Washing/replacing main Halyard Woes

[mdonnelly]

So, have decided to rejuvenate running rigging. Took off main halyard as a start and replaced with a smaller line(?mouse). Searched fora for advice re washing and deciding there was no absolute consensus so stuck it in the washing machine with some powder and at 30 degrees. It came out clean and soft but had two areas close together where inner material came through the cover like two large White mushrooms! Any how, thought a little tension using a cleat and a winch might help but all that happened was the cover parted and was left with 6 inches of uncovered 3-core. I guess the washing process just exposed a worn area of the cover. Anyway, decided to add a more stout line to the original mousing line and it broke near top of mast! Was left with two frayed ends in my hands and tears welling in my eyes. To save a trip up the mast decided to replace topping lift. This enabled me to piggyback a new mousing line to the new topping lift and finally was able to get new main halyard installed. Only problem is that it's not on it's sheave at the mast top but I hope a bit of fiddling will sort that. What a day!

 

[sailorman]

do you "whip" the ends

 

[mdonnelly]

Yes, it remained fast. It was the lighter line that frayed.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

It came out clean and soft but had two areas close together where inner material came through the cover like two large White mushrooms! Any how, thought a little tension using a cleat and a winch might help but all that happened was the cover parted and was left with 6 inches of uncovered 3-core. I guess the washing process just exposed a worn area of the cover.

This quite often happens when you wash running rigging. In my opinion it's a very good reason for doing so precisely because it exposes flaws in what may have seemed reasonably serviceable lines.

 

[mdonnelly]

Now washing main sheet! You'd think I'd learn!

 

[tillergirl]

This quite often happens when you wash running rigging. In my opinion it's a very good reason for doing so precisely because it exposes flaws in what may have seemed reasonably serviceable lines.

I think I agree with you. I have only had it happen once and that with a not very old halliard but it did seem to have suffered some damage which I had not noticed before. It's now two shorter spare lines!

 

[VicS]

I think I agree with you. I have only had it happen once and that with a not very old halliard but it did seem to have suffered some damage which I had not noticed before. It's now two shorter spare lines!

I had it happen once. A green line ( topping lift) with yellow flecks. The yellow bits had obviously degraded and that where the core burst out in many places!