Lines Question

[Bigdamdork]

So I purchased my 1978 Macgregor V222 about two years ago and have been working on it in my spare time off and on. This is my first boat and while I've been sailing a bit on my friends 35' Catalina I'm still pretty new to the lingo and nuances associated with actually owning my own boat. With this said I was wondering if I could ask the experts in here about what kind of lines should I be looking for?

Like I said it's a 22' boat and I'm going to be using it primarily to just cruise around the Central Coast of CA. I've been to six different websites and my head is spinning. Main Line, Jib Line, Dock Line. Boom Vang Line........it's a bit overwhelming. With this said any suggestions on size and type of line? Suggestions on where to get it? I see some lines are $.37/ft and others are $1.37/ft for the same diameter. It's all pretty intimidating.

Are there any websites where I can plug in what kind of boat I have and it will spit out suggestions?

Any and all help is totally appreciated. I'm taking a four day sailing class over the next two weekends to get more up to speed and I'm hoping to have her in the water by late September early October. I'm TERRIFIED of being the guy in charge right now and I'm hoping the sailing classes will bolster my confidence. I'm going to be begging some friends of mine who sail currently to come out with me a few times at first.

Thanks!

[Obelix]

I use mostly "SAMSON ROPE XLS Extra-T Double Braid" or equivalent. These ropes feature a good compromise of stretch and load capacity at a reasonable cost. I don't require top of the line cordage, since my usage-pattern is similar to your description.
Hope this helps.

Obelix

[Tomfoolery]

Blue water yachts (BWY for short on this forum) lists all the lines for your boat. And they're an advertiser here too.

[grady]

Sheets the less expensive works. Halyards I would spend the extra money on more expensive line that does not stretch. You want to be able to set the halyards and not have a whole lot of stretch afterwards and affect sail shape. Sheets you are always adjusting them so the stretch does not come into play as much. Spinnaker I would go with light as possible to keep it from collapsing in light winds.

[sailboatmike]

You want nice soft line for your sheets, much easier on the hands when hauling them in, I would say 8mm would do the job on a 22 footer without any issues.

Maybe 10mm for the mainsheet.

The trick is to get low stretch line, nice double braid would do the job, for halyards Dyneema is good, stronger than stainless for the same line size and reasonable cheap to boot.

Smaller lines let the sails set better as they are not pulling the sail down in light winds

[grady]

Also figure out what length and size you need. Keep an eye out at WM, Defender, Mauri pro, and anywhere else you like to purchase you stuff. At least once a year they usually have a run rigging sale as much as 50% off.

If you want light sheets what I did on my spinnaker was took small AM Steel and attached it to the sail, then braided it into the floating yacht braid where you handle it. Do not remember the exact sizes but I just picked the AM Steel that had a close breaking strength of the floating yacht braid.

[Starscream]

So I purchased my 1978 Macgregor V222 about two years ago and have been working on it in my spare time off and on. This is my first boat and while I've been sailing a bit on my friends 35' Catalina I'm still pretty new to the lingo and nuances associated with actually owning my own boat. With this said I was wondering if I could ask the experts in here about what kind of lines should I be looking for?

Like I said it's a 22' boat and I'm going to be using it primarily to just cruise around the Central Coast of CA. I've been to six different websites and my head is spinning. Main Line, Jib Line, Dock Line. Boom Vang Line........it's a bit overwhelming. With this said any suggestions on size and type of line? Suggestions on where to get it? I see some lines are $.37/ft and others are $1.37/ft for the same diameter. It's all pretty intimidating.

Are there any websites where I can plug in what kind of boat I have and it will spit out suggestions?

Any and all help is totally appreciated. I'm taking a four day sailing class over the next two weekends to get more up to speed and I'm hoping to have her in the water by late September early October. I'm TERRIFIED of being the guy in charge right now and I'm hoping the sailing classes will bolster my confidence. I'm going to be begging some friends of mine who sail currently to come out with me a few times at first.

Thanks!

Well, in my opinion, IT DOESN'T MATTER. For a rookie sailor with an older boat who just wants to get out there sailing, use whatever you like. Cheap is fine. Who cares if your halyard stretches a bit? If and when you do start to care, fix it then.

If the boat has lines on it already and you want to replace them just measure them and cut a piece off the end to bring to a marine store. Ask for a direct replacement and they'll give you the cheap stuff (which is fine) for less than $0.50/ft. If your boat doesn't have lines on it, can you get it to a marina or tow it to a marine store so that the employees there can have a look and make recommendations?

You need docklines, a jibsheet, a mainsail halyard, a jib halyard (or furler) and a mainsheet to go sailing. Depending on your boat you may need a keel rope, jib furling line, topping lift, boom vang and so on, but I didn't have any of those things on my first boat. As I figured out how to sail I learned what I wanted to replace or install. Take your time.

[grady]

So I purchased my 1978 Macgregor V222 about two years ago and have been working on it in my spare time off and on. This is my first boat and while I've been sailing a bit on my friends 35' Catalina I'm still pretty new to the lingo and nuances associated with actually owning my own boat. With this said I was wondering if I could ask the experts in here about what kind of lines should I be looking for?

Like I said it's a 22' boat and I'm going to be using it primarily to just cruise around the Central Coast of CA. I've been to six different websites and my head is spinning. Main Line, Jib Line, Dock Line. Boom Vang Line........it's a bit overwhelming. With this said any suggestions on size and type of line? Suggestions on where to get it? I see some lines are $.37/ft and others are $1.37/ft for the same diameter. It's all pretty intimidating.

Are there any websites where I can plug in what kind of boat I have and it will spit out suggestions?

Any and all help is totally appreciated. I'm taking a four day sailing class over the next two weekends to get more up to speed and I'm hoping to have her in the water by late September early October. I'm TERRIFIED of being the guy in charge right now and I'm hoping the sailing classes will bolster my confidence. I'm going to be begging some friends of mine who sail currently to come out with me a few times at first.

Thanks!

Well, in my opinion, IT DOESN'T MATTER. For a rookie sailor with an older boat who just wants to get out there sailing, use whatever you like. Cheap is fine. Who cares if your halyard stretches a bit? If and when you do start to care, fix it then.

If the boat has lines on it already and you want to replace them just measure them and cut a piece off the end to bring to a marine store. Ask for a direct replacement and they'll give you the cheap stuff (which is fine) for less than $0.50/ft. If your boat doesn't have lines on it, can you get it to a marina or tow it to a marine store so that the employees there can have a look and make recommendations?

You need docklines, a jibsheet, a mainsail halyard, a jib halyard (or furler) and a mainsheet to go sailing. Depending on your boat you may need a keel rope, jib furling line, topping lift, boom vang and so on, but I didn't have any of those things on my first boat. As I figured out how to sail I learned what I wanted to replace or install. Take your time.

Go to Walmart they sell double braid!!!!!

[sailboatmike]

I would think good quality low stretch is only a few cents more expensive per foot, make sure its UV resistant or the sun will rot it in no time, I made the mistake of buying cheap line for my furler only to find a few month later that it snapped with a bang while I was pulling it in, as luck would have it I was on the dock testing something when the line let go, if I was on the boat on the water I would of been swimming for sure.

Cheaper in the long run to spend a few dollars more now and not have to replace them in 12 months when you find they stretch too much or the sun has turned them into powder.

My jib sheets are about 1 1/2 boat lengths because I use a furler, without a furler about 1 1/4 boat length would be plenty

Docking lines I like about a boat length, this allows you to use them for springers as well, I keep 4 docking lines (forward, aft, forward springer and aft springer)

[Interim]

Don't worry about being nervous. It is common. There was a surprising but nice thread on sailing anarchy one time about getting butterflies before leaving the dock (surprising because I didn't think we were supposed to acknowledge such feelings ). Your lessons will prepare you. Then just start logging the hours.

I am more comfortable on my Mac than on my smaller boat (with which I sail off the dock). But once we're underway, life is good.

--john

[sailboatmike]

I bet you were nervous the first time you drove your car on your own!!

You will soon learn its no big deal and nothing to worry about, I think most of use get the nerves when we are getting on and off a busy dock, I certainly do.

Through reading about using your lines to advantage I have developed a great way to get off that works for me as I normally have both wind and tide pushing me onto the dock.

Here is a nice google search that you will find lots of good info https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourcei ... f+the+dock

Its really simple and effective and builds confidence

[Bigdamdork]

Thank you so much everyone for you input, it really is appreciated. I'm taking my first sailing class tomorrow through our local community college who works with the local yacht club. I probably have about 40 hours sailing but it's sporadic and I was never in charge. Learning about Coast Guard requirements, navigation rules, radio, etc. is a smidge intimidating but also fun. Did I mention my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to knots? (I bought a book there)

I built a mast crutch system as I think I will probably be traveling down to Santa Barbara my first few times in the water which is about an hour South. We don't have anymore local lakes with boat ramps open due to the drought.

Anyway, thanks again. You have given me some great resources. I have GoPro so I'll try and record the first time I run into something for posterity.

[dlandersson]

Ditto

Blue water yachts (BWY for short on this forum) lists all the lines for your boat. And they're an advertiser here too.