New Genoa Halyard

reeac said:
Could you please explain "ball and loop" in this context? Is it a variant of those bungee cord sail etc ties?
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tie a ball on the end of the line with overhand stop knot
Double the halliard over. Pass the loop thus formed through the eye in the sail
Pass the end with the ball through the loop & pull the loop tight

sorry - you beat me to it !!!!!!
 
The reason for not using a bowline, or other knot, is that Dyneema does not like sharp corners. Is the ball and loop any different?

I'm not suggesting its an issue but Dyneema is so over specced for the application I really think people get overly concerned about things that really do not matter. We have Dyneema halyards and use bowlines - and have never had one fail.

Splices might be nice but making a splice for a halyard is not easy, or not easy to get it neat (and small).

Jonathan
 
reeac said:
Thanks for the replies. I've always had a shackle at that point. What's the advantage of ball and loop?
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You save a shackle & cost over the cost of a plastic ball
The shackle, with accompanying knot, is longer than a ball & loop. This means that the sail cannot be pulled right to the top.
That may not be an issue with most boats but with an older stretchy sail it may help to be able to get that last 2 inches of tension

With ball & loop it has been found to be pretty much foolproof & is easy to tie & undo. There is less chance of it slipping undone as could possibly happen with the knot on a shackle

Of course if the hole in the sail is too small to take a double thickness of halliard then one cannot use it
 
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