Rope to Wire Halyard

[geehaw]

My boat has wire to rope halyards. The rope has an eye splice this is run through a crimped formed eye in the wire. Both the wire and rope are in good shape except at this connection the wire seems to be cutting the rope a little. The big problem is this connection is rubbing the mast making a grove in the mast. This is happening on both jib and mainsail. I know this connection is usually woven together some how. Can I do that or is there a better way to connect these then what I have? I can't afforf to replace them this years as other things needed done to the boat that ate up to much money. If not water hose covers will be used for now. Thanks in advanced Greg

 

[dscribner]

Greg,

This year I'm going to replace my mainsail halyard with an all rope setup. The old wire is linked and the rope is weathered. I'm using 1/4" StaSet (2000 lb tensile) and 5/16 StaSet (3000 lb tensile). I haven't decided how I'll connect them. Maybe a reef knot, then sew and whip the bitter ends to the body of the line. If I DO just tie them together, that's a tensile strength of 1000 lbs, more than enough on a 25 footer. You have to figure, if the halyard doesn't rip me up the mast in a stiff breeze, there's less than 185 lbs of load on the rope (as the material). If the rope section of your line is in good shape it's a $15 fix to just cut off and replace the wire. I don't think I would attempt the DITY method of I sailed a 30 footer though. Too much loading, too much to loose.

Well, that's one idea. It's Saturday morning so I'm sure you'll get a few more.


Fair Winds!

Don

 

[geehaw]

Thanks Don for that answer. That might work but worried that it would cause a kink in the wire and weaken it to much? There is enough wire and rope to do that.

 

[Don12364]

Why not do a wire to rope splice. You only need a Swedish (hollow) fid. The procedure is quite simple and very satisfying to do.
See:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2vc4BS6So
Remember to tape the ends of the three strands as you open the rope up.

 

[dscribner]

Greg, I was suggesting removing the wire and going to straight rope of two separate diameters. I aint the bestus explainererer.

Donalex, (which happens to also be the two skippers of my boat, Don, which is me and Alex, my son)

That videos DOES make is seem simple. If I were keeping my wire I'd give it a whirl!