Line twist under tension...time for a new line?

[Greenheart]

I haven't used the Osprey since October. Hauling on one lazyjack line yesterday to raise the boom, I found that an incredible amount of twist has built up in the 6mm Liros which runs from the triangle of boom-lines, to a point high on the mast.

Despite disconnecting the line, stretching it and endeavouring to reverse its twist, every time I now try to hoist the the boom, the line twists determinedly under tension, causing an unworkable tangle in the triangle of boom-lines below.

I'm imagining that the core has somehow twisted irreversibly, relative to the braided outer. I can't think why or how this has occurred - the line has always wintered outside in the wind but never suffered thus before. Is it time for a new line?

 

[Bobc]

Yes

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks, that's fine. I just wondered if there's a technique for untangling it.

I'd prefer a lighter line for the LJs anyway, not just because it's cheaper.

Is there any good reason not to use 4mm, assuming the clamcleats still hold it?

 

[Daydream believer]

Go & buy a couple of large fishing swivels. You can get ball race ones quite cheaply. ie a couple of squids each
They are stainless steel & 100 lbs plus breaking strain.
Whip your line on to make them neat, ( as I did) or if lazy just stick a stop knot on the end.
Stick them on the end of the line that twists & it might solve the problem. I have put a load on the club's race flag halyards & they work OK

 

[mjcoon]

... Hauling on one lazyjack line yesterday to raise the boom,...

Is this because you have not bothered to fit a topping-lift? That is the usual way of raising a boom. The lazy jacks are just there to constrain the sail and perhaps hold a boom-cover up...

Mike.

 

[Poignard]

My signal halyards do that. When I hoist a flag by the time it gets to the spreaders it's wrapped round the halyards.

This is why I no longer hoist a gin pennant of an evening. It 's not because I'm mean or anti-social......

 

[Daydream believer]

Is this because you have not bothered to fit a topping-lift? That is the usual way of raising a boom. The lazy jacks are just there to constrain the sail and perhaps hold a boom-cover up...

Mike.

It is an Osprey.
I hardly think Dan needs a topping lift as well !!
Come to that I hardly think he needs lazy jacks, but i reckon he is practicing for that cruiser he keeps talking about.

 

[Uricanejack]

Next time you are underway.

Take twisted line. secure one end on board chuck rest in water and trail it behind you for a while.

 

[Greenheart]

I hardly think he needs lazy jacks, but i reckon he is practicing for that cruiser he keeps talking about.

Believe me Daydream, finding the lazyjacks in a serious twist yesterday, it certainly crossed my mind just to get rid of them...

...but singlehanding the Osprey, situations always arise when a cockpit full of sail and dropping boom, would be a major pain...

...while lazyjacks really do allow me all the fun of a big two-handed racer, without giving up the low-stress style of a small yacht.

But I love your fishing-swivel idea...if I'd seen it before going out, I would have bought a pair. Actually I found bearing double-swivels online, at enormous cost, late last night. Never knew there was a lighter fishing equivalent. As it was, today I bought a lot of nice 3mm line which to be honest, doesn't jam properly in my cheap little clamcleats, so I'll need a better pair of those, too.

Is there any explanation as to why the line I replaced, has developed this curious twist? It hasn't been used for the six months since it was working fine, but it's been out in the wind all that time.

 

[phanakapan]

Dunno why it twists, but you are not alone; my lazy jack lines have seriously got their knickers in a twist to such an extent that they are unusable. I too will be replacing them. I'm also making the 'tail' at the mast longer so that I can let them right off completely when hoisting the main- at the moment I can't get rid of them and the sail always snags on them somewhere when hoisting- v annoying. They go through rings at the top of the 'v' shapes and little blocks on the spreaders- I might splash out on little blocks everywhere and will also give the fishing swivels idea a go - good one.

 

[dunedin]

Worth trying the urricanejack method of towing behind the boat to de twist ( on non Osprey don't forget to pull in before put motor in reverse

 

[FWB]

My signal halyards do that. When I hoist a flag by the time it gets to the spreaders it's wrapped round the halyards.

This is why I no longer hoist a gin pennant of an evening. It 's not because I'm mean or anti-social......

Swivel inglefield clips are the answer.
http://www.absoluteindustrial.co.uk...-c40/inglefield-clips-flag-swivels-brass-p198
Keep them swivelling with ACF 50

 

[lw395]

A lot of cheap braided rope has a twisted core.
As the rope ages, the balance of tension between the core and the braided cover changes.
I think the cover shrinks in sunlight, so the core is slack, but then twists as the tension comes on to the core.
The answer is to buy either braid-on-braid rope, or braided with no core.
Sometimes if you cut the rope and pull the core out a little before re-sealing the end, the core takes the tension all the time and doesn't twist.
Or if strength/stretch is not critical, just get rid of the core.
I've never had much luck with swivels.

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks again, that may explain the mess my rigging had developed. Funny thing is, it was perfectly fine last autumn. And it wasn't horribly cheap rope - Marlow or Liros.

Oh well...I'm glad to have changed to lighter line, anyway. I'd had the 6mm turning through tiny Seasure blocks at the upper mast tangs...the thinner 3mm is much happier with them.