Rope chafe protection?

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RJJ

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Hello - looking for recommendations for chafe protection for various halyards, reefing lines etc.

Specifically, I have a dyneema inner forestay that spends most of its life at rest, in a position where it's prone to wear against the spreaders. I'd like to put something sacrificial over the rope. The whizzy dyneema sleeves won't work as there's a hefty spliced thimble at the end.

Easiest solution is duct tape. But I wonder what's most durable and elegant?

Then regarding covers for reefing lines and halyards - any tips on sourcing rope covers? Many thanks
 
Add protection to the spreader. I have seen pipe insulation taped to spreaders so that lines / sails don't chafe, for example, but not that elegant. There is probably a dedicated product.
 
If you don't use the halyard or rarely use it, then tie a piece of ordinary rope, anything will do just about, a spare bit of double braid for cosmetics maybe and then pull the halyard up to the masthead and let the sacrificial bit of rope take the wear. Then change it as required before it parts. Added advantage of reducing UV exposure on the main halyard.
 
Can you get some heat shrink ( pick one with a higher shrinkage rate) over the end & shrink it down enough.
The other option is self amalgamating tape wound around the halyard, but it will add to the diameter.
The problem with duct tape & self amagamating tape is that if the end came undone it could form a lump & cause the halyard to jam in a sheave at an inopportune moment.
 
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thanks folks - it's not a halyard in this instance, it's a detachable babystay in very thick Dyneema; it's fixed length and ends at a bottlescrew. Unsplicing it would leave me a couple of feet short, so I'm not doing that.

But it has the advantage that it doesn't need to go through any sheeves or around any corners. So the duct tape / self-amalgamating route is entirely feasible.
 
So you could unscrew the bottlescrew & slide heatshrink tube up from that end. That assumes that the end is a screwed fitting not a n eye and shackle of course. You could even put it over some self amalgamating tape to stop the tape unwinding the heatshrink would not have to shrink so much if over tape as well
 
I'd be wary of heat shrink - the heat might reduce the strength of the halyard. We use heat shrink at the end of climbing rope - but the final 50cm of climbing rope never, ever, sees any load

You mention there is a splice in the removable stay -

Find hollow dyneema tape (ie a braided sleeve) that will fit over the splice, Fit, if you loosen braided tape it 'fattens' and then you can stretch it - it will 'shrink'. Sew one end into the halyard, with braided dyneema fishing line, stretch sleeve and sew the other end. For completeness you could whip the ends of the sleeve, or even splice the ends into the the original halyard.

It can be difficult to 'move' the cover, that's because you have stretched it and it shrinks and tightens - patience is an amazingly useful skill :) I believe the technique is called 'milking' - but use of the word may now be politically incorrect (so if I'm banned for a month, for legal reason, apologies)

None of this is rocket science just needs some patience. We have done this, or variations of, to protect sheets (using Nautilus Dyneema Braids, from NZ - but I am sure you will find a UK supplier).

Jonathan
 
LadyInBed said:
Can you not move the anchor point so it doesn't foul anything?
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Agreed. Keeping halyards away from spars is best. Choosing sites on the rails or inserting an eye on the deck (not where it will trip) is best. I'd keep the halyards as unencumbered with add-ons as possible.
 
If you look at climbing ropes and my guess is other ropes there are heat shrink sleeves that will last. Some, many, of the rope makers, at least climbing rope makers, supply such sleeves. The ones I know of are transparent and have quite a high shrinkage. They are a much thicker wall size than electrical heat shrink (and I've only seen them as transparent - never coloured).

They are good for rope ends.

We have bought from eBay - in Oz.

I would not use them as anti chafe in the middle of heat sensitive rope - but for ends, instead of whipping - good. I have seen them used on eyes, instead of a thimble, but you would need to consider strength loss. I have also seen them used to cover the eyes that are sewn, covering the sewing, and have wondered about strength loss. I have used them in this application where I know some loss of strength can be tolerated - but would not do this for a stay, a dyneema sleeve seems a better option. My guess is the OP has a 'hook' on his spreader specifically located to hold the forestay and he sensibly wants to use the said hook.

Jonathan

This is the sort of heat shrink for rope, forget the heat shrink for electrical cables. This stuff is the same sort of idea - but different. This link seems to offer all sorts of fancy covers, ours was a simple, clear, smooth shrinkable tube of about 1mm wall thickness. I note you can source with the internal wall glue coated.

Heat Shrink Tubing For Rope Protection

This is not the source we used (its just an example), ours came from a manufacturer of climbing ropes - but I forget which. :(. As mentioned the heat shrink gives a good grip to rope ends and we have also used the same product for fishing rod handles. (and might be good for boat hooks). As I imply - lots of uses - if you were to buy some, get extra - you will soon use it all :) and wish you had bought more. You buy well oversize, because it has a high shrinkage.

J
 
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Options are being provided, the OP has to decide which is easier - what you think is easier may be difficult or 'out of place' or in fact - the perfect answer.

We need to wait for the OP to provide which option he finds best.

J
 
penfold said:
Why is any of this augmentation of the baby stay easier than fitting a chafe guard or baggywrinkle?
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Possibly a babystay might- at some time- have a storm sail set on it. The OP has not said. . In that case any chaffe protection would have to be fairly thin to allow hanks to slide over it. That is why many would suggest a dynema sleeve properly spliced each end so that it was tapered, rather than whipped with blunt ends the best option;, but only if if dooable. The OP thinks not: hence his post.
I think that would preclude the use of baggywrinckle around the stay. It could be fitted to the spreader though, But who would want that on their yacht, unless it was a quay bound gaffer going for best "tourist attraction" award ?:(
 
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