Why use h260 rope jib halyard to raise mast not my roller furler wire stay?

Oct 8, 2023
102
Hunter 260 Kemah
Why use h260 rope jib halyard to raise mast w gin pole, and not roller furler wire stay? Wire seems stronger than 5/16 rope or often 1/4 rope.
 

Joe

.
Jun 1, 2004
8,327
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
When you say "roller furler wire stay" are you referring to the forestay? Is that the one that you connect to the boat to hold up the mast. If so, using it to raise the mast would require disconnecting the loaded stay to make the final connection. Also, for safety when, using this method, you would want to transfer the load to the halyard to hold the mast in place while you hook on the "RF wire stay". So.... using the halyard from the onset saves a step, and is safer. The rope is plenty strong enough to lift the mast. While line strength is mportant (your halyard rope is plenty strong enough to lift the mast) the most important concerns would the halyard block or sheave connection to the mast, and the connection between halyard and shackle. So, inspect both of those, especially the halyard shackle. The best connection is the D shaped, captive pin shackle attached to the halyard rope with a halyard hitch or a luggage tag eye splice.

or a luggage eye loop
 
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Likes: jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,623
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Facts beat “seems stronger”.

From Hunter Specifications for a 260.
Main Halyard
  • Material: 1/8" (3.2 mm) stainless steel wire
  • Breaking Strength: Approximately 1,780 pounds
If you are using lines that are offered here on SBO (not nylon lines bought at a box store), then you are getting Samson XLS3 Yacht braid polyester line with a Average Breaking Load 4100 lb.

If your boat is using OEM lines then they are still likely Yacht Braid polyester but the XLS lines then it would still have a bbreaking strength greater than the steel wire.
FROM: Samson Specifications. 5/16" Samson XLS yacht braid rope has a breaking strength of 3089 lbs.

As @Joe has shared, your halyards are more than capable of supporting your mast as you hoist it. Additionally you will find them a whole lot easier to handle than 1/8” diameter stainless steel wire. You can run them through a block and make you process even easier.

Even 1/4 inch diameter Samson XLS3 has a working load of 480 lbs (easily can lift your mast) and a breaking strength of plus 2000 lbs.