Best rope for main halyard

twinkeel said:
Lots of good feedback here

Looking hard at the Dyneema solution but am a bit worried by the comment regarding UV degradation.

Is it really only good for a couple of seasons ?

Anyone got any tricks for protecting it ( Eg. use mousing line attached to halyard shackle so that the Dyneema can be withdrawn into the mast when not in use ??

Thanks to all
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Racers strip off the coat to reduce weight and windage, just leave the coat on, its purpose is to cover the core where the strength is.
 
Braid On Braid Is Good Enough

I use braid on braid on my boat and have used braid on braid on a charter fleet as well. Adjusting the Halyard when sailing is pretty standard practice and upwind performance has never been limited because of braid on braid. It lasts years as well.

I would recommend that you go for brain on braid.
 
Finbar said:
In the old days in your size of boat halyards were generally wire, spliced to polyester rope at the working end for handling. Today I would definitely go with dyneema, you can buy 10mm for £2.50 per metre at

http://www.ropecellar.com/ChandleryForSale.asp

I have bought from them in the past and had good service
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For regular racing use dyneema certainly, but for cruising a good polyester braid-on-braid with low stretch figures performs well and is much cheaper. My stock brand is 2.2% at 20% of break load, anything similar or better would be good. For halyards don't be tempted downsize for economy, you'll increase the stretch by about the sq of the difference in diameter.
 
twinkeel said:
Boat is 30ft with a tall rig (40ft luff)

Main halyard needs replacing and am confused by conflicting advice from chandlers.

Some say Liros braid on braid

Others say low stretch polyester with braided outer

What do people think ?
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Dyneema - my spinnaker halyard is 20 years old and still utterly sound (and that is in the Med).

An alternative is Vectran - not quite as strong but slightly less stretch.

For a main the size of yours (it's similar to mine) braid on braid, even is prestretched will be a very cheapskate and unsatisfactory solution.

My original halyard was Kevlar - that does suffer from UV degradation as well as fatigue - its only advantage was its lack of stretch.
 
charles_reed said:
.........braid on braid, even if prestretched will be a very cheapskate and unsatisfactory solution.....
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If that is so can someone please explain how my customer with a Storm 33 rerigged his main halyard and all other running rigging with my brand of braid-on-braid and achieved 3rd in class round the Isle of Wight this year? I offered it for cruising rather than racing but he doesn't regard his purchase as "cheapskate".
It would be more helpful if contributors could offer their advice from their own perspective whether cruising or racing.
 
So..... assuming you have decided which type of rope to go for, how would you have the ends finished?

Is it worth having a soft splice in the end to attatch to the sail, or would you just tie it on??

Soz if a daft question.

Andy
 
if you soft spice it you'll need a shackle, more bits.

i tie mine on, bowline.
easy to cut a bit off and move the bit by the jammer, saves on wear, and reverse the halyard too of course.

if the hole in the head plate is just over twice the diameter of your halyard, you can feed a loop through and then the bitter end through the protruding loop, easy to undo.
 
cunningham

sailorman said:
i use Dyneema my self but it might in this case be cost is a consideration ;)
the cunningham will only come into play once the head board is @ the top black band wont it
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I thought that the point of the Cunningham was that it could apply some luff tension at the tack regardless of any friction due to the mast track and sliders. It can do this wherever the headboard is e.g when reefed.
 
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