HOW TO… Make Tapered Spinnaker sheets.By Peter Galloway

If you are still using the original spinnaker sheets that came with your boat, then youare behind the times. With the availability of high-tech, modern ropes, it is nowaffordable to have your own tapered spinnaker sheets. I have found these to be aperformance boost in just about any conditions. In fact, you may find that you no longerneed those light spinnaker sheets as these will work fine even in light air.

And the best part is you can make them yourself! And you don’t need any special skills.Here’s how…

What you will need*• Braided line, 70 feet of 5/16 diameter• Spectra core, 100 feet of 3/16 diameter• Splicing fid or 1/16 diameter stiff wire (stainless welding rod works well)• Needle and whipping thread• Sharp knife or razor blade• Permanent marker• Hot knife (optional)

Head on down to your favorite rigging shop and pick up some 5/16 diameter braidedline. I like to use a polypropolene cover braided line like Yale Light because it is as itsname implies, very light in weight plus it does not absorb water. But just about anybraided line will do as long as it does not have a very tight weave for its cover. The downside to polypropolene is that it has low ultra-violet resistance, so figure you’ll only getabout two to three years of useful life before it will need to be replaced. A braid withDacron polyester as its cover has good ultra-violet resistance and a better grip thanpolypropolene, but it is heavier and absorbs morewater. It will, however, last longer. Youwill have to decide which is more important.

For the core I favor a Spectra braid for its low weight, ultra-low stretch and low waterretention. You could opt for other low stretch fibers such as Technora or Vectran , butSpectra is still the lightest and absorbs the least. Plus it is the cheapest. You should beable to find it as a basic braid (no core).

So you might think to yourself, “why buy the core when Yale Light already has aSpectra core?” The answer is that the core in Yale Light, though it is made of the samematerial, has a very loose weave (best for low stretch,) that is just not suitable for taperedsheets. Believe me, I know having tried it. Spend the money to get Spectra braid that isdesigned for this.

So now that you’ve got the necessary line and tools, let’s get started.• Begin by dividing both the Spectra and the Cover material in half. That is or course,

if you intend to create a pair of sheets. If you intend to make a single continuoussheet, skip this step.

• Tie a knot at one end of the cover material and use a sharp knife or razor to cut theopposite end if it has been hot knifed. Extract the core for about six inches or so.

• Now whip the end of this core. Do the same with one end of the Spectra core thatwill replace it. Using the same whipping thread, stitch the two cores together end-for-end.

• Remove the knot from the other end ofthe line and proceed to remove the oldcore by milking the cover gradually downthe length of the line until the new corehas replaced the old. I find it easiest to dothis by tying the old core to somethingstationary so that I can stretch the line forits entire length. Discard the old core, orbetter yet, save it for tying your wintercover. Tie a knot in the end again so thatthe new core stays in place.

• At the other end of the line make amark on the cover about eight inchesfrom its end. This is where you will extract the new core. Using a needle or othersharp instrument, spread the cover fibers exposing the Spectra core and extract it.You should now have an eight inch length of bare cover remaining and at leastfourteen feet of Spectra sticking out the end.

• Milk the cover until it is tight to the core andmark the core at the point about a half inchbeyond where the cover ends. This is whereyou will insert the cover into the core.

• Run your wire fid up the core and extract itat this mark. Place the cover into the fid andunravel the fibers for about the last twoinches. Cut a few of the fibers away to makea smoother taper.

• Now pull the cover back into the core andextract it from the point that the wire fidentered the core. Milk the core tight buryingthe cover entirely.

• You are almost done. Whip the core at a point just below the core/cover joint. Usingthe same thread, stitch the taper and whip it onceagain nears its end.

• Here’s the last step. Remove the knot and milkthe cover tight. Then hot knife and whip it at thetail end.

How much exposure of core should you have? I likea total of thirteen to fourteen feet.

Here’s an extra step. Instead of tying those Brummelhooks on, splice them on. Use the same wire fid toinsert the core back into itself after running it throughthe Brummel. Then stitch and whip the splice asbefore. Nice and neat.

Stitch the two cores together.

Extract the core.

Using the wire fid, pull thecover into the core.

*If you plan to make a single continuous sheet,start with less line. Use fifty feet of cover andeighty feet of core. Simply center the core in thecover so that an equal amount is exposed at eachend. Then splice both ends as directed above.

Stitch the splice.