Halyards - wire vs dyneema

[Keen_Ed]

If you are not racing you might just buy dyneema-cored, with an outer braid that covers the whole rope. No need to put additional sheaths on.

For tension, it is not a bad idea to mark the halyard so you have an idea of tension.

Big advantage of extra cover, or bulking up the core, is that it holds far better in the clutch.

 

[Woodlouse]

Whether you want an outer braid or not it's still advisable to go for a rope size similar to the previous rope even though strength isn't an issue. If your new dyneema halyard is skinny enough to fall off the sheath and get caught in the side you're problems are only just beginning. Personally if I was getting dyneema halyards I'd go for a dyneema core with a polyester braid. The best of both worlds.

 

[bbg]

Big advantage of extra cover, or bulking up the core, is that it holds far better in the clutch.

If the clutch is the right size for the line it should be OK. No need to bulk it up. One risk of fitting extra covers is that the covers themselves can slip if they are not sewed to the rope properly. I know someone who lost a mast when the added-on cover on the running backstay separated from the rest of the line. The clutch held the cover and the core slipped enough that the mast fell over the side.

Yes, I have added covers to pure dyneema and to already-covered dyneema but that was for very specific reasons and was done very very carefully. IMHO in most non-racing applications it isn't necessary.

 

[GHA]

Has anyone spliced, say, 8mm dyneema onto 12 or 16mm double braid polyester ?

I tried it a while ago, exposed the core of the polyester and fed the dyneema back and forth through the core the just managed to milk the outer braid back on. Cranked it up between 2 winches across the cockpit and jumped up and down on it. Semer to hold overnight but is there a better "proper" spice for such a join?

 

[Woodlouse]

Has anyone spliced, say, 8mm dyneema onto 12 or 16mm double braid polyester ?

I tried it a while ago, exposed the core of the polyester and fed the dyneema back and forth through the core the just managed to milk the outer braid back on. Cranked it up between 2 winches across the cockpit and jumped up and down on it. Semer to hold overnight but is there a better "proper" spice for such a join?

I've seen it done though I'm afraid I can't remember the particular splice used. I think it might have been similar to a rope to wire splice though especially as regards the outer braid on the polyester.