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

"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 08:19:20 -0800, "Steve" 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's points are well taken, regarding the relative small size of
Spectra/Technora for halyards. I have been considering replacing mine but I
use clutches with a minimum line size of 5/16".

While Technora is available in 5/16", 13000 lb working strength would be
over kill.


I was wonder if the 1/4" Spectra/Technora could be increase in the area
normally under the clutch by inserting a section of 1/4" as a core or a
cover, seized or
using some splicing tricks.

I also observed that the Samthane UV coating of this line is rather slick
and wonder if a clutch would be able to grip it without abrading the
coating.

Just thinking out loud.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I was wonder if the 1/4" Spectra/Technora could be increase in the area
normally under the clutch by inserting a section of 1/4" as a core or a
cover, seized or
using some splicing tricks.

I also observed that the Samthane UV coating of this line is rather slick
and wonder if a clutch would be able to grip it without abrading the
coating.

I do not recommend taking single braid Spectra/Technora all the way to the
winch and clutches without a cover. On race boats, we normally started the
dacron cover a few feet before the bottom turning blocks at the base of the
mast (when the sail is fully hoisted). On cruising yachts, where wear / UV
protection is more important than saving a few pounds, I would cover the
entire length of the line. Obviously then, the way to go on a cruising
yacht is to buy double braid with a Spectra/Technora core and a dacron
cover.

I also would caution you from adding a core to a single braided line. This
is a very bad idea, and will weaken the line and increase it's chances of
wear and chafe. Also, as you noted, the coating on the line (which protects
it from UV) is slippery and was never intended for rope clutches or winches.

Something else to consider when switching from wire rope to high-tech line
are your turning blocks and masthead sheaves. Often when switching, the
sheave diameters are too small and / or the sheaves have been damaged by the
wire. If the sheaves show any sign of wear at all or if the new line seems
to be a "tight" fit, replace the sheaves. It'll save you from a trip up the
mast later, usually at the worst possible moment ;-)

--
Paul

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Steve, I used Samson Warpspeed for my main halyard. It is a polyester cover
over a core of Dyneema, which I think is the same as Spectra. I fattened the
line where the clutch engages by inserting a small tapered "snake" inside
the core. Regardless, polyester covers everything.

"Steve" wrote in message
...

Rodney's points are well taken, regarding the relative small size of
Spectra/Technora for halyards. I have been considering replacing mine but
I
use clutches with a minimum line size of 5/16".

While Technora is available in 5/16", 13000 lb working strength would be
over kill.


I was wonder if the 1/4" Spectra/Technora could be increase in the area
normally under the clutch by inserting a section of 1/4" as a core or a
cover, seized or
using some splicing tricks.

I also observed that the Samthane UV coating of this line is rather slick
and wonder if a clutch would be able to grip it without abrading the
coating.

Just thinking out loud.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:02:20 -0500, "Garland Gray II"
wrote:

I fattened the
line where the clutch engages by inserting a small tapered "snake" inside
the core.

=================================

That's an interesting approach, good idea.

Steve wrote:

I was wonder if the 1/4" Spectra/Technora could be increase in the area
normally under the clutch by inserting a section of 1/4" as a core or a
cover, seized or
using some splicing tricks.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions



That's a pretty common thing for a rigger to do to increase the
diameter. Clutches hold better on larger diameter rope, even of the
same model clutch. Look at Spinlocks web site for details of this
(and their recommendations for sleeving rope)

Evan Gatehouse

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 00:48:41 -0500, Rodney Myrvaagnes
wrote:
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.

==================================================

Rodney, I believe you are in the NYC area if I recall correctly. Talk
to Tom Anderson at Hathaway, Reiser and Raymond in Stamford, CT.

http://www.hathaways.com/

Tom does a great job of making up custom Spectra halyards that are
"core only" for half the length, core with cover for the back half.
Having the cover on the back half makes them big enough for rope
clutches and also easy on the hands.