Replacing Halyardsand Sheaves

[Hover212]

Hello.

I just purchased a Bristol 29 and have yet to sail her. The mast was down so I figured that I would make sure everything was good before stepping it. The previous owner had replaced the halyards and complained that they were hard to pull so he had went to a single block pulley on the main. When I looked at the sheaves on the top of the mast I noticed that they were damaged so I went to replace them. Lots of fun! I found that the closest ones that will fit are only rated to take 3/16 rope. Not sure what to do. Is this too small to handle? Should I try to go to wire? The rope would be the easiest but sounds pretty small.

Thanks for any advice
Glenn
PS; I am a newbie sailer

 

[dscribner]

On my boat (Lancer 25) the halyard is made of rope to about 1 foot from the sheaves, then it's SS wire rope. Done properly, the wire and the rope should be interowven at the splice making a really nice connection. I don't know how it's done. Probably Elven magic or something. Look around. There are rigging shops that will supply the like for around $125 per line. It's a lot of money for us newbies, but think of how long they will be with you and it ends up being pretty short money. Also, you can get them color coded so when you have help, you can say "pull on the pretty blue onr" instead of saying "main halyard" or "spinnaker sheet."

 

[Joe]

Easy.... Put an inexpensive cover on a core of hi tech single braid such as "technora" or "amsteel 12" on the part of the halyard you'll handle and cleat. The splice you use when you bury the cover into the core is often called a "cover" or "taper" splice. At the core's end, splice in a "luggage tag" eye. This is a large loop eye that will allow your to remove your shackle if needed. The cost of building a halyard like this will be less than purchasing a Wire to rope halyard and it will be stronger!!!

On my 27 foot Catalina I have 80 ft 3/16" amsteel core covered with 40 ft of 5/16" Samson LS. The taper splice and single braid eye splice are very easy to accomplish.

Look for the splicing instructions on the Samson rope site or call these guys to have them build you one: http://www.apsltd.com/c-1539-splicingservices-halyardssheetsguys.aspx

Cover Splice on 12 Strand

We add a durable polyester cover like Yale's cover-only or Samson Ice to high-strength, low-stretch Ultrex 12, Excel D12, Tech 12, Amsteel 12 or Vectrus 12 so that they can be used as halyards. Where the halyard is cleated, clutched, winched and handled, the cover protects the core from abrasion. The result is minimum weight aloft. You may even choose to cover only the "working area" of the halyard, leaving the bitter end uncovered so there's less tail to deal with when the sail's hoisted. Please specify your length requirements.
To ensure your specific rigging needs are communicated correctly, please call us at 800-729-9767 with your requirements.
APS Part Number: RIGCO12S
Rigging Charge: $28.00 each




12 Strand 'Luggage Tag' Splice

Applies to single braids (Vectrus 12, Ultrex 12 and AmSteel 12) or the uncovered cores of high tech double braids (Crystalyne, V2, Maxibraid Plus, D2 and Warp Speed). Basically, a large eye splice that attaches like a luggage tag to a suitcase handle. Use it to attach your halyard shackle for convenient replacement, or to securely attach a sheet directly to a sail's tack or clew, avoiding the weight of a shackle. Includes Whiplock™. This splice will consume two feet of line, so make sure your order your line long enough.
To ensure your specific rigging needs are communicated correctly, please call us at 800-729-9767 with your requirements.
APS Part Number: RIGEYE12S
Rigging Charge: $12.00 per splice

 

[SamLust]

Just install the right sheaves. There is a company that advertises in the back of Good Old Boat magazine every month that machines them custom out of plastic. The name of course escapes me right now and I'm at work . Something like Zodiac. Do yourself a favor and stick with or switch to all rope halyards.

 

[Ross]

Schaffer sell a great assortment of replacement sheaves also.

 

[CalebD]

A nice assortment of sheaves can be found here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#pulleys-for-wire-rope-and-fibrous-rope/=76qqm4

 

[Steve Dion]

Glenn: Contact Rig-Rite out of Rhode Island. They probably have parts for your specific rig. If you can spec out your old sheaves it may make it easier for them.

 

[Ross]

Check these: http://schaeferhardware.com//SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=244

 

[Joe]

The simple answer is, of course, just replace with larger sheaves... The problem however may not be as simple to solve if the masthead fitting will not accommodate a wider sheave. If it does, you're home free...if not you must conform to the designer's wire/rope halyard requirement created in the days before high tech line, find a larger masthead fitting to accommodate a wider sheave, or be especially cool and embrace the modern technology of dyneema.

 

[tommays]

Zephyrwerks will make you anything and at a good price

 

[Dave Groshong]

I second ZephyrWerks

http://zephyrwerks.com/

Nice stuff, very reasonably priced....

 

[SamLust]

Yeah, Zephyrwerks, thats it . I was real close.