Replace wire in free flying genniker with rope?

[dgadee]

My boat has a small self tacking jib. Original design also had a masthead genniker tacked to a furler in front of pulpit (cruising chute style) for light winds. This genniker has a wire on the luff which makes it awkward to stow. Is it possible to replace this wire with these tension ropes used with furling chutes? If so, are they easier to stow i.e. more flexible? Worth doing?

 

[simonfraser]

yeh, you can change it to dyneema, mine works just fine

main prob is the sheeve at the top of the mast, might be damaged by the SS wire and thus will chew up your dyneema rope

 

[dgadee]

Is this new furling line just dyneema? I thought it was some sort of torsion braid. Never seen it up close.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Torque ropes are specific for furling sail luffs , not suitable for halyard component as they are thicker and won't go in the sheave .Quite expensive but more manageable than a 1 x 19 wire ,but I doubt you'll have that in a sail luff.
They probably coil and stow over a bigger coil than the wire though.

Cindy

 

[dgadee]

Torque ropes are specific for furling sail luffs , not suitable for halyard component as they are thicker and won't go in the sheave .Quite expensive but more manageable than a 1 x 19 wire ,but I doubt you'll have that in a sail luff.
They probably coil and stow over a bigger coil than the wire though.

Cindy

It is the luff I am talking about, rather than the halyard. The luff on the sail I have has two wires (7 strand I think) which are 3mm thick and 30mm apart. These attach to a furling mechanism (top and bottom) which rolls up the sail. This is needed because you otherwise can't tack with the sail out, and need to furl then tack then let out the sail again.

 

[simonfraser]

i now have a dyneema torque rope in the luff of sail and a normal dyneema halyard.
previous set up was normal dyneema all round, cant say the torque rope is much different.
i pull it all in by hand, the aparent wind has much more a say over how it all winds in.

 

[knuterikt]

It is the luff I am talking about, rather than the halyard. The luff on the sail I have has two wires (7 strand I think) which are 3mm thick and 30mm apart. These attach to a furling mechanism (top and bottom) which rolls up the sail. This is needed because you otherwise can't tack with the sail out, and need to furl then tack then let out the sail again.

Wire is not good at anti torsion - that's why you have two wires in parallel.
You probably have two options
1) replace both wires with two Dyneema ropes
2) replace both wires with one anti torsion rope

Anti torsion rope is stiffer than double dyneema.