Thanks Eric and Jake, I appreciate the education.

Dave

Thanks again for the fantastic info, I'm in a part of the world where we can't try the sheet's mentioned just have to order

So am I! I have a bag full of stuff I didn't like....but I usually find some sort of use for it all.

That's funny I've just dragged some 4mm out and I'm mucking around with it to see how big it is after splicing

Any thoughts on an in-line (or other means) for measuring working loads on line?

There are several on my boat and my father's that I feel are (gasp - as a big fan of fat ropes) probably overkill for their application.

One of the cool features I see is that my halyards are relatively small lines (not tapered), but there is additional cover spliced on right where the line needs to engage the rope clutch.

Conversely, I suspect my outhaul and downhaul lines are oversized... The spin sheets may be as well, but I can't quite figure out what kind of loads that line may be under ...

And on the C&C 36 with 110% genoa, the sheets look way too big (they swelled up so they don't quite fit in the self-tailers now)