Halyard choices

[guidera48]

I faught the jib all morning long. Finally got it out. The old furler extrusions were damaged at the joints and the sail would not come out. It looks like I may have to take the grinder to the furler hub. Not a chance those 6 screws will come out after 30 years.

Getting ready to order new lines. I see that the P O used twisted rope for the halyards. Any reason for that?? other that he was a cheap scate?? I am looking at 7/16 braided for main and jib and 3/8 braided for the stay sail. Is that correct?? Thanks

 

[Warren Milberg]

If I recall correctly, Lynn and Larry Pardey always used 3-strand twisted Dacron for their running rigging. Their reasoning was that it was available everywhere and very easy to splice. Perhaps your PO had the same thoughts?

 

[Seattle Scott]

Jose, go with 7/16 on the staysail also

because easier to handle.
Went down from 7/16 to 3/8 on the staysail sheet because the 7/16 seemed too much weight in light air. the 3/8th is too small to grab when sheeting in. Same will hold true for the halyard. It is easier to be pulling on 7/16 to raise the sail than 3/8.

 

[stephen Penny]

Re: Jose, go with 7/16 on the staysail also

The local rigger is spoke to yesterday recommended 3/8" Sampson XLS Extra for the jib and main halyards. He will replace my halyards and my other running rigging, excluding sheets that I just did on my own with all the appropriate splicing. Fortunately his shop is in the marina where the boat is berthed and his cost is cheaper that I can do on my own.

 

[rardiH36]

I replaced my (maybe still original?) 1/2" mainsail halyard with 3/8" low stretch Vectran type line (that was offered on a special closeout sale at West Marine for less than the XLS-Extra and STA-Set X types). I have no trouble with the feel of smaller width. Consider that this is a line which you most often use only once per outing. Actually the sail almost flies up the mast with the newer line compared to the old stiff thick previous line.

Another advantage of the smaller width is that it might be better a better match for the usually small halyard winches. In my case, with 1/2" line I could barely get three wraps on the halyard winch. Now 4 wraps easy. This is important for me since the friction coating of the winch drum has worn quite smooth in 30 years, and also its not a self tailing model. With 4 wraps, only a little pull pressure on the tail is enough to prevent the line from slipping on the drum.

The Hunter rigging specification sheet that came with my boat specified 1/2" for the halyards. But that specification was probably drafted in 1979. I'm pretty sure that the strength/stretch of a 2010's 3/8" basic grade line is better than most 1/2" grades in 1979.

But even with the new low stretch line, in strong wind I still would get scallops between the slugs along the luff at the bottom 1/3 of the main sail. Solved this by adding attach points on the sail for a cunningham.