New Member
posted 24 July 2000 08:44 PM
Hello
We’re about to change to a spinaker halyard system which the mastman operates. While we have the mast down we’re wondering about whether to decrease the existing halyard diametre in order to reduce friction (strength is not at a premium!). We have a 14mm rope a present and wonder if we could go down to about 6mm. Answers on a postcard please….we Irish need all the help we can get for the upcoming British Nationals – see you there.
Eoghan
Member
posted
25 July 2000 08:04 PM
Yes you can reduce the dia of you current rope but suggest that you go to 8mm excel pro.
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Administrator
posted
25 July 2000 09:45 PM
Eoghan
Is 14mm a typing error or an example of the famous Irish sense of humour? It sounds a bit over-spec for a forty footer. My humble 🙂 opinion is that 8mm would be generous in ordinary braided polyester and 6mm would be fine in spectra or dyneema and it would reduce the weight aloft quite dramatically. You’d have to pull about one and a half tonnes to break 6mm dyneema – it’s not so kind on the mastperson’s tender hands though.
Anybody got any other thoughts?
Jack Hardie
Member
posted
27 July 2000 10:21 PM
I use 6mm braid on braid for the spinniker halyard to reduce friction. But this friction is soon replaced by the mast mans inability to stay on his own two feet during a hoist.
SOOTY HELENSBURGH CLYDE
Member
posted
12 August 2000 06:45 PM
We use 8mm ….. ‘cos when the foredecking bowman lets the foredecking halyard off again on his way to have his cup of tea or whatever he can get hold of it again.
Member
posted
13 August 2000 10:43 PM
We use 6mm spectra on ‘Scruples’ this also kept the size of hole needed on the mast to a minimum, as both ourselves and ‘Sooty’ have the IYE masts we werenít too sure about slicing big holes out. The only thing you have to watch is the size of the jammer we found in maxíd out conditions (25 knots +) the halyard was prone to slip a bit.
Member
posted
14 August 2000 10:33 AM
6mm spectra works extremely well. we have a cleat on the mast as is usual, but still lead the tail aft using the deck organisers. this can sometimes be useful when the mastman needs assistance during the hoist(still needs cleating on the mast) or during the drop when the cockpit man can tail the halyard to prevent it going sub-aqua. this leaves the mastman and the middleman to gather the kite.