Do I need new sheaves for all rope halyard?
- Thread starter hawk232
- Start date
Those sheaves are designed to accommodate both wire and rope. There is no need to change the sheaves because you're going all rope. However, if you feel Mitiempo's comments apply I suggest you remove one for closer inspection. You could polish it with a wire brush, perhaps. The most important thing is you use the correct size rope.... it should fit snugly within the large groove, but not too large that it will ride up the sides if the halyard is pulled to one side or the other.
I would change them too. Yes a rope will run in it, but you can see the 'problem'.
It goes back to a physics adage that doing two jobs, it won't perform either one well. That is, a sheave that is cut to run rope or cable.
It goes back to a physics adage that doing two jobs, it won't perform either one well. That is, a sheave that is cut to run rope or cable.
As Joe says the sheeve is designed to work with line or wire well. And remember this is a Balboa 20, not a Farr 40. The loads are light.
The only funny part will be using a line correctly sized for that wheel, by modern line standards it will be HUGE for that sized boat.
The only funny part will be using a line correctly sized for that wheel, by modern line standards it will be HUGE for that sized boat.
... Unless you can make Amsteel work. It will be the same size as the wire and fit in the wire grove. Much depends on how the lower end is secured (Amsteel doesn't like winches or cleats).
Also L36.com shows a nifty Amsteel to polyester splice that might help. Could be quite econimical.
Also L36.com shows a nifty Amsteel to polyester splice that might help. Could be quite econimical.
"Bringing in the Sheaves..."
When we changed out the old wire halyards to low-stretch line in our boat we only had one of those old double-groove sheaves to change and so we changed it.
If you need new sheaves, contact the guy at
http://www.zephyrwerks.com/Sizing.asp
For as small a load as you'd see on a 20 footer, 1/4" line would be fine - nearly overkill.
Heck, we have used 5/16" for over a decade on our 34 footer.
Loren
When we changed out the old wire halyards to low-stretch line in our boat we only had one of those old double-groove sheaves to change and so we changed it.
If you need new sheaves, contact the guy at
http://www.zephyrwerks.com/Sizing.asp
For as small a load as you'd see on a 20 footer, 1/4" line would be fine - nearly overkill.
Heck, we have used 5/16" for over a decade on our 34 footer.
Loren
thanks for all the replies everyone! I figured it would be better to replace them. I am just not sure it is worth it for all that. for the price of sheaves+line it will cost the same as to have new wire/line halyards made. right now the line is 3/8" and I am going to go down to 5/16 to allow it to go through the blocks that lead to the cockpit a little easier (3/8 is tight in them).
Joe, Jackdaw, & Higgs are absolutely correct. Continue to use them UNLESS they are damaged. Going to new wire to rope halyards solves nothing, costs more, and has no benefit. Change out to rope as you planned.
If I didn't use the jib halyard to raise the mast, I wouldn't have even posted the question because what would have been the worst case scenario? halyard breaks and sail falls?? Not fun but not totally disastrous either. the mast falling on my wife while lifting on the other hand....
thanks for the opinions everyone, guess I have some thinking to do about how willing I am to gamble!!
thanks for the opinions everyone, guess I have some thinking to do about how willing I am to gamble!!
I agree with Tim. These sheaves were NOT designed to have the load of a fully loaded sail and the halyard under that tension. When the halyard is fully raised the cable is in the groove.
Now let's see exactly what the worse case is. You're saying the WIFE will take the conk on the head, not you? ..
We changed out our rope/wire halyards to all line about twelve years ago on our J/36. Since we didn't feel like climbing up the mast to change them, (it's a long way up) we left the sheaves alone. We've been watching the halyards for any signs of wear/chafe/distortion/elongation ever since.My current sheaves aren't "v" sheaves but they are clearly designed to accommodate wire. Will this cause excess chafe if I were to run an all rope/line halyard?
We race 'round the buoys and moderate distances (overnight), and have cruised from CT to ME twice, with trips to MA between. Plenty of wind, wave, wet. Nothing in the way of problems with the halyards or the sheaves. We haven't even end-for-ended them yet. Your axle pin that the sheaves turn on is more likely to wear out from age and wear than anything else. Rough edges on the sheaves would have been caused by the wire -- which you're getting rid of. Any roughness should eventually be worn away, and not be an issue. As stated above, you're not dealing with an 80' mast and huge loads. Making work for yourself is not what sailing is supposed to be about. Switch out the halyards and go sailing.