rigging

[redhead78]

Hi all, I have a question with my main halyard. I pulled the mast this year for much overdo maint. I have a ss cable main halyard frayed pretty bad towards the top. Once I determine the cable diameter, and length,can I have one made up, where would I get it. The ends have some sort of crimp on them, is there a special tool for this, expensive?? Thanks Red

 

[Manureva]

some rigging shop can crimp it for around 20 bucks, i would personally look at replacing the wire with some rope

 

[NYSail]

I went with all rope....

 

[higgs]

You can order halyards with a roped tail and a wire end from most any rigging shop, including West marine. If it were me, i would change the sheaves at the mast head to accept rope and go to all rope halyards. I have had both types of halyards and all rope is much nicer. With today's ropes, stretch is not a problem if you get the right type of rope.

 

[geehaw]

You can get them from here also!!!!!

 

[redhead78]

The cable is attached at the winch end to the spool, with a kind of spin nut brake, when hoisting the main u tighten the brake and raise up with no slip, when u lower , u hold the handle and spin the brake loose and it will allow it to lower, its a good system, from what I can see. Is this something common?? The genny has same winch, rope halyard, wrap and winch and tie off, I guess either will work.... Red

 

[Ed Schenck]

It was common on Highlanders. Mine has wire halyards for both main and jib. The winches are internal to the mast with the wire attached to a spool. Then a removeable crank handle on the side. In later years they went to all rope and I wish I had that mast.

 

[mitiempo]

Wire reel winches used to be common but are only seen on older boats now. They can be very dangerous if the brake slips.

A better solution is a modern winch and either all rope halyards or wire/rope halyards. With wire/rope the best way is a wire/rope splice like the one shown below from Yates