Dyneema/spectra for removeable inner forestay?

[Airassmith]

Current one is wire which I find difficult to stow well and which chafes against mast or spreaders, gradually eating away at them. I'm considering replacing it with Dyneema. We use it a couple of times a year (max) with a hank on storm jib/small staysail and I'm wondering whether hanks will work on Dyneema of, say, 6 to 8mm diameter. Its pretty slippery stuff which is resistant to cutting and I wouldn't expect it to wear too quickly where the hanks are, or would it? Opinions anybody ?

 

[Jonny_H]

The 49er dinghies use Herzog rope for their trapeze lines. This is VERY strong stuff, easy to splice and quite tough.

Might be worth a look - its not cheap mind - 3mm stuff is about £2/metre.

Note sure how it would stand up to jib hanks?

Jonny

 

[TigaWave]

Dyneema and spectra both have low melting points, so any abrasion heat from the hanks could cause it to fail. I've seen plastic clips on spreaders that you can hook the wire into. Mine was done up tight to a very strong deck fitting so that it was clear of mast and rigging when not in use.

 

[savageseadog]

Just a thought for you. What about threading the dyneema through a piece of nylon tubing, the sort that's used for pneumatics. It would stop any chafe. It's very cheap and widely available.

 

[doris]

Rather than change the stay have you looked at putting stainless fittings on the front of the spreaders to prevent chafe. That's what I have and all is well. Tensoning the stay away from the mast stops chafe there

 

[simonfraser]

my dyneema halyard wore through the outer coating on the ring in the headboard withing a matter of days of sailing.

i'd be very concerned about chafe, esp as it is going to be windy when you need it.

 

[Skyva_2]

As I understand it, Dyneema and Spectra are immensely strong in tension but do not like going round corners. Headsail hanks are a form of corner, which will be under sustained pressure in strong winds, I don't think Dyneema would be a good option.

You could ask Marlow Ropes?

 

[mandlmaunder]

When we crossed the Atlantic our Cruising chute halyard wore throught after 7 days , this I have put down to a learning curve on my part and a design feature of all halyards.
This corrected by moving the Knot every36 hours of use (we are not a big boat with unlimited resourses) and has seen us through 4 ft of halyard in in 3 years.

The melting point of high stress matterial is still higher than I/we would expect on a cruising yacht and would indicate same loading problems with your rigging if you are not "race Tuned"

 

[npf1]

Cousin Trestec King Rope might be worth considering (PBO rigging type of stuff). The UK importer is in Somerset.

 

[30boat]

You may be thinking of Kevlar.Spectra(or Dineema) can go around corners.It's Kevlar that doesn't like it.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Both Spectra and Kevlar will wear through the outer braid around corners....

 

[Airassmith]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm glad someone already said something about Dyneema being OK bent round a tight radius. I use the stuff regularly when climbing and can fall onto a Dyneema sling bent round a 8mm radius or so with no risk. Its tough, slippery stuff.