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Danilo Fabbroni Guide to Standing and Running Rigging: RIGGING

Mainsheets are simple hardware systems, but are among the most important as they are in almost constant use.

Typical boat length:
Small Boat: 22' - 28' (6.7 - 8.5 m)
Midrange: 29' - 34' (8.8 - 10.4 m)
Big Boat: 35' - 42' (10.7 - 12.8 m)

	Small Boat	Mid- range	Big Boat
	HARKEN PART NUMBER
4:1 Fiddle
A	2621 053 028	1559	—
B	060 042	1566	—
6:1 Reeved Right Angle
A	2640 153 2604	2604 2664	1546
B	2630 2648 196	2630 2669	1556
8:1 Beachcat
Multihulls	8'-14'	15'-20'	—
A	2654	2631	—
B	2619	2632	—
4:1 Swivel Base
A	2636 2600	2660 1540	—
B	2637 2601	2661 1541	—
C	2636 2625	2660 1549	—
D	205 144	1574	—
6:1/24:1 Gross/Fine
A	2638 2602	2602	2662
B	2647 2629	2629	1555
C	2636 2600	2600	2660
D	2655	2655	2621
E	2658	2658	2624
4:1/16:1 Gross/Fine
A	2636	2600	2660
B	342	2642	2602
C	2658	2658	2624
D	042 060	042	1566
4:1/16:1 Double-ended Fine Tune
A	2636	2600	2660
B	019	2625	1549
C	205	144	1574
D	342	2638	2602
E	349	2652	2600
F	423	423	150
3:1/12:1 Fine Tune in Boom
A	059	042	1565
B	2636	2600	2660
C	131	046	047
D	343	2639	2603
E	342	2638	2602
F	291	140	140
4:1 Dedicated Winch
A	—	2600 2660	1958 1969
B	—	1559 1975	1975
C	—	2661 1959	1959 1970
D	—	014 1548 1963	1963 1972
E	—	B32.2ST B40.2ST	B40.2STE B44.2ST
5:1 Dedicated Winch
A	—	1586	1969
B	—	1540	1958
C	—	1548	1963
D	—	B32.2ST B40.2ST	B40.2ST B44.2ST
Admiral's Cup 2:1 Dedicated Winch
A	—	1544	1960
B	—	1586	1958 1969 3007
C	—	1540	1969
D	—	1548	1963
E	—	B32.2ST B40.2ST	B40.2ST B44.2ST
Admiral's Cup 2:1 Dedicated Winch
A	—	—	1970 3008
B	—	—	3007 3129 1969 3135
C	—	—	1974 3012 3138
D	—	—	B46.2STE B48.2STE

4:1 Fiddle : The most common mainsheet on boats under 28' (8.5 m) is a four-part tackle.

6:1 Reeved Right Angle: Boats with mainsails to 375 ft2 often use a 6:1 mainsheet.

8:1 Beachcat: This 8:1 purchase handles high mainsheet loads on Beachcats up to 20 ft (6 m).

4:1 Swivel Base : Placing the mainsheet off the traveler car allows mainsail adjustment without dragging the car to windward. Although it tends to tighten the leech, this can be overcome by curving the track ends up.

6:1/24:1 Gross/Fine: As mainsails become larger, the purchase required to trim increases tremendously. A powerful purchase is slow in light air and downwind, so dual-purchase mainsheets are popular.

4:1/16:1 Gross/Fine: This 4:1/16:1 system is used on boats with mains as large as 400 ft2 (37 m2).

4:1/16:1 Double-ended Fine Tune: A refinement of system 3, this system uses a dinghy-like double-ended tackle that locates the sheet on the cockpit sides.

3:1/12:1 Fine Tune in Boom: External fine-tune systems tighten the leech as the car moves off centerline. Locating the fine-tune in the boom solves this problem and cleans up the cockpit.

4:1 Dedicated Winch: This is the most popular system for cruising boats. The traveler is moved to the companionway to clean up the cockpit.

2:1 Dedicated Winch: This simple double-ended system lets the mainsheet run freely through the blocks which allows the traveler car to move easily. The trimmer makes sail adjustments from the high side.

Admiral's Cup 2:1 Dedicated Winch: German Admiral's Cup boats popularized the system of leading the sheet forward along the boom before turning aft to the winches. The traveler is independent of the mainsheet so it rolls freely. This system is used by many modern race boats such as Farr® 40s.

3:1 Dedicated Winch: Many large boats use this simple system in which a block on deck turns the sheet to a winch