Meathook Paranoia?

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by jimbunyard

7X19. I'm curious, though. Does anyone have any experience using any of the newer synthetic 'super-fiber' ropes in this application? Any reasons not to? Cost comparisons?

Uncoated Dynex Dux or any heat set (low stretch) dyneema works great. It's actually a pretty easy conversion you just have to clean up the old pullies. The nice thing is that since all the sheaves are sized for wire they are more than big enough for dyneema.

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

I recall reading about a singlehanding sailor who was attempting a nonstop circumnavigation. He made it about half way around the world, then stopped. Because of a meat hook.

His reason was that he found a single wire ( a meat hook) on a shroud that had broken, and he did not want to risk losing his rig in the next part of his voyage (across the Indian Ocean). One wire out of 19 on that shroud strand stopped his long planned voyage, for which he had spent years prepping his boat and himself.

In that case, a single broken wire caused a broken dream.

Then he missed a basic prep step, having a spare piece of standing rigging.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by cal40john

Then he missed a basic prep step, having a spare piece of standing rigging.

Dunno about you, but replacing a shroud singlehanded at sea is a pretty daunting thought for me!

Jim

[JPA Cate]

shroud at sea, after you've turned the other one to windward, thanking your lucky stars that you still have the mast vertical ['cause you steered the other way], bulldog clamps are the tool, and a spare bit of rigging wire, Securing the lot to even hook it up, good luck, even at deck level. This stuff is never easy, yet it is done.

[Patrigo]

A while back I replaced my 7*19 pull, pull steering cables, with Dyneema. It is satisfyingly easy to splice and I recommend duplicating each piece of line during the splicing, which gives a spare system of minuscule weight, needing minimum stowage space.
I also reckon to give great attention to pulley alignment, and surface smoothness. Also incorporate a turnbuckle in each line to allow perfect tension adjustment.
What I have now is a great steering system taking up very little space and dead easy to inspect.

[ggray]

First boat we had with cable steering...and back when I didn't know anything...7X19 was replaced with 7X7.

Five years later, and a week after we had returned from Bermuda, that cable failed catastrophically.

I'd be surprised if any boat had sheaves large enough to use 7X7.

It would steer easier with 7X19 anyway. I can't wait to try Dyneema or other synthetic.