Rope lengths

[Libellule]

This year I took delivery of a 1990 dart 15, having never sailed catamarans before. There are not many dart owners around where I live, so I don't have any opportunity to compare my boat against theirs.

Though the boat is generally clean, there are some things that need replacing, updating, or just need putting right.

One of these is the sheet lengths, that I am hoping that some of you may be able to help me with.Can anybody help me by giving me the typical length of jib strops (and diameter of line), jib sheets, main sheet and traveller sheet?

At the moment it is like sitting in a bowl of spaghetti each time I go sailing. I have adjusted the main sheet so that I can be out on the wire, towards the front beam, with the mainsail fully out, and the traveller fully out ... but it seems that trying to cater for the very extreme has left me with too much rope.

Thanks for your help

[Bob Carter]

Hi,
Yes the main sheet is 9.5 metres of 10mm diameter stuff but you can use 8mm legally. If you buy your replacement from Windsport you get really nice flexible stuff. The traveller is much too long at 4 metres ( 8mm diameter) as it gets in the way/ falls in the water - I always cut it in half and just use 2 metres. Some take the 4 metre version round the mast before tying it to the mainsheet to grab in a capsize but I find this unnecessary. The jib sheet is 8.4 metres of 6mm diameter line. The jib sheet strop is 1.3 metres (of 6mm diameter stuff but you can use down to 3mm legally) but the carbine hook is unnecessary. Much better to use a smaller, lighter shackle which does the mast much less damage.
Hope you get your boat sorted and join us for an event or two to see how the good guys rig their boats
Cheers
Bob

[Bob Carter]

Hi There
How are you getting on?
Do you still own 1990?
Any progress?
Regards
Bob