Genoa halyard size

[webcraft]

'
The old genoa halyards (braid on braid) were 12mm, a chandlery bargain in 2006

They are done now, the cover is chafed and gone in places.

Should I replace them with 12mm, or go down to 10mm ? (The self-tailing winches will handle either).

My thinking is that 12mm is easier to handle, but obviously heavier.

- W

 

[blackdogsailing]

I would go with the 12mm Nick. However, to save weight you could always join 10mm to the 12 for the non load part. I have done this with my running backstays and spinnaker sheets. It also keeps the cost down ! Very easy to do and works well.
Chris

 

[William_H]

If you are at all fussy about performance you may find that the 10mm will stretch under load leading to inadequate halyard tension after a bit of sailing. Not a problem on a long voyage or if genoa is left up. (you just crank it on some more) I use hank on and drop the jib for spin runs several in an afternoon so it is anoying to find jib halyard needs more tension after it has been raised.
I use spectra but even find that stretches unless it is quite oversized. ie for me 8mm on 21ftboat. good lcuk olewill