[C320-list] replacing the main halyard

Utility Email kswanson123 at comcast.net
Sun Sep 9 10:35:28 PDT 2012


Gene,

I did the same type of temporary splice when replacing my halyard.  It worked very well.  The line I used was new England Ropes Sta Set X.  It is a pretty basic low stretch line with a good wear characteristics and a good "hand" (feel).  You can usually find it on sale at WM if you are patient.  Sampson also makes a good competing line.  They are based here in the PNW and their lines are excellent.  If you are even in Seattle, go the Fisheries Supply near Gasworks Park on Lake Union.  They have an excellent selection of sailing lines by all of the manufactures and are also very knowledgeable.  They also have a swap meet every year that you really must attend at least once.  Boaters come from all over the PNW to participate.  Great deals on gear and a lot of fun.

Since the wear points for the main halyard are at the turning points and the rope clutch, I have read where others have swapped the ends of the halyard and/or trimmed the end and installed a new eye splice and just reused the original line.  My thoughts are that given the importance of the line, the fact that is is always exposed 24/7, hard to inspect, and the loads on the line, that replacing it is more prudent for the $100 to $200 that is costs.   

It is nice to see another C320IA poster here in the PNW.  There are a bunch of active posters in the Chesapeake area, several in California, but very few here in the Great PNW where we have world class sailing and cruising in the crystal clear waters of Puget Sound, the San Juan and Gulf Islands, and Desolation Sound.  We have exceptional destination sailing like Rhode Island and the parts of east coast without the harsh winter weather, humid summer weather, murky water, and severe weather!

Good luck with your project.

Dave

Dave Swanson
S/V Emily Ann
2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
Mukilteo, Washington


On Sep 9, 2012, at 10:09 AM, Gene Helfman <genehelfman at gmail.com> wrote:

> Our main halyard developed a hernia that hangs up at the clutch, dodger
> eyelet, etc, so we figure it's time to replace it.  I'm concerned about
> proper threading through the invisible interior mast blocks and guides (no
> idea what's hiding in there).  My plan is to join (abutt) the new and old
> halyards end to end with strong threading, then place a section of duct
> tape that overlaps the joint and stitch that too to create one continuous
> rope.  Has anyone had experience with this?  Any recommendations on the
> best line to use for the replacement?
> 
> thanks,
> gene
> Satori #398
> -- 
> Gene Helfman, Professor Emeritus
> Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
> PERMANENT address:
>    498 Shoreland Dr., Lopez Is., WA 98261
>    (360) 468-2136
>    genehelfman at gmail.com
> 
> "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day,
> Teach a man to fish and he'll deplete the
>      oceans."
> 
> The Book of Bob, Ironies 24:7



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