Halyard Material - Dyneema. Is it worth it?

[GrahamM376]

We also had the same problem with 376 main halyard so replaced with 12mm Dyneema - much less stretch so, yes it was worth the cost.

 

[dslittle]

Hi Graham,


Good point about the size - I would hope to go down to 10mm making it easy to handle and still reducing the stretch.

But don't go down to 8mm (even if it would be strong enough) as it then becomes quite difficult to handle...

 

[snowleopard]

I have a 53sq m large roached main on a <5 ton catamaran with a 12mm 2:1 Dyneema halyard. There have been no issues with halyard stretch or slipping through Spinlock clutches.

With a similar setup in terms of size, I started with 14mm single-part Poltester. Because of the luff sag I switched to 14mm dyneema with no more problems of sag. I have an issue with friction so eventually went over to 2-part with 10mm dyneema. That is a hell of a lot of string on a 15 metre mast - around 75m!

There is some stretch when I put the winch in low gear but it does the job, hoists and lowers much more easily and doesn't slip in the 14mm clutches.

FWIW I had an International 14 which I fitted with a 5mm kevlar halliard. Combined with a muscle box and multi-part cunningham that gave me plenty of luff tension. The down side. I'm told, is that kevlar doesn't like tight turns and tends to crack over time unless you use big sheaves.

 

[Blue5]

If on he other hand the sail is new and/or a laminate, any stretch in the halyard will show on your sail and Dyneema is the way forward. eBay is your friend I got 35m of 10mm racing Dyneema for £60 for my genoa and it's made a great difference.

Any names of suppliers, I am a bit wary of e-bay without recommendation

 

[greylag]

Have you considered cruising dyneema. Less £££ than racing dyneema.

Try www.onestoprigshop.co.uk