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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

851.0. "Plastic halyard info needed!" by HYEND::RSCHLESS () Tue May 31 1988 09:52

    I can't stand my oxydized wire halyards and their grungie
    lines any more and am considering replacing them.
    
    Does anyone have experience with the new kevlar halyards?
    If so, 
    1. Is there a tremendous amount of stretch?
    
    2. Where is a good place to buy?
    
    3. What diameter would be appropriate for genoa and mains?
    
    4. What can I figure on spending per foot?
    
    5. How is the turnbuckle connected?  Do I give them
       my old turnbuckle, or just tie it on somehow?
    
    6. What'sthe chance that the oxydation has built up inside
       the mast (internal halyards) and the new halyards will
       look as bad as the old ones in 1 or 2 seasons?
    
    7. Oh yeah, its for a C&C 25.
    
    Thanks for the help!
    
    Beau

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
851.1	expensive	MLCSSE::BERENS	Alan Berens	`Tue May 31 1988 23:57`	39
	re .0: >>> 1. Is there a tremendous amount of stretch? For various New England Ropes: stretch at a load of list price per foot 10% breaking strength (1/2") Sta-Set K900 0.4% $3.20 (kevlar/spectra) Kevlar/Dacron Yacht Braid 0.6% $2.16 Sta-Set X (dacron) 1.5% $1.20 Sta-Set Yacht braid (dacron) 2.0% $1.12 >>> 2. Where is a good place to buy? West Marine >>> 3. What diameter would be appropriate for genoa and mains? How big are the present wire halyards? >>> 4. What can I figure on spending per foot? About 60% of list price. >>> 5. How is the turnbuckle connected? Do I give them my old turnbuckle, or just tie it on somehow? Huh? Halyards have shackles. Standing rigging has turnbuckles. NE Ropes thoughtfully provides splicing instructions. >>> 6. What's the chance that the oxydation has built up inside >>> the mast (internal halyards) and the new halyards will >>> look as bad as the old ones in 1 or 2 seasons? Oh, about 100%.
851.2	kevlar = short life?	MLCSSE::BERENS	Alan Berens	`Wed Jun 01 1988 00:06`	10
	One more thing. Kevlar isn't happy about being bent around a sheave. Kevlar halyards are reported to have a very short life unless the sheave diameter is several times the line diameter. The masthead sheaves on most boats are too small to provide reasonable life for kevlar ropes. I'd leave the kevlar/spectra/exotic halyards/guys/sheets/etc to the fanatic racers who used to have large quantities of spare dollars before becoming fanatic racers. I'm quite happy cruising with NE Ropes Sta-Set Yacht Braid halyards.
851.3	Not a Kevlar cruising man!	AYOU17::NAYLOR	Purring on all 12 cylinders	`Wed Jun 01 1988 05:18`	12
	I've used both steel and rope halyards and am very happy with the ropes. I use Marlow multi-plait and they last several seasons without showing signs of wear, then they go towards extra warps! I was advised against Kevlar for 2 reasons - one was the bending problem Alan mentioned in 851.2, but the other was more important for me that when wet they apparently have more slip on the winch drum than rope and with my "plastic" drums that would have been a real problem (didn't feel like shelling our mucho bucks to replace perfectly good winches!). Brian
851.4	NEYT ON MARLOW	LAGUNA::MILLMAN_JA		`Thu Aug 11 1988 18:49`	7
	I HAD BOUGHT SOME MARLOW BRAID FOR SHEETS (5/16 & 7/16) AND FEEL THAT IT WAS THE WORST PURCHASE I MADE. I WAS USING NEW ENGLAND AND BOUGHT THIS MARLOW JUNK ON A SPECIAL AT A BOAT SHOW FOR OUR TRIP TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC AND THE LINE JUST DIDN'T LAST PERIOD. JAY