Hi Mike.
I understood the heliopause/sheath to be the point in space where the sun's solar wind is balanced by the "galactic wind" and not a point where the sun's gravity stops.
As for the Voyagers, they will still be under the major influence of the sun's gravity for some time to come, that is until they reach a point between the sun and another star who's gravitational influence becomes gradually stronger than the sun's.
Will they ever leave our system completely? I'm not sure if they have the required escape velocity, but think I did read somewhere that they did. If so they won't return.
I'd be pretty sure over time Jupiter would have played it's part in flinging objects out of the solar system.
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