Tapered mainsheet

[DN 5449]

How much of the sheet should be tapered on a DN mainsheet?

[DN 805]

Here's one opinion:
30' LOA with 7 ft. skinny, 23 ft. fat.    I have found that this forumula keeps the junction inside the boom and the fat part of the line exits the front of the boom and goes around the ratchet and to the skipper's hand.   The overall length is enough to leave a tail to tie off in the cockpit so the mainsheet doesn't drag behind the boat.    Also possible to ease the boom almost out to the stay when walking across a pressure ridge on a beam reach

I like the fat part of the line to be minimum 3/8" diameter, with a fuzzy cover.  The skinny part 3/16" diameter smooth cover.     Hand stitch at the junction so the cover doesn't slide on the core.

[DN 5449]

thanks Jane,I was thinking the same thing in terms of the skinny line length.Probably go a little shorter and thinner with the fat part.
Thinking of using 5/16 " of MLX Samson?

[Ken Smith]

Agree with Jane re lengths. 

However, there is a link (I think on the Sampson site, didn't search again lately) that shows how to pull the core out of the sheath, cut the sheath about 8 inched form the exit point, then taper it by successively removing single threads every inch or so, and reinserting the tapered sheath into the center of the core right by the core exit.  Then stitch.  This is a truly tapered junction which cannot hang up on blocks. Ever.

Tool required:  Hollow fid or light tubing the diameter of the core, to make it easier to feed teh tapered sheath into the core.

Use any dyneel or other high-tech cored double-braid.  The core of these lines slip easily over the smaller blocks at the boom end to reduce rolling friction.

The sheath you cut off makes a great mast tie-down line for the trailer.  Its friction and absence of core makes it stay tied reliably in the breeze.

Ken