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On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 08:19:20 -0800, "Steve" wrote:
For many years I have used wire to make pennants to adjust the hoist on my head sails. To raise the tack/foot off the deck or clear the lifelines. Or on the head to raise the halyard swivel enough to prevent a "halyard wrap" on the roller furling... I recently installed Spectra for all of my lifelines and observed how easy it is to do a splice, the ultra high strength and UV resistance. I'm seriously considering making up Spectra pennants for all of my head sails. Sure would be easier on the sail and sail bags when they are stowed, not to mention weight and windage aloft. The working strength exceeds that of my halyards. I'm still wondering about some method to seize or hand stitch these sleeve type eye splices. No mention of this as a problem in the single braid line. I have not noticed any slippage in my lifelines (although there is some noted shrinkage in length on hot days (only slight)). I would be interested in opinions?? All my headsails are full length, so I don't have that to deal with, but I don't see any problem with it. I have been replacing wire halyards with various HI-tech fibers, and started with a spectra core main halyard. I started with a working load the same as the wire, between 4 and 5000 lbs. The line was too thin for the clutches, and, over a 70-ft length under tension, the creep was annoying, making it necessary to tighten under way. I changed up a size, and it works fine. It does still creep perceptibly more than the SS did. It is barely large enough to hold onto when hoisting, and 3/8 or 7/16 would be easier on the hands. For a pennant, only a few feet, you can make it thick and creep won't be noticeable. It wouldn't be noticeable even in 1/4 in line. Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a The sound of a Great Blue Heron's wingbeats going by your head |
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