I am getting ready to replace the main and jib halyards on my Hunter 31/1987. Any suggestions on the best way to accomplish this? The exiswting halyards are functional.
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Best way
Do not use duct tape, paperclips or thread. Use fishing line. Square up each end of the old and new lines and sew the fishing line by crisscrossing back and forth. This will give you flexibility to go over the sheaves but strength not to come apart. When sewing, try to pull snug so the line doesn't foul as it bends. Try it at home first by experimenting. Your boat will look 100% better with new lines, trust me. When people ask why things look better, tell them, "I lost 20 pounds, thanks for asking."
Do not use duct tape, paperclips or thread. Use fishing line. Square up each end of the old and new lines and sew the fishing line by crisscrossing back and forth. This will give you flexibility to go over the sheaves but strength not to come apart. When sewing, try to pull snug so the line doesn't foul as it bends. Try it at home first by experimenting. Your boat will look 100% better with new lines, trust me. When people ask why things look better, tell them, "I lost 20 pounds, thanks for asking."
Lots of options
for replacing halyards. If you don't mind cutting off the shackles, the easiest way is to do that and then use a few long stitches to butt the cut end to the bitter end of your new halyard. Draw the stitches up tight, and place a thin layer of tape over the joint. Haul the old halyard up and it'll bring the new one with it. An alternative if you want to save your old halyards in tact is to tie or tape a small messenger line to the bitter end of the old halyard and then pull it up from the shackle side of the halyard. Attach the messenger like to the bitter end of the new halyard and haul the messenger back up. Either way works fine for me. Just be sure not to make the joint of the old and new lines too thick that could have trouble getting over the sheaves at the mast head.
for replacing halyards. If you don't mind cutting off the shackles, the easiest way is to do that and then use a few long stitches to butt the cut end to the bitter end of your new halyard. Draw the stitches up tight, and place a thin layer of tape over the joint. Haul the old halyard up and it'll bring the new one with it. An alternative if you want to save your old halyards in tact is to tie or tape a small messenger line to the bitter end of the old halyard and then pull it up from the shackle side of the halyard. Attach the messenger like to the bitter end of the new halyard and haul the messenger back up. Either way works fine for me. Just be sure not to make the joint of the old and new lines too thick that could have trouble getting over the sheaves at the mast head.
Since you are replacing the existing halyards, you might wish to consider using a smaller diameter line. The new lines today are much stronger than the older double braided. Check out WM and Defenders. The smaller diameter lines remove a lot of the friction problems at the top of the mast.
Cajun Trading
Check out www.cajuntrading.ca for the best price on replacement halyards. I checked out WM, Defender, JSI and a couple of other sites before I replaced the halyards on my 35.5. Cajun Trading had the best price and great service. As suggested by others in this string, I went to a stronger (Spectra) but smaller diameter line. There is a lot less friction making it much easier to raise the main.
Check out www.cajuntrading.ca for the best price on replacement halyards. I checked out WM, Defender, JSI and a couple of other sites before I replaced the halyards on my 35.5. Cajun Trading had the best price and great service. As suggested by others in this string, I went to a stronger (Spectra) but smaller diameter line. There is a lot less friction making it much easier to raise the main.
Large paper clip and some rigging tape.
Jim: The quick, easy and very safe method is to use a large paper clip and a little rigging tape. Remove the shackle make a "s" hook out of the paper clip, hook and tape the halyards together and you will be done before the beer starts to warm. I have used this method several times with great success. I have used the old method of sewing the line together and will never go back.
Jim: The quick, easy and very safe method is to use a large paper clip and a little rigging tape. Remove the shackle make a "s" hook out of the paper clip, hook and tape the halyards together and you will be done before the beer starts to warm. I have used this method several times with great success. I have used the old method of sewing the line together and will never go back.
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