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MAINSHEET   SHOP NOW  
 
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
B
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
 
System 1
 
System 1-A
    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.
    Mainsheet system 1B   System 2
    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.
   
System 3
 

System 3-A
    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).
    System 4
 
System 5
    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.
    System 6   System 7
    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.
    System 8   System 9
      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