Securing a Dyneema halyard

[MADRIGAL]

Having replaced my dinghy's rope-tailed wire halyard with hollow-braid Dyneema, how should I secure it after hoisting the jib? What sort of cleat would work best? I spliced a loop in the halyard above deck level, and set up a four-part Dyneema tackle hooked to the loop to tension the halyard, but this tends to slip through a jamming cleat after a while.
Thanks in advance for suggestions.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Having replaced my dinghy's rope-tailed wire halyard with hollow-braid Dyneema, how should I secure it after hoisting the jib? What sort of cleat would work best? I spliced a loop in the halyard above deck level, and set up a four-part Dyneema tackle hooked to the loop to tension the halyard, but this tends to slip through a jamming cleat after a while.
Thanks in advance for suggestions.

We have this arrangement on our XOD. Except that the 4:1 tensioner is in cleat friendly polyester. Having said that, I have not experienced any difficulty cleating dyneema. Is the cleat worn?

 

[roaringgirl]

I have (had) a dyneema strop with a chainhook on the end of it for backing down on the anchor. I'm on the second one as the first one pulled off the cleat while setting the anchor. The second one which is still in service, has a loop on the end of it, which is put over one horn of the cleat so it can't happen again, so yes, it IS slippery! If you want to use a jammer, perhaps you could splice a length of polyester to the end?

 

[RJJ]

Clamcleat MK1 Racing Junior With Becket Silver CL704 - Sailing - Sailing - Dinghy

You're talking Dyneema with a cover, right? Not the hollowbraid in the cleat?

assuming the former this should work, with a turning block behind so you can heave at a favourable angle. If it's the correct size and the teeth aren't worn, you shouldn't have problems. This is the setup on the main halyard for my RS700 and lasted four years with heaps of downhaul, no problem.

 

[dunedin]

For a dinghy jib hayard, I would suggest doing what we used to do on Enterprises etc. Second loop at bottom end of halyard and tension with Highfield lever - Holt Allen HA4260 Highfield Lever For Sailing Dinghy Boat | eBay
Keeps jib tight and no slippage possible. Light nylon string from second loop to hoist, which can be cheap string as under no load

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Clamcleat MK1 Racing Junior With Becket Silver CL704 - Sailing - Sailing - Dinghy

You're talking Dyneema with a cover, right? Not the hollowbraid in the cleat?

assuming the former this should work, with a turning block behind so you can heave at a favourable angle. If it's the correct size and the teeth aren't worn, you shouldn't have problems. This is the setup on the main halyard for my RS700 and lasted four years with heaps of downhaul, no problem.

I think he must have hollowbraid on the tensioner. That can work, but not if his cleat needs the dentist. And whilst on an RS700 I can see the point of covered dyneema for the tensioner, he's replacing a wire halyard, so it’s on something older and less highly strung. Hence my suggestion of nice cuddly polyester for the tensioner. Yes, there‘ll be a tiny bit of stretch, but as it’s 4 part, and hopefully quite short, it will be minimal. I’d spend money on quality blocks for the tensioner before using £25 worth of Exel pro where it makes such a small difference.

 

[MADRIGAL]

Thanks for the suggestions. The cleat is old and can easily be replaced; the Dyneema has no cover, but I can use polyester in the tensioner (although I may have a length of covered Dyneema I could use). As Chiara's Slave said, it's a short length and won't stretch too much. Cheers.

 

[MADRIGAL]

For a dinghy jib hayard, I would suggest doing what we used to do on Enterprises etc. Second loop at bottom end of halyard and tension with Highfield lever - Holt Allen HA4260 Highfield Lever For Sailing Dinghy Boat | eBay
Keeps jib tight and no slippage possible. Light nylon string from second loop to hoist, which can be cheap string as under no load

That would work. Highfield levers are widely used on Wayfarers.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

That would work. Highfield levers are widely used on Wayfarers.

The only drawback is less adjustability. They are beautifully simple and effective.

 

[dunedin]

The only drawback is less adjustability. They are beautifully simple and effective.

For a dinghy jib halyard, a Holt highfield lever of the type linked to has more than enough adjustability for different wind conditions.
Wayfarer is hardly a Star or Merlin using extremes of mast rake.

 

[ltcom]

Dyneema may be slippery but the preceding posts will solve. An alpine hitch on hilever as alluded to will work (and be easy to adjust).

 

[William_H]

I would suggest if it were not for the need to attach a tackle that a simple horn cleat might be best to secure the dyneema. You could use the technique of sweeating the halyard. ie hold it firm in the horn cleat then pull out the middle of the halyard and release while tightening on the horn cleat. Works for small dinghies. ol'will

 

[Chiara’s slave]

However, as our OP is already set up with a 4:1 tensioner, a fivers worth of 5mm rope is going to fix his issue. No drilling, no more fittings. Even though a highfield is a perfectly good solution for a cruising dinghy. The only reason modern racers don't use them is adjustability on the move.