Have any Mac owners replaced their standing rigging with Amsteel (a Samson Rope Company form of Dyneema). I am in the process of fabbing up lifelines out of 3/8 grey Amsteel. I am next replacing the backstay with 3/16 Amsteel. I already have a foremost stay for my double headstay rig made out of Amsteel as well.
The strength factor is about 10:1, which means you can replace your SS wire with an Amsteel line 1/10 the diameter, making for a strange-looking standing rig. For instance, my lifeline replacement is wildly overkill, but I want the diameter to be nice on the hands. My backstay will be quite small, as it only bends the mast above the hounds in the normal, fractional rig. I will replace my sidestays with something like 3/16, reducing weight aloft greatly.
Amsteel is cheaper per foot than SSteel wire. It is way lighter, does not kink, and is easily formed into an eye by pulling its tail inside a particular length determined by the diameter. The Amsteel product is a class 2, 12 strand which makes it act like a Chinese fingercuff. If you "scrunch" it up, the hollow center opens up for easy passage of a loop. I handsew mine at the loop and tail to assure it stays in place, per the instructions online at Samson rope's website.
The blue color is stronger, the color comes off on your hands as you work it, and it costs a little more, so grey Amsteel is what I am buying. Pictures to come......
The strength factor is about 10:1, which means you can replace your SS wire with an Amsteel line 1/10 the diameter, making for a strange-looking standing rig. For instance, my lifeline replacement is wildly overkill, but I want the diameter to be nice on the hands. My backstay will be quite small, as it only bends the mast above the hounds in the normal, fractional rig. I will replace my sidestays with something like 3/16, reducing weight aloft greatly.
Amsteel is cheaper per foot than SSteel wire. It is way lighter, does not kink, and is easily formed into an eye by pulling its tail inside a particular length determined by the diameter. The Amsteel product is a class 2, 12 strand which makes it act like a Chinese fingercuff. If you "scrunch" it up, the hollow center opens up for easy passage of a loop. I handsew mine at the loop and tail to assure it stays in place, per the instructions online at Samson rope's website.
The blue color is stronger, the color comes off on your hands as you work it, and it costs a little more, so grey Amsteel is what I am buying. Pictures to come......
