I have a 1975 catalina c27. the halyard lines need to be changed. the ones on it now are part line and part cable. my question is, are the sheeves at the top of the mast only able to use this type of halyard or could i go to a halyard that is all line.
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John J
sheeves
It is totally dependent on the sheeve size. And of course you know the easy way to find that out, send your significant other to the top to check them out. The sheeve does not know if it is rope or wire, it only knows what diameter it can hold.
It is totally dependent on the sheeve size. And of course you know the easy way to find that out, send your significant other to the top to check them out. The sheeve does not know if it is rope or wire, it only knows what diameter it can hold.
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Joe
halyard replacement
I just converted my '77 Cat 27 to all rope halyards. The Unofficial Catalina 27 website provided me with specs and a drawing of the internal halyard masthead assembly. http://www.geocities.com/catalina+27/ The masthead sheaves have a round channel that is .261 inches wide and .250 inches deep. This will accommodate up to 1/4 inch diam halyard. I inspected the sheaves visually, through my binoculars, comparing them with the drawing, thus avoiding a trip up the mast. A wire only sheave would have a vee shaped channel. (the vee shape tends to compress the rope unnaturally) Mine did not, they were exactly like the drawing. So... Building a 1/4" halyard using a high tech rope such as New England V-100, Samson Ultra-tech or Yale Crystalline is one option. I found that the 1/4" size was not as comfortable as I like, especially when wet or without gloves. In addition, the rope is very expensive. Another option is to settle for less tensile strength with a more affordable product like New England Sta-Set or Samson XLS. Not my choice. An option used by racers is take high tech double braid such as Samson Warpspeed and strip the cover up to the area where the stoppers and winches are used. This is called a tapered halyard. Warpspeed is very strong and a good wire to rope replacement. An 85' x 3/8" (core is 1/4") would cost about $135 (online from Annapolis Performance Sailing) 5/16 (3/16 core) would be about $100. I chose to build a tapered halyard, not by stripping the cover of an expensive rope, but by replacing the core of the less expensive Samson XLS with a very strong single braid called Tech 12.(Technora) The result is an 85'x 3/16 Tech 12 core with 50'x 5/16 Samson XLS cover. I shopped around and chose to mail order the rope from Annapolis Performance Sailing. www.apsltd.com With shipping the cost was about $83. Notes regarding this project: You will find splicing information for any type of cordage you buy on the manufacturer's website. Samson is www.theamericangroup.com. Because of the sheave restrictions either the eyesplice or the taper must be performed on the boat after the core is run throught the mast, unless you go up the mast and try to feed the covered end by hand. To replace the halyard, tape a messenger (3/16 clothesline works well) to the old wire halyard when removing, then tape the new halyard to the messenger. If the wire to rope is spliced, no problem. Mine however, was not. Can you believe the rope was eyespliced to a swaged, thimbaled, wire loop! I had to remove the exit block to get the halyard out. Finally, since the new halyard is inconvenient to remove to protect the core from the sun, I attach a messenger to the shackle and run the core back into the mast for storage. Good Luck,,,, it's an excellent project.
I just converted my '77 Cat 27 to all rope halyards. The Unofficial Catalina 27 website provided me with specs and a drawing of the internal halyard masthead assembly. http://www.geocities.com/catalina+27/ The masthead sheaves have a round channel that is .261 inches wide and .250 inches deep. This will accommodate up to 1/4 inch diam halyard. I inspected the sheaves visually, through my binoculars, comparing them with the drawing, thus avoiding a trip up the mast. A wire only sheave would have a vee shaped channel. (the vee shape tends to compress the rope unnaturally) Mine did not, they were exactly like the drawing. So... Building a 1/4" halyard using a high tech rope such as New England V-100, Samson Ultra-tech or Yale Crystalline is one option. I found that the 1/4" size was not as comfortable as I like, especially when wet or without gloves. In addition, the rope is very expensive. Another option is to settle for less tensile strength with a more affordable product like New England Sta-Set or Samson XLS. Not my choice. An option used by racers is take high tech double braid such as Samson Warpspeed and strip the cover up to the area where the stoppers and winches are used. This is called a tapered halyard. Warpspeed is very strong and a good wire to rope replacement. An 85' x 3/8" (core is 1/4") would cost about $135 (online from Annapolis Performance Sailing) 5/16 (3/16 core) would be about $100. I chose to build a tapered halyard, not by stripping the cover of an expensive rope, but by replacing the core of the less expensive Samson XLS with a very strong single braid called Tech 12.(Technora) The result is an 85'x 3/16 Tech 12 core with 50'x 5/16 Samson XLS cover. I shopped around and chose to mail order the rope from Annapolis Performance Sailing. www.apsltd.com With shipping the cost was about $83. Notes regarding this project: You will find splicing information for any type of cordage you buy on the manufacturer's website. Samson is www.theamericangroup.com. Because of the sheave restrictions either the eyesplice or the taper must be performed on the boat after the core is run throught the mast, unless you go up the mast and try to feed the covered end by hand. To replace the halyard, tape a messenger (3/16 clothesline works well) to the old wire halyard when removing, then tape the new halyard to the messenger. If the wire to rope is spliced, no problem. Mine however, was not. Can you believe the rope was eyespliced to a swaged, thimbaled, wire loop! I had to remove the exit block to get the halyard out. Finally, since the new halyard is inconvenient to remove to protect the core from the sun, I attach a messenger to the shackle and run the core back into the mast for storage. Good Luck,,,, it's an excellent project.
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Joe
Masthead sheave...cont.
To answer your question more simply. If the sheave channel is round it will take wire or rope. If the sheave channel is vee shaped it will take only wire. If it is a rope sheave, a good probability, it will take no larger than 1/4" (6 mm) diam rope. A larger sheave to accommodate larger rope will probably not fit in the masthead. Replacement wire to rope halyards for Catalina 27 are available from Catalina Yachts for $55 std rig, $58 tall rig.
To answer your question more simply. If the sheave channel is round it will take wire or rope. If the sheave channel is vee shaped it will take only wire. If it is a rope sheave, a good probability, it will take no larger than 1/4" (6 mm) diam rope. A larger sheave to accommodate larger rope will probably not fit in the masthead. Replacement wire to rope halyards for Catalina 27 are available from Catalina Yachts for $55 std rig, $58 tall rig.
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GARRY @ S/V TASHTEGO
Mast Sheaves
I have replaced the mast sheaves on TASHTEGO with rope sheaves from Catalina Direct <www.catalinadirect.com>. These sheaves take a larger size than the skinny wire/1/4 inch rope sheaves that were on the mast. I also got new rope halyards from them as well. Not a difficult task with the mast down but tricky (read impossible) with it up.
I have replaced the mast sheaves on TASHTEGO with rope sheaves from Catalina Direct <www.catalinadirect.com>. These sheaves take a larger size than the skinny wire/1/4 inch rope sheaves that were on the mast. I also got new rope halyards from them as well. Not a difficult task with the mast down but tricky (read impossible) with it up.
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Peter Hine
I replaced wire w/rope on my '74
My '74 C27 (#1151) needed new halyards about 5 years ago. I replaced the wire/rope combo ones with all rope 3/8" (WestMarine Stay Set) halyards. Used that about 3 years. It works but found that 3/8" is really too wide, and causes lots of friction at masthead. Recently replaced the 3/8" with 5/16" West Marine Stay Set X, which has the same strength (but less stretch) than the 3/8". 5/16" works great in the original sheaves designed for wire (or wire/rope). All rope is the only way to go if you want halyards led aft to the cockpit, or want the jib to drop all the way to the deck! Good luck!
My '74 C27 (#1151) needed new halyards about 5 years ago. I replaced the wire/rope combo ones with all rope 3/8" (WestMarine Stay Set) halyards. Used that about 3 years. It works but found that 3/8" is really too wide, and causes lots of friction at masthead. Recently replaced the 3/8" with 5/16" West Marine Stay Set X, which has the same strength (but less stretch) than the 3/8". 5/16" works great in the original sheaves designed for wire (or wire/rope). All rope is the only way to go if you want halyards led aft to the cockpit, or want the jib to drop all the way to the deck! Good luck!
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Joe
New England Sta-Set X
I have used New England (not West Marine) Sta-SetX. It's a good value for strength, and an adequate substitute for wire to rope. However I found it difficult to splice because of it's parallel core constuction (see West Catalogue) and the cover tended to "fuzz up" a bit too easily when worked. I suggest checking Samson and Yale. Boat U/S carries Yale, other chandleries carry Samson, including most performance oriented stores. Try Samson XLS or XLS Extra for the 5/16 substitute, still plenty of strength. I am still concerned about running 5/16 in the stock sheave, but if others have had success, so be it.
I have used New England (not West Marine) Sta-SetX. It's a good value for strength, and an adequate substitute for wire to rope. However I found it difficult to splice because of it's parallel core constuction (see West Catalogue) and the cover tended to "fuzz up" a bit too easily when worked. I suggest checking Samson and Yale. Boat U/S carries Yale, other chandleries carry Samson, including most performance oriented stores. Try Samson XLS or XLS Extra for the 5/16 substitute, still plenty of strength. I am still concerned about running 5/16 in the stock sheave, but if others have had success, so be it.
T
Tom Kestler
Masthead Sheaves
I changed my halyards last spring. Like you, I considered all line halyards, but they do not work on my 1975 C27. The sheaves only take wire.
I changed my halyards last spring. Like you, I considered all line halyards, but they do not work on my 1975 C27. The sheaves only take wire.
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Bob Horvath
1975 catalina c27 sheeves
My 1975 Catalina has wire sheeves but I think the real answer depends upon your rig. My rig will not allow line through the masthead because of clearance problems, while a neighbor's masthead has no such clearance problems. If you can pull line out through your mast head, I would think you could use all line. If you go with all line, I suggest you go with top quality minimum stretch line otherwise you will have sail sag when the wind pipes up.
My 1975 Catalina has wire sheeves but I think the real answer depends upon your rig. My rig will not allow line through the masthead because of clearance problems, while a neighbor's masthead has no such clearance problems. If you can pull line out through your mast head, I would think you could use all line. If you go with all line, I suggest you go with top quality minimum stretch line otherwise you will have sail sag when the wind pipes up.
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