Replacing halyards

May 26, 2015
3
Columbia 35.7 Blue HeronBay
I have recently purchased a 46 year old Columbia 35.7 and have decided to replace both the main and jib halyards. The diameter of the existing wire is 1/6" as measured with a digital micrometer. The only replacements I could find in catalogs are either a 1/8" or a 5/32" wire.

I am tending to shy away from the 1/8" for fear of it jumping off the pulley and jambing. I would like to go with the slightly larger 5/32" but don't know if this is the right decision.

Any thoughts on this from anyone?
 
Last edited:
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
1/8th is too small, I'd go with the 5/32. I've never seen wire labeled as 1/6, but that would be really close to 5/32. My 1969 Columbia 36 has 5/32 jib halyard and 3/16 main.
I wanted to replace mine with all rope, but I found that not only were the masthead sheaves shaped for wire, but the slots the rope would have to feed through would only accept 5/16 th line. 3/8ths would chafe on the sides. I could have used one of the new high tech ropes but I didn't want to spend that much, and I don't like the feel of that small a line. So I stayed with wire.
 
May 26, 2015
3
Columbia 35.7 Blue HeronBay
As all my halyards measured the same wire diameter, that would indicate to me that they were replaced at least once before and to save $$, we're done so with the smallest diameter available for that vessel. As we have the same year vessel and only differing by 1 foot, I am going with size of lines you have on your vessel. Does that make sense?
 
May 26, 2015
3
Columbia 35.7 Blue HeronBay
After pulling all the paperwork on my vessel, I have a correction. My vessel is a 1969 36' Mark II vessel. Is this the same as your vessel?