"Jeff" wrote in message
...
Each to his own on this. Although I've used messengers on occasion,
I've seen them jump off the sheave and get jammed. There is little
problem sewing the ends of two halyards together, it won't take any
additional diameter. A couple of turns of duct tape makes sure it
stays fair, but I admit I'm always concerned that it would come off at
an inconvenient spot.

I guess I'll have to present these questions to my friendly rigger to
find out what he does.

You make a good point about the need to use a messenger line large enough
not to jump off the sheave. I use a line of about 2mm which is larger than
any clearance than I would tolerate at the sheave. But even so I am always
careful to maintain tension on the messenger throughout the operation as
long as the messenger is on the sheave.