Mast Line Size

Sailboat.Sequoyah

Sailboat.Sequoyah

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Apr 11, 2018
71
Hunter 340 Dowry Creek, NC
Sequoyah is a '99 340 with Selden mast furling. There is no spinnaker, but there is a leader cord holding the place of a spinnaker halyard. I have in mind putting a double braided line there in order to have an extra halyard for various housekeeping purposes, e.g. lifting a tender onto the deck or climbing the mast using an ascender.

My question is this: What is the maximum line size the standard masthead hardware and pathway can accept? 1/2", 5/8"? A larger one would be better for the mast climbing use, and I thought that if someone here already knows it could save some time and trouble.

Thanks ...
 
sail sfbay

sail sfbay

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Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Owner's Manual page 46 specifies a 3/8" Samson XLS line for a spinnaker halyard, same diameter as jib and main halyards except these are XLS Extra. In my experience 3/8" high breaking strength and stiffness (low stretch) like Sampson XLS Extra or XLS Extra T (,ay be replaced with XLS3), is fine for mast climbing but suggest hooking into an equivalent back-up safety line, such as another halyard or topping lift, when climbing. That is what I use on my Hunter 31 halyards and topping lift. Same for my Hunbter 386 and 46 topping lift.

The manual also specifies a Z Spar 275 spinnaker halyard, which may indicate what the largest diameter line the masthead sheave can handle. If you feel more comfortable with a larger diamter line, buy one then tape, sew or hook it to the end to your tag line (leader cord) and try pulling it through. If the halyard runs free then you are good to go.

Hunter_340_68030594.pdf (sailboatowners.com)
 

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