"Scotty" w@u wrote in message
...

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in
message ...


The wire halyards on my boat are over 25 years old and
have yet to
develop the first meat hook.

Lack of use will do that.

They get plenty of use. But they are the wire spliced to line type. The
winch end is line which I've replaced a couple of times. (If you can't
do a wire to rope splice you are no sailor.) It takes the wear. The
sheaves at the masthead are compound and large diameter. They fit the
line but have a thinner grove in the center that fits the wire. The wire
wraps around about a four-inch diameter. The sheaves are GRP and very
easy on the wire. Modern day yachts don't bother with quality and
practicality like the older yachts. Customers are generally too stupid
to know what's best. They are more interested in the stereo system and
refrigerator.

Wilbur Hubbard