The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical
rope to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

"Moonshadow" wrote in message
...
The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical rope
to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

Yes, I had Aries self-steering gear on my first yacht and used it for some
years without any problems with ropes which were 3-strand terylene as far
as I can recall.
I never noticed any wear on the ropes at all. Hovever I had the pulley
blocks attached to short lines which allowed them to take up perfect
alignment with the direction of the ropes.
Unless your blocks are mounted so that they are prevented from swivelling
freely in all directions I do not think you will have any problems as long
as you avoid stretchy ropes.
I think the Aries vane gear is absolutely the best gear of its type you can
get. My boat was very quick on the helm but Aries held a good course in all
conditions except light winds from dead aft, when all vane gears are pretty
useless anyway.
Very solid piece of engineering too. How often have you read about bolts
and other parts of other vane gears failing on long offshore passages? It
is easy to underestimate the forces a vane gear can develop.
I got the recommended spare parts kit from Aries but never had to use any of
it.

On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:51:53 GMT, Moonshadow
wrote:

The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical
rope to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

They always make the sheaves big enough to not damage rope, any rope.
There can't be all that much force from the wind, so any type will
do. Avoid cotton, linen, and hemp, they rot, and the oil companies
need the dough.

Casady

Richard Casady wrote:
On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:51:53 GMT, Moonshadow
wrote:

The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical
rope to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

They always make the sheaves big enough to not damage rope, any rope.
There can't be all that much force from the wind,

The force isn't from the wind, it's from the water and is greater
than you might think.
Gordon

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:51:53 GMT, Moonshadow
wrote:

The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical
rope to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

They always make the sheaves big enough to not damage rope, any rope.
There can't be all that much force from the wind, so any type will
do. Avoid cotton, linen, and hemp, they rot, and the oil companies
need the dough.

You are so wrong about the lack of force.
The force on the ropes does not come from the wind at all. The wind just
alters the trim tab that angles the pendulum and the force of the water
moving past the pendulum is what produces the force felt on the ropes which
go to tiller or wheel.
The gear will produce whatever force it needs to move your tiller or wheel
but if you try to restrain it by hand you will find that if the boat is
moving at any speed the force that resists your effort will probably
overcome your own strength..

On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:14:31 +0100, "Edgar"
wrote:


"Richard Casady" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:51:53 GMT, Moonshadow
wrote:

The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical
rope to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

They always make the sheaves big enough to not damage rope, any rope.
There can't be all that much force from the wind, so any type will
do. Avoid cotton, linen, and hemp, they rot, and the oil companies
need the dough.

You are so wrong about the lack of force.
The force on the ropes does not come from the wind at all. The wind just
alters the trim tab that angles the pendulum and the force of the water
moving past the pendulum is what produces the force felt on the ropes which
go to tiller or wheel.
The gear will produce whatever force it needs to move your tiller or wheel
but if you try to restrain it by hand you will find that if the boat is
moving at any speed the force that resists your effort will probably
overcome your own strength..

Trim tab? Flettner rudder, the kind they put on the battleship
Bismarck, and the Boeing 747?

Casady

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:14:31 +0100, "Edgar"
wrote:


"Richard Casady" wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:51:53 GMT, Moonshadow
wrote:

The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical
rope to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

They always make the sheaves big enough to not damage rope, any rope.
There can't be all that much force from the wind, so any type will
do. Avoid cotton, linen, and hemp, they rot, and the oil companies
need the dough.

You are so wrong about the lack of force.
The force on the ropes does not come from the wind at all. The wind just
alters the trim tab that angles the pendulum and the force of the water
moving past the pendulum is what produces the force felt on the ropes
which
go to tiller or wheel.
The gear will produce whatever force it needs to move your tiller or wheel
but if you try to restrain it by hand you will find that if the boat is
moving at any speed the force that resists your effort will probably
overcome your own strength..

Trim tab? Flettner rudder, the kind they put on the battleship
Bismarck, and the Boeing 747?

Casady

My use of the term 'trim tab' was incorrect inasmuch as it is the pendulum
itself which is angled by the wind. There is no seperate tab.
Sorry for any confusion.

Edgar wrote:
"Moonshadow" wrote in message
...
The time has come to replace my Aries steering lines. The originals were
5/16" diameter single braided polysomething. I can't locate identical rope
to use for the replacements.

Has anyone replaced their Aries steering lines using a readily available
type of rope, and had the lines in service long enough to know that that
rope can cope with the continual flexing over the sheaves?

Yes, I had Aries self-steering gear on my first yacht and used it for some
years without any problems with ropes which were 3-strand terylene as far
as I can recall.
I never noticed any wear on the ropes at all. Hovever I had the pulley
blocks attached to short lines which allowed them to take up perfect
alignment with the direction of the ropes.
Unless your blocks are mounted so that they are prevented from swivelling
freely in all directions I do not think you will have any problems as long
as you avoid stretchy ropes.

Thank you. I will do as you suggest.

I think the Aries vane gear is absolutely the best gear of its type you can
get. My boat was very quick on the helm but Aries held a good course in all
conditions except light winds from dead aft, when all vane gears are pretty
useless anyway.
Very solid piece of engineering too. How often have you read about bolts
and other parts of other vane gears failing on long offshore passages? It
is easy to underestimate the forces a vane gear can develop.

I got the recommended spare parts kit from Aries but never had to use any of
it.
Likewise.
Ours has steered us through some very wild weather. No part of it has
ever broken.