hope everyone had happy holidays! The mast from my boat is on the ground! yay! I was looking to get new halyards (and longer for single handing) halyards for the jib, topping and main? would anyone have a source that's not as pricey as "marine" type stores? I don't know how to do the spliceing so i suppose i'll be paying more anyway. thanks all in advance! Denise
- Status
I did them myself and it wasn't that difficult
I was in the same place last year. I had two halyards that were junk but didn't want to pay $100.00 per halyard to have them replaced. Here is what I did. 1. Went to a marine store and found the line I wanted to use. In my case a Hunter 22. I used 3/8 inch line. If I did it over i would go up one size. Just easier to handle. I purchased a fid for 3/8 line. About $7.00 2. Went on Ebay and found a guy who would sell me the line for half of the marine stores cost. He has an ebay store and sells all kinds of Samson quality line. This is designed for sailboats and don't skimp on the quality. I used Yacht Braid. I think the breaking strength is around 4000 pounds for 3/8. I bought 150 feet of line from him for about $50.00 delivered. 3. The boaters world store here has a line splicing class. I found it helpful but what was most helpful was the line manufacturers web site. It had all the instructions there. I did a couple of test splices and after about three I got pretty good. Try Samson and New England Rope web sites. they both have instructions. I Did the main and jib halyards for about $75.00 all said and done. They are very nice looking and work very well. They look professional and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. If you get stuck my email is jhiebl@everestkc.net. Good Luck Jim
I was in the same place last year. I had two halyards that were junk but didn't want to pay $100.00 per halyard to have them replaced. Here is what I did. 1. Went to a marine store and found the line I wanted to use. In my case a Hunter 22. I used 3/8 inch line. If I did it over i would go up one size. Just easier to handle. I purchased a fid for 3/8 line. About $7.00 2. Went on Ebay and found a guy who would sell me the line for half of the marine stores cost. He has an ebay store and sells all kinds of Samson quality line. This is designed for sailboats and don't skimp on the quality. I used Yacht Braid. I think the breaking strength is around 4000 pounds for 3/8. I bought 150 feet of line from him for about $50.00 delivered. 3. The boaters world store here has a line splicing class. I found it helpful but what was most helpful was the line manufacturers web site. It had all the instructions there. I did a couple of test splices and after about three I got pretty good. Try Samson and New England Rope web sites. they both have instructions. I Did the main and jib halyards for about $75.00 all said and done. They are very nice looking and work very well. They look professional and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. If you get stuck my email is jhiebl@everestkc.net. Good Luck Jim
I forgot!!
DO NOT TAKE THE OLD HALYARDS OUT YET!!! Please leave them in the mast. Make a measurement with a tape measure and error to plus. It is easier to cut line off than put it back on! When you have your new halyards ready to go use the old ones to feed the new ones into the mast. I taped the new halyard to the old and pulled it through. Take your time when the tape goes over the sheeve in the masthead. By the way, I reused my snap shackles from my old halyards, saved about $20.00 per halyard. Jim
DO NOT TAKE THE OLD HALYARDS OUT YET!!! Please leave them in the mast. Make a measurement with a tape measure and error to plus. It is easier to cut line off than put it back on! When you have your new halyards ready to go use the old ones to feed the new ones into the mast. I taped the new halyard to the old and pulled it through. Take your time when the tape goes over the sheeve in the masthead. By the way, I reused my snap shackles from my old halyards, saved about $20.00 per halyard. Jim
Halyards
Denise, e-bay is a good scource for picking up line at a reasonable price if you know what you want and are patient. As for splicing I wouldn't worry about it. Use a Buntline hitch or a bowline to secure your Shackles, it does the job, plus in a year or so as your halyard begins to wear in the place where it crosses the sheave at the masthead you can very easily shorten it. There are some discussions in the archives I think about this. Dave h23 "Wind Dreamer"
Denise, e-bay is a good scource for picking up line at a reasonable price if you know what you want and are patient. As for splicing I wouldn't worry about it. Use a Buntline hitch or a bowline to secure your Shackles, it does the job, plus in a year or so as your halyard begins to wear in the place where it crosses the sheave at the masthead you can very easily shorten it. There are some discussions in the archives I think about this. Dave h23 "Wind Dreamer"
halyard splicing
Agree with Dave about the halyard splicing. Besides the convenience of using a simple, secure knot such as a buntline hitch, there is probably no strength to be gained from splicing since the sharp bend around the shackle bail will almost certainly be the strength limiting factor, not the knot. Unless, of course, you were to splice the halyard around a relatively large thimble, rather than directly to the shackle, which few if any sailors do because it is unsightly and adds to the risk of being hit in the head by a swinging halyard. Flying Dutchman
Agree with Dave about the halyard splicing. Besides the convenience of using a simple, secure knot such as a buntline hitch, there is probably no strength to be gained from splicing since the sharp bend around the shackle bail will almost certainly be the strength limiting factor, not the knot. Unless, of course, you were to splice the halyard around a relatively large thimble, rather than directly to the shackle, which few if any sailors do because it is unsightly and adds to the risk of being hit in the head by a swinging halyard. Flying Dutchman
Second vote for eBay...
You will find guys on eBay that will sell you halyards comple with splices and shackles. When your new halyards arive: Cut the shackle off your old halyard and sew the bitter end of your new halyard to the end of your old halyard with a nice big needle and dental floss before you tape them together. You should still haul slowly and carefully on them as you bring the joint over the sheeves but the dental floss will give you added insurance. Use the same proceedure for replacing lines in your boom.
You will find guys on eBay that will sell you halyards comple with splices and shackles. When your new halyards arive: Cut the shackle off your old halyard and sew the bitter end of your new halyard to the end of your old halyard with a nice big needle and dental floss before you tape them together. You should still haul slowly and carefully on them as you bring the joint over the sheeves but the dental floss will give you added insurance. Use the same proceedure for replacing lines in your boom.
3 rd vote
-- as with the others, I bought New England line on eBay for about 1/2 price of WM. Just learned to do the eye splice and it turned out ok -- use their web sight to learn how to splice.
-- as with the others, I bought New England line on eBay for about 1/2 price of WM. Just learned to do the eye splice and it turned out ok -- use their web sight to learn how to splice.
Me Too, for ebay.....
.....and there's an ebay store that you can contact with your specs. 1) If you use a long eye splice, you can change shackles or ends without cutting the halyard. 2) The info about a knot comprimising the strength of a line is incorrect. The very best you can hope for is 75 to 80% with the very best knots, but typically it is more often 50% of line strength. A splice will get you very close to 95%+ My suggetion, learn how to splice, its a great skill to learn in winter and save money at the same time. Better still, switch to spectra halyards. They are stronger and lighter so you can down size and save money, PLUS 12 strand is soooo easy to splice.
.....and there's an ebay store that you can contact with your specs. 1) If you use a long eye splice, you can change shackles or ends without cutting the halyard. 2) The info about a knot comprimising the strength of a line is incorrect. The very best you can hope for is 75 to 80% with the very best knots, but typically it is more often 50% of line strength. A splice will get you very close to 95%+ My suggetion, learn how to splice, its a great skill to learn in winter and save money at the same time. Better still, switch to spectra halyards. They are stronger and lighter so you can down size and save money, PLUS 12 strand is soooo easy to splice.
ok!
thanks everyone!. one thing though.. how much longer should get the halyards to reach the cockpit? seems to me another 25ft would be plenty? thanks for help! Denise
thanks everyone!. one thing though.. how much longer should get the halyards to reach the cockpit? seems to me another 25ft would be plenty? thanks for help! Denise
100 feet
You have a 33' mast. Up and down plus plenty to lead to the cockpit and you are going to be happy with about 100' of halyard.
You have a 33' mast. Up and down plus plenty to lead to the cockpit and you are going to be happy with about 100' of halyard.
Each...
I bought 100' lengths for both. That will be more than you need. You can always wrap, cut and burn them a little shorter after you have your lines run and are sure of the length that you need. Be sure you don't cut them with the sails up! That would be a bad thing! The extra lengths can work for fenders or what ever.
I bought 100' lengths for both. That will be more than you need. You can always wrap, cut and burn them a little shorter after you have your lines run and are sure of the length that you need. Be sure you don't cut them with the sails up! That would be a bad thing! The extra lengths can work for fenders or what ever.
- Status