (which blocks did you use, what line...) and have the energy to respond, I'm interested.  I agree with "ain't broke", and have thus sailed this way since we bought the boat, several years now, and it does work well...  I just find that damn traveller annoyingly in the way, and if I could get rid of it without too much expense and re-work, I think it might be worth it.  I was trying to figure out how the lines would go over and around the pushpit stanchions we have when off the wind.  I think one would necessarily need a whole bunch more sheet to make the double-runs out to a broad-set boom.  

Largely because I haven't been able to visualize success, it ain't done yet.

cheers,
ben

PS: Hadn't thought of just hacking the old traveller, dropping it lower to be able to step over more easily...  hmmn.

 
SCARECROW

SCARECROW

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EarthBM said:
When broad reaching, which sheet do you blow first in a gust, windward or leeward (which I imagine acts as a tight leash preventer)?
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Windward first.

your windward sheet is controlling the angle of attack, leeward is basically acting as a vang (until the boom swings past outer sheeting point).  From experience if you're after anything approaching performance  and safety you want a really good vang.

 
Waynemarlow

Waynemarlow

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If you are looking for the cheapest and yet best free running main then look no further than a cascaded series within the boom. You can use wire blocks with synthetic line for the primary and the main 2:1 or 3:1 at the rear and a nice soft line for the hands on the final series as it will be relatively lightly loaded. We have found that due to the greater efficiency and less friction you can drop one turn from say 10:1 to 9:1. 

The final iteration of these cascaded boom mains were best described in the Olympic  Tornado cats which worked a treat.

 
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peterbike

Member
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melbourne
Huh ?   Wayne, can you post a link for a drawing of this ?

the others say they squeal when they are scared ;   but I can do it when I don't understand - as well as scared.   (multi talented    :rolleyes: )

 
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