I don't know what it's called, but I make a stopper knot by making a bend in
the line, wrapping the bitter end around the standing part 3-4 times, then
passing the bitter end through the bend and tighten the whole thing up.
Works well, and can usually be undone fairly easily.

--


Keith
__
AI programmers only think they do it
"Armond Perretta" wrote in message
...
Steve wrote:

Don, goes on a rant about someone putting a figure "8" Stopper Knot
in the end of a sheet. Something I have been doing for 40 years of
sailing. To me, it keeps the lazy sheet from being pulled through
the sheet lead block. Anyway, if there was a reason for "not"
putting a Stopper Knot in the sheet end, it must have been edited
out of the footage I have seen and no where in his books does he
mentions a reason (that I can recall).

How about it, can anyone persuade me not to put a Stopper Knot in my
sheets??

I can make a reasonable argument against that _particular_ knot. I would
argue that the _true_ stopper knot is not the figure eight knot but rather
the double overhand version. The figure eight can indeed harden up and
become difficult if not impossible to loosen. The "stopper knot" (i.e.,
the
double overhand version) does not suffer this drawback. One most boats
I've
encountered, it's one or the other, depending on the skipper. I vote for
the "other."

I would also submit that it is good practice to avoid any type of stopper
in
the spinnaker sheets. Aside from these comments, I think what you are
seeing in Street's books are examples of a vain old man holding court.

.--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

Yup, that's called a 'stevedore", always releases.

In article , Keith
wrote:

I don't know what it's called, but I make a stopper knot by making a bend in
the line, wrapping the bitter end around the standing part 3-4 times, then
passing the bitter end through the bend and tighten the whole thing up.
Works well, and can usually be undone fairly easily.

Yup, that's called a 'stevedore", always releases.

In article , Keith
wrote:

I don't know what it's called, but I make a stopper knot by making a bend in
the line, wrapping the bitter end around the standing part 3-4 times, then
passing the bitter end through the bend and tighten the whole thing up.
Works well, and can usually be undone fairly easily.

I don't know what it's called, but I make a stopper knot by making a bend in
the line, wrapping the bitter end around the standing part 3-4 times, then
passing the bitter end through the bend and tighten the whole thing up.
Works well, and can usually be undone fairly easily.

--


Keith
__
AI programmers only think they do it
"Armond Perretta" wrote in message
...
Steve wrote:

Don, goes on a rant about someone putting a figure "8" Stopper Knot
in the end of a sheet. Something I have been doing for 40 years of
sailing. To me, it keeps the lazy sheet from being pulled through
the sheet lead block. Anyway, if there was a reason for "not"
putting a Stopper Knot in the sheet end, it must have been edited
out of the footage I have seen and no where in his books does he
mentions a reason (that I can recall).

How about it, can anyone persuade me not to put a Stopper Knot in my
sheets??

I can make a reasonable argument against that _particular_ knot. I would
argue that the _true_ stopper knot is not the figure eight knot but rather
the double overhand version. The figure eight can indeed harden up and
become difficult if not impossible to loosen. The "stopper knot" (i.e.,
the
double overhand version) does not suffer this drawback. One most boats
I've
encountered, it's one or the other, depending on the skipper. I vote for
the "other."

I would also submit that it is good practice to avoid any type of stopper
in
the spinnaker sheets. Aside from these comments, I think what you are
seeing in Street's books are examples of a vain old man holding court.

.--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

Steve wrote:

Don, goes on a rant about someone putting a figure "8" Stopper Knot
in the end of a sheet. Something I have been doing for 40 years of
sailing. To me, it keeps the lazy sheet from being pulled through
the sheet lead block. Anyway, if there was a reason for "not"
putting a Stopper Knot in the sheet end, it must have been edited
out of the footage I have seen and no where in his books does he
mentions a reason (that I can recall).

How about it, can anyone persuade me not to put a Stopper Knot in my
sheets??

I can make a reasonable argument against that _particular_ knot. I would
argue that the _true_ stopper knot is not the figure eight knot but rather
the double overhand version. The figure eight can indeed harden up and
become difficult if not impossible to loosen. The "stopper knot" (i.e., the
double overhand version) does not suffer this drawback. One most boats I've
encountered, it's one or the other, depending on the skipper. I vote for
the "other."

I would also submit that it is good practice to avoid any type of stopper in
the spinnaker sheets. Aside from these comments, I think what you are
seeing in Street's books are examples of a vain old man holding court.

..--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

On Sun, 4 Apr 2004 23:01:09 -0700, "Steve" wrote:

I've read a few books by Don Street and have a couple sailing videos of his
as well. I respect his knowledge while I consider him a bit excentric. His
boats and sailing gear and methods always seem well on to the "Salty Side"
of the scale. One thing for sure, "Don doesn't have to explain" why he does
the things he does when it comes to onboard routines". At least that's the
impression I get..

I have watched his sailing video of one of his Atlantic crossing on "Isle
Aire" with a crew that seemed to worship him and his ways.

One thing from that video that leaves me with a question that I haven't been
able to resolve.

Don, goes on a rant about someone putting a figure "8" Stopper Knot in the
end of a sheet. Something I have been doing for 40 years of sailing. To me,
it keeps the lazy sheet from being pulled through the sheet lead block.
Anyway, if there was a reason for "not" putting a Stopper Knot in the sheet
end, it must have been edited out of the footage I have seen and no where in
his books does he mentions a reason (that I can recall).

How about it, can anyone persuade me not to put a Stopper Knot in my
sheets??

(You see, I'm getting old and grouchy to.)

Also old and grouchy, I do put stoppers on the jib sheets, but never
on the spinnaker sheets/guys.

It may be necessary in extremis to let the spinnaker fly, but the jib
can be released without losing the end of the sheet.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Wanting to meet a writer because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like pate."
Margaret Atwood

I'm having a hard time with no stopper knots in spinnaker sheets/guys as you
may wish to let
them fly "presumably" in emergency. I'll counter that with if the sheets
run out on
a spinnaker then you've got a rather large flag flying from the top of your
mast....or
at least 3/4 if your fractional rigged. I can't imagine that being any
better than
stopped sheets run all the way out, and having someone with a bit of
foresight to
release the halyard...at least that way you can recover the spin from the
bottom.

If things it too far beyond that, you can always cut away the lines...

Comments?

--
Cheers,
Jeffrey Nelson
Muir Caileag
C&C 30
"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 4 Apr 2004 23:01:09 -0700, "Steve" wrote:

I've read a few books by Don Street and have a couple sailing videos of
his
as well. I respect his knowledge while I consider him a bit excentric.
His
boats and sailing gear and methods always seem well on to the "Salty
Side"
of the scale. One thing for sure, "Don doesn't have to explain" why he
does
the things he does when it comes to onboard routines". At least that's
the
impression I get..

I have watched his sailing video of one of his Atlantic crossing on "Isle
Aire" with a crew that seemed to worship him and his ways.

One thing from that video that leaves me with a question that I haven't
been
able to resolve.

Don, goes on a rant about someone putting a figure "8" Stopper Knot in
the
end of a sheet. Something I have been doing for 40 years of sailing. To
me,
it keeps the lazy sheet from being pulled through the sheet lead block.
Anyway, if there was a reason for "not" putting a Stopper Knot in the
sheet
end, it must have been edited out of the footage I have seen and no where
in
his books does he mentions a reason (that I can recall).

How about it, can anyone persuade me not to put a Stopper Knot in my
sheets??

(You see, I'm getting old and grouchy to.)

Also old and grouchy, I do put stoppers on the jib sheets, but never
on the spinnaker sheets/guys.

It may be necessary in extremis to let the spinnaker fly, but the jib
can be released without losing the end of the sheet.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC
J36 Gjo/a


"Wanting to meet a writer because you like his work is like wanting to
meet a duck because you like pate."
Margaret Atwood

Putting stopper knots in spinnaker sheets is very bad practice.
If you ever broach and need to compleatly and instantly let the sheets
fly ..... you wind up on your side or worse and I guarantee that you
will have NO time to cut one of the sheets.
If it gets 'that bad' that the spinnaker is held only by its halyard
(and sheets free) you can always grab one of the free sheet ends and
let the halyard fly..... and save the boat.




In article
ble.rogers.com,
DARat wrote:

I'm having a hard time with no stopper knots in spinnaker sheets/guys as you
may wish to let
them fly "presumably" in emergency. I'll counter that with if the sheets
run out on
a spinnaker then you've got a rather large flag flying from the top of your
mast....or
at least 3/4 if your fractional rigged. I can't imagine that being any
better than
stopped sheets run all the way out, and having someone with a bit of
foresight to
release the halyard...at least that way you can recover the spin from the
bottom.

If things it too far beyond that, you can always cut away the lines...

Comments?

Still not buying it...I've broached more than once (with and without
spinnaker up) while pushing a littler harder
than we should while racing, I'll agree not much fun but there's plenty of
time to do a lot of things. I guess
having a crew that you can trust to spill the halyard when things get really
out of hand helps.

People I've seen in trouble are those with the spin flying straight out at
the top of the mast with the lines ahead of
that. They had a hell of a time trying to get their spin down...I guess if
there's no stopper not in the halyard,
the whole thing can run free and you can go find it later...

I'll give you no stopper in the spin halyard. Maybe I'll re-think the
stopper knot...

Cheers,
Jeffrey Nelson
Muir Caileag
C&C 30
"Rich Hampel" wrote in message
...
Putting stopper knots in spinnaker sheets is very bad practice.
If you ever broach and need to compleatly and instantly let the sheets
fly ..... you wind up on your side or worse and I guarantee that you
will have NO time to cut one of the sheets.
If it gets 'that bad' that the spinnaker is held only by its halyard
(and sheets free) you can always grab one of the free sheet ends and
let the halyard fly..... and save the boat.




In article
ble.rogers.com,
DARat wrote:

I'm having a hard time with no stopper knots in spinnaker sheets/guys as
you
may wish to let
them fly "presumably" in emergency. I'll counter that with if the
sheets
run out on
a spinnaker then you've got a rather large flag flying from the top of
your
mast....or
at least 3/4 if your fractional rigged. I can't imagine that being any
better than
stopped sheets run all the way out, and having someone with a bit of
foresight to
release the halyard...at least that way you can recover the spin from
the
bottom.

If things it too far beyond that, you can always cut away the lines...

Comments?

Still not buying it...I've broached more than once (with and without
spinnaker up) while pushing a littler harder
than we should while racing, I'll agree not much fun but there's plenty of
time to do a lot of things. I guess
having a crew that you can trust to spill the halyard when things get really
out of hand helps.

People I've seen in trouble are those with the spin flying straight out at
the top of the mast with the lines ahead of
that. They had a hell of a time trying to get their spin down...I guess if
there's no stopper not in the halyard,
the whole thing can run free and you can go find it later...

I'll give you no stopper in the spin halyard. Maybe I'll re-think the
stopper knot...

Cheers,
Jeffrey Nelson
Muir Caileag
C&C 30
"Rich Hampel" wrote in message
...
Putting stopper knots in spinnaker sheets is very bad practice.
If you ever broach and need to compleatly and instantly let the sheets
fly ..... you wind up on your side or worse and I guarantee that you
will have NO time to cut one of the sheets.
If it gets 'that bad' that the spinnaker is held only by its halyard
(and sheets free) you can always grab one of the free sheet ends and
let the halyard fly..... and save the boat.




In article
ble.rogers.com,
DARat wrote:

I'm having a hard time with no stopper knots in spinnaker sheets/guys as
you
may wish to let
them fly "presumably" in emergency. I'll counter that with if the
sheets
run out on
a spinnaker then you've got a rather large flag flying from the top of
your
mast....or
at least 3/4 if your fractional rigged. I can't imagine that being any
better than
stopped sheets run all the way out, and having someone with a bit of
foresight to
release the halyard...at least that way you can recover the spin from
the
bottom.

If things it too far beyond that, you can always cut away the lines...

Comments?