Gareth Martel
Hi,
After breaking my jib halyard two weeks ago in Edinburgh, then breaking my spinnaker not once but twice at Kip I it seems to be time to crack and replace my running rigging. What I was wondering is what I should replace it with? Budget is very limited, so was thinking of getting myself some Dyneema off of ebay, at the minute though I have a wire jib halyard, but surely this is over the top?? What thickness of line should I be looking for?
Thanks so much for any advice!!
Gareth
Chris Bentley
Hi,After breaking my jib halyard two weeks ago in Edinburgh, then breaking my spinnaker not once but twice at Kip I it seems to be time to crack and replace my running rigging. What I was wondering is what I should replace it with? Budget is very limited, so was thinking of getting myself some Dyneema off of ebay, at the minute though I have a wire jib halyard, but surely this is over the top?? What thickness of line should I be looking for?
Thanks so much for any advice!!
Gareth
Hi Gareth,
I agree with Neil that 6mm Dyneema is a good choice to replace your haliards. But check your sheaves are in good nick and fit tightly to the cheeks of the slot so the haliards can’t jump off and jam. The other thing to be careful of is that, compared with a rope/wire haliard, where the rope tail is 10mm plus, 6mm high tec rope is sleeved with a fairly hard braided outer for abrasion resistance and it will give your crew’s hands serious rope burns if they let it run through ungloved hands – eg when dropping the kite. Just be careful!
It just so happens that I am a director of a company that sells rope of all sorts via the website www.cheap-rope.co.uk
Take a look! (6mm Dyneema is
Neil McLure
I recommend 6mm of your choice of “non stretch” (I have dyneema) for all three halyards.
As you know it runs quicker, it saves wear on the sheave blocks and if you remember to change the length or end to end the halyard it helps save that too.
Neil