Viper 640 Class Association Forums

Viper 640 Public Forums => Sailing, Handling, Tips and Techniques => Topic started by: Drew Harper on May 06, 2009, 12:08:46 PM

Title: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Drew Harper on May 06, 2009, 12:08:46 PM
It'd be nice to have a standardized (somewhat) guide of various line lengths.

To that end, can you answer the following lengths. It'd be good to see where there's some commonality.

- Spin Halyard/Douser?

- Jib Sheet?

- SpinnSheet? (continuous or split?  Pigtail Length?)

- Mainsheet? (split tail, bridle or mid-boom?)

Along with this what type/size of line have you found to work well for spin halyard/douser? Which one develops less a-holes?

Thanks for your help on this.

I'm trying to build as much info for West Coast Vipes as possible.





Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Dave Nickerson on May 06, 2009, 06:45:09 PM
We updated an old boat in the process of getting to Charleston.  All new lines, everything seemed to work and run fine in breeze and when it was light.  Really like the aft split-tail bridle set up on the mainsheet.  We have:

Spin halyd         84' 3/16's Marlow pre-stretch
Jib sheet           33' 5/16's New England Ropes EnduraBraid - continious set up
Spin sheet         72' 5/16's NER Flight Line (big fan of this stuff - very light, all polypro & spectra)
                          One piece w small center splice with pig tail, separate sheets, not continious
Mainsheet          Main part is 35', 5/16's Marlow Excel Fusion (new to me, liked it) - split tail aft bridle
                          Split tails are 5.5' each side, 1/8" samson 12 strand sprecta (finished length)

Hope this helps

Have a very nice 3/8's split tail mainsheet that I made up just before the rule changed to 5/16s.  Used for 2 short sails.  NER Flight Line for the main part, 1/8" 12 strand spectra tails - offers gladly accepted...  I have about $70 into it for just the lines.



Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: winston on May 07, 2009, 09:09:59 PM
whats your spin sheet pennant lenght?  pigtail i mean.  I saw a bunch of diffrent stuff at CRW.  I was always under the impression that longer was better?  not sure where that came from tough.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: winston on May 07, 2009, 09:11:39 PM
sorry.  ruff week of school.  Not sure where that idea came from though.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Jonathan Nye on May 07, 2009, 09:18:06 PM
Quote from: winston on May 07, 2009, 09:11:39 PM
sorry.  ruff week of school.  Not sure where that idea came from though.
6.1   (a) The spinnaker sheets shall be line with a minimum diameter of 7 mm (approx 5/16?) diameter. A pennant (of any diameter) that shall not exceed 45 cm may be attached to the spinnaker sheets for the purpose of attaching the spinnaker sheets to the clew of the spinnaker.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: winston on May 08, 2009, 12:27:04 AM
Doesnt answer my question.  i know the rules.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Jonathan Nye on May 08, 2009, 09:02:26 AM
Quote from: winston on May 08, 2009, 12:27:04 AM
Doesnt answer my question.  i know the rules.
Then you know 17.75" is the max. Is your question whether it should be 17.75",  14" , 0" or some other value? Pretty small differences regardless. As a rule of thumb, if a class rule specifies a minimum or maximum for something, that min or max is were you want to be. So with a 45cm max, what's to think about? Max length. Less weight hanging off the chute. Only possible drawback is that an aggressive trimmer can suck the tail and the part of the lazy sheet into the turning block creating a jam. A shorter pigtail would make this more difficult. Solution is to practice not over trimming at the set and out of the gybe.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: winston on May 08, 2009, 09:48:55 AM
you tell me.  read the post.  do you sail at max length?  that would be a helpfull.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Dan Tucker on May 08, 2009, 11:00:39 AM
I sail with a min length spin sheet pigtail, on the advice of Olympic 49er sailors. It keeps the clew most under control in gybes, allowing for faster gybes.

That's one theory, works for me. YMMV.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: winston on May 08, 2009, 09:58:06 PM
thats what i've been hearing. thank's.
was reading the post from "Events"  NA's has a viper crew list going. 
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Jay Harrell on May 08, 2009, 10:39:23 PM
Quote from: winston on May 08, 2009, 09:58:06 PM
thats what i've been hearing. thank's.
was reading the post from "Events"  NA's has a viper crew list going. 

I sail with a minimal pigtail, and most boats I see are rigged that way too.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Ben Steinberg on May 10, 2009, 09:37:34 AM
what size line are you using for the pigtail?  1/8 spectra?
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: John Porter on May 10, 2009, 09:11:33 PM
1/8" Spectra.  Just enough length to tie a bowline on the clew.

JP
Cool Beans - USA 26
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Dave Nickerson on May 11, 2009, 09:25:12 AM
We use the same. 1/8 12-strand spectra for the pig tail.  Pretty short on the advice of Justin so the spin doesn't go too far forward on the jibes.  After the knot is tied ours is maybe 2 or 3 inches long.  Seems to work well.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Justin Scott on May 11, 2009, 08:13:58 PM
When I use a pig tail, I keep it short as possible. I often dont use one.....but I like it when I am doing a series because it makes it easy to take the spin out and take home without re running all the spin sheets.

The reason I like it short is because I like to snap thorugh the middle of the jibe, every inch of pigtail, is an inch more forward that you have to float the clew of the spinnaker before you can pull it to the new side.

I dont think it makes a huge difference tho
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Michael Stovall on April 02, 2011, 04:41:09 PM
How do you splice the pigtail into the sheet?
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Ben Jacobsen on August 05, 2011, 09:25:07 AM
Quote from: Dan Tucker on May 08, 2009, 11:00:39 AMI sail with a min length spin sheet pigtail

isn't that no pigtail at all?

also, what about on the north kits (with the webbing on the clew)?  Do you guys skip it there or still use something?  And would that webbing count into the max length?
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Dan Tucker on August 05, 2011, 12:01:04 PM
Quote from: Michael Stovall on April 02, 2011, 04:41:09 PM
How do you splice the pigtail into the sheet?
Can't find the diagram on my computer, but I drew it up in MS Paint and posted it here in another rigging thread. I'll look around some more.

Found it: http://forum.viper640.org/index.php?topic=272.msg8235#msg8235
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Dan Tucker on August 05, 2011, 12:12:56 PM
Quote from: Ben Jacobsen on August 05, 2011, 09:25:07 AM
Quote from: Dan Tucker on May 08, 2009, 11:00:39 AMI sail with a min length spin sheet pigtail

isn't that no pigtail at all?

also, what about on the north kits (with the webbing on the clew)?  Do you guys skip it there or still use something?  And would that webbing count into the max length?

Wiseass!

Class Rules do not require a pigtail, but do limit the max length:
6.1   (a) The spinnaker sheets shall be line with a minimum diameter of 7 mm (approx 5/16?) diameter. A pennant (of any diameter) that shall not exceed 45 cm may be attached to the spinnaker sheets for the purpose of attaching the spinnaker sheets to the clew of the spinnaker.

My opinion is that a shortest possible pigtail limits the amount the clew floats forward, and keeps the kite more controlled, therefore reduces the amount of trimming necessary on gybes. Many use no pigtails at all. My "through and through" pigtail means that the spin sheet goes over the headstay seamlessly, that's the primary benefit. Learned it from 2x 49er Olympian Chris Rast.

Dunno if the North webbing would count as part of the pigtail length, sounds like a Tech Committee question.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Ben Jacobsen on August 05, 2011, 04:50:06 PM
Quote from: Dan Tucker on August 05, 2011, 12:12:56 PM
Wiseass!

I was somewhat serious, but yeah... ;)

is there a picture of your through and threw stitched job anywhere?  I remember another thread where we were talking about it, I think I get it but I'm still not sure.  To go that route you have to run non continuous sheets right? 
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Dan Tucker on August 05, 2011, 05:14:23 PM
I'll try to take a photo when I go sailing tomorrow. There's a link to my lousy diagram just a couple of posts above.  /\
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Lee Shuckerow on September 06, 2011, 02:14:28 PM
So im trying to buy some new spin sheets and the class rules are messing with me.
They say: (a) The spinnaker sheets shall be line with a minimum diameter of 7 mm (approx 5/16?) diameter (b)  The jib sheets shall be a minimum diameter of 8 mm (approx 5/16?)
If both 7mm and 8mm are approximately 5/16" then i need to buy some 7mm line, which I will have to special order in the line i want. the discrepancy of these rules seems somewhat silly so what is everybody else using?
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Drew Harper on September 06, 2011, 02:49:02 PM
8mm is 5/16"

7mm is .27 which is 9/32"

If you're trimmer has strong hands and it's not too windy, I'd just go with some 1/4"

We use 5/16 as it's breezy here
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Ben Steinberg on September 06, 2011, 04:40:57 PM
The rule is supposed to read 5/16 (8 mm) in both instances. 1/4 inch will get you a slap on the wrist from Nickerson.
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Drew Harper on September 06, 2011, 05:31:21 PM
LMAO..... Nickerson slaps like a girl
Title: Re: Please Help - Line Lengths - What are you using?
Post by: Matt Rowlinson on November 07, 2012, 10:16:36 AM
What length are people using for spinn sheets?  We use non-continuous sheets, one piece of line with a pennant in the middle.  Current set (60 feet) seem too short.  Thanks for any thoughts.

Matt CAN 70