H37C Halyards

[Ed Schenck]

For those of us sailing old cruising boats. Any reason to worry about stretch in the halyards? I'd like to replace my 7/16" halyards with 3/8" Sampson from our SBO store. But I do not want to spend $2.00 a foot or more for a non-stretch racing halyard.

My current yankee(jib) and main halyards are ten year old NE Sta-Set X I think. It seems to be higher strength than Sampson, 5300# vs. 3700# in 3/8". Is that something to be concerned about?

First picture is of a halyard that lives on the toerail mostly(staysail). The exposed part on right has no color left after ten years. The second picture is of my jib sheets, NE Sta-Set, also ten years old. Color is good and no sign of chafe. And these are exposed all the time. Hard to figure.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ed, I am sure I made a big mistake when I bought StaySet for my main halyard. Not so bad for the jib halyard. At the time, folks were poo-pooing StaySet X because of the hand and stiffness. I still understand it's not a favored choice.

If I had to do it again, I'd get a lower stretch Sampson line. The reason is that in our strong winds here the halyard strecthes and after I use the cunningham, the scallops keep coming back. Stretches even on a reefed main.

 

[Ed A]

No stretch is way better because of the reasons above, Just when youwant to have everything tight and flat the line streches and you have scollops and way to much draft. Spend the money you will like it alot more.

 

[Ed Schenck]

What money Ed? Those lines that were drying after a wash and an overnight in a softener feel good. And they don't look too bad. I haven't done the jib and main halyards yet. Maybe I can get a couple more seasons out of them.

My other thought was to buy a big reel of a good rope. Then splice in my old shackles. And I will stay with shackles, not going to tie on my halyards. I think I can get a decent rope on a 600 foot reel for about $1.00 a foot.

 

[Blaise]

I put Vectran 10mm halyards on Midnight Sun five years ago. They are very light, incredibly strong ( around 15000 lbs breaking strength if memory serves me) and have NO stretch. They were about $5 a foot.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Five a foot!? So four halyards times 110' each times $5.00 equals $2200. ! ! I think I will live with some stretch.

Here's a real deal I think: 3/8" Sta-Set X for $0.63 a foot.
http://www.fortune3.com/dms/Bulk_Rope-NEW_ENGLAND_ROPES_STA_SET_X_POLYESTER_BRAID.html

 

[Blaise]

Ed,
I guess when I figure they will be good for at least ten years, it is only about 200 bucks a year. I spend 10-12k on sails every year. When the racing addiction hits, you have to feed the addiction. Cheaper than crack.

 

[Seattle Scott]

give away "old" sails?

Ed,
I guess when I figure they will be good for at least ten years, it is only about 200 bucks a year. I spend 10-12k on sails every year. When the racing addiction hits, you have to feed the addiction. Cheaper than crack.

Blaise, what do you do with the sails you replaced?

 

[Seattle Scott]

Ed, I went down to 3/8th on the staysail sheet. it is too small, as in hard on the hands. Stay with the 7/16 for the halyards.

 

[Blaise]

My old sails are either sold to the local used sails guys, or just put in the dumpster. The problem with a lot of aramid fiber sails, is that they are perfect right up to the time they are confetti. I once had a Technora genoa fail so spectacularily, that only the three corners remained. It was three months old. Great material for a main. For a jib, not so good.

 

[Ed Schenck]

That surprises me Scott. I would not think that you would notice a difference of 1/16". All my running rigging is 7/16" so I have nothing for comparison. Blaise went to 3/8" on his "racing" sloop for halyards at least. I suppose those big genoas require 7/16" though.