Strange Roller Reef Problem

[wooslehunter]

After fitting a new roller reef last year I uncovered a strange problem. My previous system was one of the very old types that used a wire halyard as part of the reefer. Now with a nice modern type, I use the rope halyard.

The problem is that as the sail is hoisted, the halyard develops a twist. The halyard then wraps itself around the foil as the sail is hoisted. This isn't the classic problem of the halyard wrapping as the foil rotates. I have a deflector that stops that.

I checked the halyard & it's braid on braid so shouldn't twist as the tension increases as the friction causes more tension to be needed to haul up the sail. I assume the problem has to be caused by the sheeves being worn & inducing the twist as the halyard passes over them.

A simple solution would be to put a swivel on the end of the halyard.

Any other ideas on cause or solution?

<Edit> & I should have asked, if it's a swivel, then what kind since it has to operate under load (perhaps).

 

[Boat44]

Couldn't comment on the mechanism that is causing it, but the cure sounds like a swivel on the end of the halyard as you say.

 

[oceanpilgrim]

i had the same problem,fitted a new halyard with a differant braid and is now ok,braid on braid shouldn't twist but it seem's to differ in types of supplier.

 

[GlennG]

Just a thought, I wonder if the sheve has an 'imprint' of the old wire halyard which could have the effect of twisting the rope halyard as it's hoisted? Or maybe the halyard's being pulled sideways on the sheve thus twisting it as it rides up the grove?

 

[RAI]

Is the new braid Dyneemar by any chance? It seems to love getting itself all wound up, bitter and twisted, I'm still looking for a solution.