Switching Wire-Rope to All Rope Halyards

[Josh]

Help!!!Is it feasible to switch from wire-rope to all rope halyards on the O'Day 25? My halyards are finally wearing out so I figure if I am going to make the switch it should be now.What is involved?What additional parts, if any are required?Are there any disadvantages in doing this?I want to perform the work myself and I realize that in the future I could easily repair all-rope but probably not the wire-rope type. Plus I would have to presently have the wire-rope professionally made - or am I wrong about this?Thanks for your help.

 

[Terry]

Re: Wire to rope

Hi Josh,I just asked the same question at Boaters World the other day and the guy I talked to said it would work fine if the sheves hadn't been cut into by the wire. I'm going to make the switch.

 

[Walt Pierce]

Why replace the wire halyard?

If wire halyards are one of the lowest-windage, lowest stretch materials, why replace them? I replaced all the running rigging on my '66 Mariner, the Christy Anne, using New England Sta-Set, 5/16" for the sheets and 1/4" for the halyards. West Marine did a masterful job of splicing the line to the wire and to halyard shackles. They spliced a Wichard snap hook to the main sheet and a Flemish eye to all bitter ends, the latter a thing of beauty as was all their workmanship. The sheets, halyards, outhaul and downhaul, all hardware and professional workmanship cost me less than $300. I've just completed a 500 mile cruise and this beautiful, red running rigging was a joy to use.