I'm sure this has been discussed previously but I can't find anything definite. We're sailing a 1985 swing-keel with external halyards that are not led aft to the cockpit but terminate at the base of the mast. The mast head has 4 sheaves and the boat has not had wire halyards in it's known life. I changed three of the sheaves with parts from Catalina direct a few years ago. Now I need to replace the lines and am confused by the options; 1/4", 5/16" or 3/8" as well as length and brand/type. I know many of you have gone through this. Catalina Direct ha a halyard kit sized for "lines led aft" which could work and allow for future upgrades but for some reason they require a "widget" to cap the ends of the lines which seems odd as I would expect I could just cut and melt the end and thus bond the outer and inner line. Any advice?
Halyard length, size and brand or type
- Thread starter Diamondjet
- Start date
I'm in the middle of doing the same thing to my '81. You don't need any widgets. What they're probably referring to is line ends for high tech line that doesn't use a polyester core. The core won't fuse like polyester, so you either need to whiplock them, cut the core short and pull it inside the melted shut cover, or invent widgets. Do yourself a favor and learn to splice and whip. It's not hard. New England ropes has a very good free downloadable booklet about it. Then you can do your running rigging right yourself.
For the lines, you want 1/4". Anything larger will either chafe in the masthead or be too big. You'll also need the masthead sheaves for all line halyards if you don't have them already. The wire sheaves are too small. Choose the best lowest-stretch line you can afford. I'm going with New England VPC, which seems to be a good value for the cruising we do. If you plan to race, ou might want only the best. The normal stuff will stretch too much over the longer length led aft. Depending on how you're going to lead and cleat them, 60' for the main and 65' for the jib halyard should be enough. Add another 3-5' if you plan to splice eyes in the working ends instead of tying bowline knots.
I'm sure others will have more good advice to offer soon.
For the lines, you want 1/4". Anything larger will either chafe in the masthead or be too big. You'll also need the masthead sheaves for all line halyards if you don't have them already. The wire sheaves are too small. Choose the best lowest-stretch line you can afford. I'm going with New England VPC, which seems to be a good value for the cruising we do. If you plan to race, ou might want only the best. The normal stuff will stretch too much over the longer length led aft. Depending on how you're going to lead and cleat them, 60' for the main and 65' for the jib halyard should be enough. Add another 3-5' if you plan to splice eyes in the working ends instead of tying bowline knots.
I'm sure others will have more good advice to offer soon.
I replaced both of my halyards at the same time with the Catalina 22 owners manual recommended lengths of 5/16 and 3/8" rope. Why? because I bought the last of the 5/16" for my main sail and I wanted the strongest line I could fit for the jib halyard since that what I use to raise and lower my mast every time I trailer sail.
ShotgunSlim,
Do you have the CD all external halyard sheaves and did the 5/16" halyard fit? I haven't replaced mine just yet. I might go larger if yours fit.
Do you have the CD all external halyard sheaves and did the 5/16" halyard fit? I haven't replaced mine just yet. I might go larger if yours fit.
My boat is an '86 model and my lines are run internally down the inside of the mast. I replaced both my masthead rope sheaves with the CD DT1215 replacements and they have worked fine for me. The halyards rub just a tad on the exit blocks on the bottom of the mast but I have had no issues with the halyards dragging or hanging up. I think the downhauls I installed my have something to do with that also.
Ah, yes. That's because you only have two sheaves and they're wider than the external sheaves, which require four narrower ones to fit in the masthead.
Anybody else have experience running external halyards larger than 1/4"? What did you do about the sheaves?
I like 5/16 inch, but 3/8 is OK too, unless your boat is set up for wire/rope halyards. We offer pre-measured halyards, either led aft to the cockpit, or left at the mast:
http://shop.catalinaowners.com/cordage/list2.htm?requiredfields=bid&bid=610
Wire rope halyards come as a kit that you cut the ends to length:
http://shop.catalinaowners.com/prod.php?13737
http://shop.catalinaowners.com/cordage/list2.htm?requiredfields=bid&bid=610
Wire rope halyards come as a kit that you cut the ends to length:
http://shop.catalinaowners.com/prod.php?13737