Regarding C-22 Halyards
For the C-22, unless you switch to internal halyards, I think the wire-rope halyards are superior to all line halyards and the doubled-eye wire with line knotted to it as originally supplied by Catalina. By wire rope I mean the wire and rope spliced together into a relatively smooth progression which helps to avoid that inevitable hang up that occurs on the amst head light and spreaders especially at the knot attaching the rope to the wire as originally equipped. I feel this way because there are two sheaves in the mast truck for both the main and jib halyards. This means the halyards have only at most a ninety-degree turn at each sheave that is good for wire halyards. The wire halyards are very fast for dropping the sails, and I think faster than all line halyards. Also, with wire there is ZERO stretch and ZERO Creep. On my C-22, I installed Yale wire rope that came with 40 feet of 1/8" wire spliced to forty feet of 3/8" low stretch rope. As the mast is about 27 feet (I can't remember exactly), I think you could use a wire rope with 30 feet of 1/8" wire and 30 feet of 5/16" rope as offered by West Marine. However, I think 3/8" rope is better. As the rope on my set up, which leads aft to the cockpit, is only about six feet locked into the rope clutch with the main raised, issues of creep and stretch in that line are nearly non-existent. I do not know if the internal halyard kit offered by Catalina Direct uses two sheaves or just one as I suspect. If it uses one, then all line halyards would be my choice as the then nearly 180-degree turn would be rough on wire halyards. Further, all line internal halyards should do less damage than wire halyards to any light and antenna wires inside the mast. Internal halyards will promote a smoother and better air flow to the main that in my opinion makes their installation valuable. However, before this particular enhancement, I would install a backstay adjuster, a good boom topping lift system, a multiple purchase outhaul, a good vang of at least four to one purchase and get that relatively inexpensive full batten loose footed main from Catalina Direct. If you decide to use the wire rope, you can address any questions you might have regarding their installation to this web site where I or I am sure someone else can advise you.
