Running rigging replacement recomendations (Canada)

May 6, 2019
47
Catalina 310 0063 Nepean Sailing Club, Ottawa
Good Day. We have taken possession of our 2001 C310 hull number 63 and it has arrived in Ottawa. As we get ready to launch I am realizing that the running rigging needs a fair amount of TLC. At minimum we will be replacing the Main and Genoa Halyards and the Traveler and likely the main and Genny sheets. As I look at replacements there seems to be no end of options available for line types. I am looking for good quality lines that will last. They don't have to be absolute top of the line as we will not be racing or off shore. Can anyone recommend a line type and supplier in Canada. I have looked at Binnacle, the Chandlery (local in Ottawa) and Marine outfitters. All have their own product lines and it is very hard to do direct comparison. I have also looked at Catalina direct but it seems a waist to shop across the border with the dollar as it is. Suggestions?
 

JRT

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Feb 14, 2017
2,037
Catalina 310 211 Lake Guntersville, AL
I'd buy the same spec line and sizes that Catalina Direct has at your local supplier if you don't want to order from them.

Also West Maine has a sale going on now incase that makes it work it.
 
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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
I like the Annapolis Performance Sailing (APS) guides for line selection - http://www.apsltd.com/line-resources You can specify what you will use them for, and the type of sailing you do, and they give several brand-name examples. You don't have to buy from them to get their advice, and they have nice little videos explaining the reason they make the recommendations. If you can hold off buying for a few months, most retailers run very good sales during the winter season. you may consider replacing a few lines each year, until they are all up to a good quality, for budgeting reasons.
 
Mar 20, 2016
594
Beneteau 351 WYC Whitby
novabraid from marine outfitters xle is a good choice ,the problem being you should have your shackles spliced in.
Maybe you can get it done local, where I buy my rope splices are included as long as I buy the rope from him ,around the corner another guy charges 20.00 for a splice or you can do it yourself ,a bit of an art which I sucked at.
 
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May 6, 2019
47
Catalina 310 0063 Nepean Sailing Club, Ottawa
Thanks for the replies! I like the incremental approach but several of the lines including the Main Halyard have puckers sticking out. I worry about them not running cleanly. I think I will try to do this in stages. Right now Im trying to take advantage of the mast being down for transport.

As an aside the lines are the original 2001 as far as I can tell as are the clutches. Any thoughts on going up a size to prevent slipping?
 
May 6, 2019
47
Catalina 310 0063 Nepean Sailing Club, Ottawa
the main halyard and the fuller in particular have line puckering out...
 

JRT

.
Feb 14, 2017
2,037
Catalina 310 211 Lake Guntersville, AL
If I started with the mast down I would do the jib and main halyards and sheeves. I'd also replace the lights with LED and look very hard at the condition of the intruments up there too.
 
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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
Any thoughts on going up a size to prevent slipping?
Several things cause "slipping" - lubricant on the line jacket (oops), old line where the jacket is slipping or the line is stretching, too small a line for the particular clutch, and loose spring in the clutch. You probably will not have to replace a twenty year-old clutch, but you may have to clean the jaws and maintain it. Close inspection should indicate if there is a fault in the spring or clamping mechanism. Don't use your finger to find out if it's clamping well, but compress a piece of line. Clutches will grab onto multiple line sizes within a range as they're spring loaded, so increasing the line size will not increase holding power unless the PO replaced the line with incredibly small stuff (say 1/4 inch)

The original lines probably were 3/8" (9 or 10 mm) line, and probably something like New England Rope Sta-Set. For not much more money, you can get New England VPC (a popular halyard favorite, but not very friendly to the hand as it's slightly slippery) which has Vectran (a high-tech fiber) in the core to greatly reduce stretch. As you think of line, consider how much you touch it -- halyards probably once per sail, sheets or traveler control lines multiple times an hour - and how soft you want that.

If you're planning to replace everything, consider colors as well, and come up with a scheme. I made all of my halyards white-with-tracer and all my sheets and control lines solid. It's much easier to trace lines, or tell a new crew member to grab the solid blue line.
 
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Nov 18, 2010
2,441
Catalina 310 Hingham, MA
We replaced our running rigging using Sta-Set for sheets, traveler and furling line and Sta-Set X for the halyards (the VPC would be an excellent choice too in my opinion). We used Rigging Only but I'm not sure who would give you the best price in Canada.

We have the original clutches and no slipping.

On hull 65 the sheeve for the topping lift is the same size and the main halyard so we used the same diameter line and have a spare halyard since our boat technically doesn't need the topping lift with the rigid Vang.

Good luck and fair winds

Jesse
 
Jun 25, 2004
1,108
Corsair F24 Mk1 003 San Francisco Bay, CA
Don’t forget that stretch is measured by two two factors. It’s percent of stretch at 10 or 20% of breading strength of the rope. By those metrics, novabraid XLE is about 2x stretchier than Samson XLS, for example. You can increase the diameter to get less stretch, but that doesn’t save much money and increases the weight aloft.
 
Oct 3, 2011
825
Anam Cara Catalina 310 Hull #155 155 Lake Erie/Catawba Island
Defender.com has stay set on close out
 
Oct 22, 2014
20,992
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
It’s percent of stretch at 10 or 20% of breading strength of the rope. By those metrics, novabraid XLE is about 2x stretchier than Samson XLS, for example. You can increase the diameter to get less stretch, but that doesn’t save much money and increases the weight aloft.
I like that Dr Judy is blending California Cooking with her solid wisdom on lines. Both diameter and weight are key factors in lines for rigging.

@Good Vibes I am unclear as to how your "new to you" boat arrived. Was it trucked in (mast off the boat) or sailed in to your marina?

If the mast is on the hard then it is the perfect time to modify the running rigging and the inspect the mast head sheaves. It is the sheaves that should guide you as to the diameter of the halyards.

You mention "puckering out" of the lines. This can be caused by several occurrences.
  1. The core of double braided line breaking down due to age or wear
  2. Line damage
  3. hockling of the line due to kinking.
All are not good and it is time to replace the lines.

I have bought some line from the "RopeShop" https://ropeshop.ca

We live in "logging country" and there are shops that specialize in line to logging such as WestechRigging for arborists. https://www.westechrigging.com.

Both have provided top quality line at favorable prices.
Finally, I find my "high tech" line ad reasonable prices from Fisheries Supply. https://www.fisheriessupply.com

Best of luck
 
May 6, 2019
47
Catalina 310 0063 Nepean Sailing Club, Ottawa
Thanks for all the great responses. The mast is down right now so it’s time to do a bit of work. I was able to swing a deal at our local shop so went with New England low stretch for the halyards and staset for the rest. Thanks again!
 
Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
Now you can detect all the real sailors at your marina because they will comment "nice new lines!". Just happened to me today. At the end of your season, take the lines that you can remove easily (control, sheets, dock etc.) and give them a bath in your washing machine. Treat them like delicates - lingerie bags, gentle cycle, Woolite, fabric softener, and absolutely no dryer. Things last longer when they are clean as the sand and salt crystals do wear the interior fibres.
 
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Aug 13, 2012
533
Catalina 270 Ottawa
@Good Vibes , you would be much better off (with the exchange rates and shipping costs) to buy local.

I like the Novabraid (made in NS), so I replaced my halyards with their lines. I used 5/16 Novabraid XLE Performer. I had pretty long discussion with a Novabraid specialist and he talked me out of investing in a rope with less stretch (for what i am doing). Check the line diameter if it is big enough for you; I think you may want 3/8. I bought mine at Marine Outfitters, including the spliced ends. If you pick the right halyard shackle (e.g. Ronstan RF 1033 shackle), you can add it afterwards. Btw. some swear by using a knot (as opposed to spliced eye).

We still have two weeks (at least) till the launch, so you should be able to make it (;-)