This would limit how much you could sheet in the main...once you reach block to block you'll still have the pigtail between upper block & boopm...so sail would not be as tightly sheeted.

There is no difference in amount of purchase, so sheeting 8 feet of line generates 1 foot of boom movement with either setup.

Your question was "amount of line to sheet in"...if you start from fully eased and go to fully sheeted (main flat)...then yes, a strop/pigtail will decrease the line needed...because you're getting a head start...upper block already the strop length off the boom. Becareful not to set the strop too long...as you'll not be able to sheet in enough. Also, if hte aim is to trim off some extra mainsheet. becareful not to go too far and limit how much ease out you can do.


My new boom has an internal cascade 9:1 setup. It is the best main sheet I've ever experienced. The efficiency of the cascade over a traditional triple/quad block setup is remarkable. But, it is limited in how far out it can be eased (dictated by length of the boom and the internal moving block..not a 1:1 relationship either). The block haning off the boom travels towards the boom while sheeting, and reaches a limit at the boom...thus limiting maximum sheet in. This takes careful tuning on the setup to arrive at the highest main tension needed.

Mike.