I am getting ready to replace my main and jib halyard. I am looking for some suggestions on how to do this. Specificly, What size and type of line should I use for the messenger? Also, what is the best way of attaching the messenger to the new halyard to prevent hang-ups at the sheaves, etc. Thanks Bill
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No messenger required!
Bill: Where is St. Inigoes? If you look in the Photo Forum you can see a photo post that I did on the halyard replacement. We have done it different ways but using a large paper clip and rigging tape is the easiest. When we did ours I sewed them together. This is just a pain in the ass but works fine. We ordered our lines with snap shackles. I would not do this again. I would go with a locking halyard fitting (do not know the technical name for them). We used Sta-set, which I think is just fine. Our main is 1/2" Sta-Setx (not necessary, 7/16" Sta-set would be better). So basically you just cut the shackles off the ends of the old lines, hook them together by whatever means you decide upon. Wrap the two bitter ends with a little rigging tape and pull them through. Remove the tape and you are done.
Bill: Where is St. Inigoes? If you look in the Photo Forum you can see a photo post that I did on the halyard replacement. We have done it different ways but using a large paper clip and rigging tape is the easiest. When we did ours I sewed them together. This is just a pain in the ass but works fine. We ordered our lines with snap shackles. I would not do this again. I would go with a locking halyard fitting (do not know the technical name for them). We used Sta-set, which I think is just fine. Our main is 1/2" Sta-Setx (not necessary, 7/16" Sta-set would be better). So basically you just cut the shackles off the ends of the old lines, hook them together by whatever means you decide upon. Wrap the two bitter ends with a little rigging tape and pull them through. Remove the tape and you are done.
J
Jim
Do you have a splice with schakle
If you are not saving your old halyard with a spiced on schackle, all you have to do is cut off the splice and schackle and sew the bitter end of the new halyard to where you cut off the splice, put a turn of tape around the joint [prevent from hanging up] and pull it threw. If you are going to save the splice and schackle, [I don't know why you would] and the keep it intact, then you will have to use a messenger and sew it on as indicated above. I use a cheap woven clothes line. You will need twice the length of the mast. This is twice the work as you have to make two joints, one the messenger to the old halyard and another, the messenger to the new halyard. The type of line you want is basically low stretch line such as dacron braid. There are many to choose from depending on how much you want to spend and your boat size. Check with Boat U.S. or West Marine. Did you consider changing your line end for end? If the wear is at the end of the line it is possible to cut off that part if it is long enough or turn it end for end.
If you are not saving your old halyard with a spiced on schackle, all you have to do is cut off the splice and schackle and sew the bitter end of the new halyard to where you cut off the splice, put a turn of tape around the joint [prevent from hanging up] and pull it threw. If you are going to save the splice and schackle, [I don't know why you would] and the keep it intact, then you will have to use a messenger and sew it on as indicated above. I use a cheap woven clothes line. You will need twice the length of the mast. This is twice the work as you have to make two joints, one the messenger to the old halyard and another, the messenger to the new halyard. The type of line you want is basically low stretch line such as dacron braid. There are many to choose from depending on how much you want to spend and your boat size. Check with Boat U.S. or West Marine. Did you consider changing your line end for end? If the wear is at the end of the line it is possible to cut off that part if it is long enough or turn it end for end.
R
Ron Hughes
Reeving eyes for halyard replacement
Bill, I would suggest that you sew a stout but not large line, something like flag halyard, to your old running rigging and remove it leaving your new messenger line in its place. Now comes the fun part: A very elegant way to finish the bitter end of your new halyard, that in the process creates the easiest way to re-reeve it as well, is to splice a reeving eye into its bitter end. A reeving eye simply put, is an eye splice formed with the cover only. No core. Though not equal in strength to a standard eye-splice, it serves its purposes well as you will soon see. In double braid or sta-set, follow standard directions (like those found in Master Rigger Brion Toss' tome "The Rigger's Apprentice") for a standard eye splice, but remove enough of the core to allow the forming of a an eye made of cover only. Be sure to feather the core and cover and to overlap them nicely after forming your eye. Then secure your new splice with a proper seizing. This will leave you with an eye almost exactly the same diameter as the rope itself that slips easily through your sheave boxes. You can now use your reeving eye as a secure attachment point for your messenger line allowing you to reeve and unreeve your line at your pleasure. You can even safely and easily unrig your halyard(s) after sailing to keep expensive line from being exposed to the sun during extended periods away from the boat. The reeving eye gives a neat, useful finish to all of your running rigging, plus it's a great "Salty
Bill, I would suggest that you sew a stout but not large line, something like flag halyard, to your old running rigging and remove it leaving your new messenger line in its place. Now comes the fun part: A very elegant way to finish the bitter end of your new halyard, that in the process creates the easiest way to re-reeve it as well, is to splice a reeving eye into its bitter end. A reeving eye simply put, is an eye splice formed with the cover only. No core. Though not equal in strength to a standard eye-splice, it serves its purposes well as you will soon see. In double braid or sta-set, follow standard directions (like those found in Master Rigger Brion Toss' tome "The Rigger's Apprentice") for a standard eye splice, but remove enough of the core to allow the forming of a an eye made of cover only. Be sure to feather the core and cover and to overlap them nicely after forming your eye. Then secure your new splice with a proper seizing. This will leave you with an eye almost exactly the same diameter as the rope itself that slips easily through your sheave boxes. You can now use your reeving eye as a secure attachment point for your messenger line allowing you to reeve and unreeve your line at your pleasure. You can even safely and easily unrig your halyard(s) after sailing to keep expensive line from being exposed to the sun during extended periods away from the boat. The reeving eye gives a neat, useful finish to all of your running rigging, plus it's a great "Salty
B
Bill O'Donovan
The voice of experience
Having gotten this wrong before, to my great aggravation, here's what works. Use the exact same line size as the halyard. Trim or melt the two bitter ends as flat and true as possible. Sew the ends together with fishing line, criss crossing as you go and working your way up a half inch to give it strength but flexibility. Takes five minutes but will provide peace of mind. Test the sewing by pulling snugly and around a winch to simulate a 90-degree at the sheeve. Then go for it. Have a beer for me when you're done, for it's a fine accomplishment. Merry Christmas.
Having gotten this wrong before, to my great aggravation, here's what works. Use the exact same line size as the halyard. Trim or melt the two bitter ends as flat and true as possible. Sew the ends together with fishing line, criss crossing as you go and working your way up a half inch to give it strength but flexibility. Takes five minutes but will provide peace of mind. Test the sewing by pulling snugly and around a winch to simulate a 90-degree at the sheeve. Then go for it. Have a beer for me when you're done, for it's a fine accomplishment. Merry Christmas.
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