Halyards - knots or eyes.

[Pisces]

I am replacing all the running rigging on my boat - I have noticed that
several boats in the yard use knots rather than sliced eyes. Is there an
advantage in either - should I save the money of getting eyes in my new
halyards?

I humbly request information from the oracle that is the Scuttlebutt

 

[Benbow]

I don't think its a big deal. But I did make a complete arse of myself for a whole season, I had an eyesplice on the main halyard and all the time I thought I was graunching on the luff tension, all I was actually doing was jamming the double thickness of the splice into the block at the top of the mast. When it eventually dawned on me what was happening, I cut off the splice and replaced it with a knot. The sail set much better after that!

 

[TigaWave]

I humbly offer my opinion....
I've used both knots are fine, but usefull to have a ball on the rope so that the knot cant get pulled into the roller on the mast as the edges can be sharp and may damage a wide knot.
Its also a good idea to sew the end of the knot (whip) into the rope so that it cant possibly come undone, it also keeps it neater.
Nice thing about knots are that as they wear, you can simply cut off the end and tie them again 6" frther down.
I've done this on boats from 20-40'
The knot will be weaker but halyards break from chaffing and old age, as long as you regularly check them for wear you'll be fine.

 

[yachtie8]

Which knot should be used then?

 

[Benbow]

[ QUOTE ]
Which knot should be used then?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, youknow, worrever works for you is fine by me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[TigaWave]

Bowline is fine, I use a climbing knot which is like a clove hitch on the rope, its a slip knot so slides up to the shackle.
Another neat option if the eye in the sail will take the width of a loop of rope is to put a plastic stopper ball on the rope and tie a figure 8 in the end so the ball slides down over on top of the knot.....
Used on small boats and dinghies as there is then no shackle.
If your tieing staright to the sail then it has to be a bowline, but that might get difficult to undo if its been under load for a while.

 

[Benbow]

[ QUOTE ]
If your tieing staright to the sail then it has to be a bowline, but that might get difficult to undo if its been under load for a while.

[/ QUOTE ]

??? The beauty of a bowline is that it does not jam up and can always be undone no matter how much load it has ben under.

 

[Cobra25]

Splices are so much stronger and nicer looking but not many can splice - so..

 

[TigaWave]

In theory.....add salt sun and load for a few weeks and you might resort to the bread knife.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
Splices are so much stronger and nicer looking but not many can splice - so..

[/ QUOTE ]

A knot decreases the breaking and working strain by 50% --A splice decrease the breaking and working strain by 10%

Source http://www.sailingusa.info/sailing_knots.htm

 

[aitchw]

[ QUOTE ]
Another neat option if the eye in the sail will take the width of a loop of rope is to put a plastic stopper ball on the rope and tie a figure 8 in the end so the ball slides down over on top of the knot.....
Used on small boats and dinghies as there is then no shackle.


[/ QUOTE ]


As a dinghy sailor I have transferred this method to my small cruiser and have had no problems. It combines the advantages of being able to quickly and simply take out the worn part where it is constantly under pressure from the sheave with easy attachment and release as well as having nothing to jam or prevent the headplate going to tjhe top of the groove.

 

[manimbored]

sureley an eye splice isn't really all that hard to do

unless its multiplait i suppose

 

[Lakesailor]

Do It Yourself

 

[Benbow]

Try it, you will be surprised. I have never seen a jammed bowline even after the rope has been under huge load.

Also I don't think strength of the knot/splice is an issue in a main halyard; the rope is invariably oversized and it is wear at particular points that is the issue.

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
I have never seen a jammed bowline even after the rope has been under huge load.


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. But......

On several occasions when taking off a reefing foresail I have come across what appears to be a jammed bowline, which on investigation turns out not to be a bowline at all. It happens when someone familiar with the "turn of the wrist" method (usually used for tying a bowline round oneself) tries to tie the knot with the loop going away from him. It jams so tightly that I sometimes wonder whether it should be recommended for genoa sheets - no chance of them coming undone by accident!