When replacing halyards is it a good idea to increase the line size. My Cat. 27' manual calls for 5/16" LS Dacron. Should I go up to 3/8" for a stronger line. Any recommendations on a particular line to use?
halyard size
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check sheaves
first thing you need to know is how big the masthead sheaves are and can you fit 3/8 line there or will it bind up?? There is not a great deal in difference between 5/16 and 3/8 dacron line (especially where you're dealing with the loads of a Catalina 27) lighter line makes for less windage..........how about 5/16 Sta Set X which has more strength in the same size diameter??
first thing you need to know is how big the masthead sheaves are and can you fit 3/8 line there or will it bind up?? There is not a great deal in difference between 5/16 and 3/8 dacron line (especially where you're dealing with the loads of a Catalina 27) lighter line makes for less windage..........how about 5/16 Sta Set X which has more strength in the same size diameter??
A halyard has 2 jobs. 1. Most everyone thinks of a halyard as a way to hoist and drop sails. 2. A halyard is a sail control line. To qualify for 1. it simply has to have enough strength to lift the sail and be hand friendly. 2. is a very different issue. As a sail control(shaping)line, it must be able to withstand a serious amount of load AND maintain its length. Stretch is a function of size and construction. Double braid dacron is fine load bearing, but is not able to control stretch without a large size. On the other hand Spectra is vastly stronger and less stretchy even than steel cable and therefore can do a better job than a much larger size of double braid. I would recommend you look at a 1/4" spectra line(tensile strength 7500#) and have it covered by a polyester cover to make it hand friendly. This combination gives you the best of all worlds, very light, very strong, very little stretch, small size(less friction) and user friendly.
A bad hands solution?
One other issue is faced by those of us with arthritic hands. Smaller lines are difficult to grasp, as in my roller furler. I have read (on this forum probably) that you can have an extra thick tail on lines to make thjem easier to handle, but cannot imaging what THAT would cost. So far, my solution is a good pair of padded gloves and a strong willing wife. But the sheave issue would be critical, and that's info you must have. S.
One other issue is faced by those of us with arthritic hands. Smaller lines are difficult to grasp, as in my roller furler. I have read (on this forum probably) that you can have an extra thick tail on lines to make thjem easier to handle, but cannot imaging what THAT would cost. So far, my solution is a good pair of padded gloves and a strong willing wife. But the sheave issue would be critical, and that's info you must have. S.
Make it easy
Tim, I've tried larger line on my Catalina 27. I went back to 5/16 for one reason. The ease of raising the sail from the cockpit while single sailing. The sail goes up quicker and comes down easier, with an occasional pull on the leech. With anything larger, it makes it much more difficult. In fact, I've had to leave the cockpit with anything larger. I agree with Mike C, go with 5/16 Sta Set X. Good luck, good sailing. S/V Zyedco
Tim, I've tried larger line on my Catalina 27. I went back to 5/16 for one reason. The ease of raising the sail from the cockpit while single sailing. The sail goes up quicker and comes down easier, with an occasional pull on the leech. With anything larger, it makes it much more difficult. In fact, I've had to leave the cockpit with anything larger. I agree with Mike C, go with 5/16 Sta Set X. Good luck, good sailing. S/V Zyedco
Randy is right
Better strength notwithstanding, others on this website have attested to their pleasant suprise how much easier it is to raise a line that's thicker. It doesn't make logical sense, but then I'm not sure sailing does either if you listen to powerboaters. In any case, make sure it won't jam the sheeve.
Better strength notwithstanding, others on this website have attested to their pleasant suprise how much easier it is to raise a line that's thicker. It doesn't make logical sense, but then I'm not sure sailing does either if you listen to powerboaters. In any case, make sure it won't jam the sheeve.
tim
the boat i just purchased had oversized halyards, I've just replaced all the halyards and the line stoppers due to overstressing. good idea if you intend selling in the near future.
the boat i just purchased had oversized halyards, I've just replaced all the halyards and the line stoppers due to overstressing. good idea if you intend selling in the near future.
To Sanders
I understand your dilema. You could check with a local rigger for a price on some custom lines or you can do it yourself, it's not hard to learn and do. Yes you can strip back a good quality spectra cored rope because the strength is all in the core. You can also add size to that same line by inserting a small polyester line inside the spectra core for easier handling, in effect having a 3 layer line. You would only do this to the tail where it doesn't pass over the masthead sheeve. Another though for everyone who thinks they need to use too much power to raise sails. If you attach the bitter end of your halyard to the masthead after running it through a block attached to your sails head, you will have effectively doubled your lifting force and as a result have to use 1/2 the force to do the job. Of course, you will need a longer halyard to accomplish this.
I understand your dilema. You could check with a local rigger for a price on some custom lines or you can do it yourself, it's not hard to learn and do. Yes you can strip back a good quality spectra cored rope because the strength is all in the core. You can also add size to that same line by inserting a small polyester line inside the spectra core for easier handling, in effect having a 3 layer line. You would only do this to the tail where it doesn't pass over the masthead sheeve. Another though for everyone who thinks they need to use too much power to raise sails. If you attach the bitter end of your halyard to the masthead after running it through a block attached to your sails head, you will have effectively doubled your lifting force and as a result have to use 1/2 the force to do the job. Of course, you will need a longer halyard to accomplish this.
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