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Choosing the correct sheet for your sailing boat can be difficult, so we have created this handy guide to picking the right one for your boat.
What are sailing sheets?
In sailing, a sheet is the line used to control the movable corners of a sail; each sheet will refer to the sail it controls.
Choosing the correct diameter and length
When it comes to picking the correct diameter sheet for your boat, the two factors to consider are as follows;
- The strength of the material.
- The handling characteristics, or how you handle the sheet, by hand or winch.
The diameter is determined by whatever is the safe working load specified by the manufacturer.
Due to the improved tensile properties of modern materials, choosing the diameter based on the safe working load alone can often lead to a line diameter that is less than practical for comfortable handling.
For example, a 6mm sheet may have the required strength for a 30ft boat, but an 8mm line would be better suited when handling.
Choosing the right materials
A wide range of versatile materials are available to choose from depending on the boat type and budget.
Core materials
Polyester core
A sheet with a polyester core can be soft, easily spliceable and cost-effective.
A good choice for smaller cruising boats or where your budget is tight
The downside of a polyester core is that its stiffness doesn’t compare with UHMWPE core materials such as Dyneema®
Blended core
Composite cores are usually a mix of Dyneema® and Polypropylene and offer a low stretch line option.
UHMWPE cores
UHMWPE or ultra-high molecular weight polyethene ropes are made from an extremely tough plastic offering high abrasion and friction resistance.
These usually offer a longer lifespan and overall better performance.
A good choice for larger boats and more demanding cruising.
Our pick – Marlow Rope Excel Racing
Marlow’s excel racing rope has high strength. It is lightweight with a 100% Polyester cover and Dyneema® SK75 core for all-around use on halyards, sheets and control lines.
Easily tapered and holds well in cleats, Excel Racing is a great all-around rope ideal for stripped halyards and spin sheets due to its easily identifiable solid colour cover and colour matched ArmourCoat core.
Great for all-around performance.
Cover materials
When choosing a suitable cover material, the requirements of a cover material come down to performance.
On boats where the mainsheet is trimmed by hand, the materials should hold well in a cleat and be grippy.
On larger boats where the mainsheet is on a winch, the cover materials should be durable and able to deal with the extra abrasion from the winch.
On spinnaker sheets, the cover materials should be able to provide heat and abrasion resistance.
While a jib sheet cover should have a good grip.
Polyester is a popular cover choice for cruising sailors, as it is cost-effective and becomes gripper with use.
However, for more demanding cruising or larger boats, polyester mixed with Dyneema® should be the minimum specifications looked at when buying.
Our pick – Marlow Excel Fusion Rope
Marlows excel fusion rope has a Dyneema SK75 core with a blended Dyneema & Polypropylene cover. Giving it excellent abrasion resistance.
Choosing your hardware
Soft shackles are lightweight, durable and cost-effective but can be a little fiddly to take on and off.
Cruising sailing boat sheets need a simple shackle.
Performance boats need hardware that is quick and lightweight while racing boats will need something with a quick release and can be opened under load.
Regatta boats generally need something a little quicker than a soft shackle, especially for the spinnaker or gennaker sheets.
Our pick – Allen 20mm Single TII With Soft Shackle
Allen’s 20mm single TII with soft shackle has a rope-friendly, smooth stainless-steel ring in the top of the block, which holds it together, providing maximum strength and durability under load whilst completely eliminating block capsizing.
There you have our guide to choosing the correct sheet for your boat; let us know if you have any questions regarding purchasing the right sheet, and our staff will happily get back to you.
