Laying Up and Halyards

[Barr Avel]

Am planning tasks for my first proper laying-up exercise...
Would you normally take the halyards off during the winter? If so what kind of line do you leave in the mast instead?

Alternatively does anybody know of a good website for all this (eg Laying Up For Dummies)?

Marc.

 

[Hardley]

I take mine out every year and put them through the washing machine.
Use any line,so long as it is strong enough, and will not break.
I sew whipping twine (very thin) thru messenger and halyard, two/three time, about 1 inch from end of each line, then cover all with adhesive tape (electrical)not to thick or it will not pass over sheaves.
It helps if you have someone to help, if it gets stuck,then ease one line and pull on the other, a few times, clears any sticking points.

 

[3reefs]

As Hardley says, take the halyards off and cheer them up in the washing machine.

3 years ago I bought the reel of thin messanger line from the chandler and with a moment's inattention, didn't keep it taut. It jumped off the sheave and wedged. Only marginally less of a hassle than letting it run through completely!

I learned my lesson and now replace the halyards with a thicker (4mm) line. Probably doesn't need to be from a chandler, a camping shop or hardware store would do.

 

[jerryat]

Yep, completely agree and exactly what I do. The halyards seem to last indefinitely with this sort of care.

 

[Stemar]

5 or 6mm polyprop is rediculously cheap and is much less likely to jump off the sheaves than thin stuff.

 

[changeman]

Try the 6mm polyprop from screwfix. 500 mtrs for about £25. Will last for a few seasons.

 

[Barr Avel]

Thanks, sounds good!

 

[awyatybw]

We wash ours in the machine too, mostly. The current boat came mainly with Liros lines and we have found that they develop hernias sometimes (a loop of the inner gets through the outer braid). We have never noticed this with other brands. This occurs using even a very gentle program.

Reducing the hernias is not generally too difficult: tie knot in rope a good distance from hernia; assistant (or bench vice) holds knot; make a few passes stretching outer braid from knot to hernia; and the inner disappears back where it belongs.

We asked a number of manufacturers and they all said wash in bath, not machine. But machine certainly does a better job.

 

[Hardley]

Further to my earlier post. I should have mentioned that I also turn the halyards end to end, nice winter evening job, it prevents the same area of line being taunt over the sheaves, also puts last seasons sun bleached line inside the mast next year.Does not take much time, but you get longer life from the halyards.

 

[capricorn]

Strongly recomend the use of a laundrette washing machine for washing halyards (and warps). I know someone who destroyed the bearings on a shiny new Bosch washer dryer doing it at home.

Don't use fabric conditioner, weakens the fibres apparently.

 

[Hardley]

Well Iv'e been using my washing machine for washing halyards, placed in an old pillow case, now for 40 plus years and never had any problems.

 

[jerryat]

Sounds as if they'd been seriously over-loading it to me. Got to watch the weight of the string you're putting in as much as the volume.

Like Hardley, I've been washing ours in the w/machine for as long as I can remember with no trouble at all.