Second Opinion on Running Rigging

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Have never had a halyard or sheet fail from age. ....

I had a genoa sheet fail this summer. It had a Kevlar core (bad choise) and was cow-hitched to the clew, which put a wicked flex on it every time the jib flogged, I'm sure. A special case, not related to this post.

But in 30 years that is the only one. Every other line either chafed or got quite scary looking and was replaced.

A side note on riggers. I installed a 1/2" Warspeed sheet to replace it; the line was condemed because of a small cover snag near the end. Free.
a. That portion is tail and will never see load.
b. With Warpspeed at least 85% of the strength is in the core.
The rigger also told me that many of his customers "would rather through away a dirty line than a broken one." I do certain industrial inspections; when you inspect as a trade you are forced to be and expected to be quite conservative. You are inspecting not just for the moment, but generally for a specified period into the future.

The best policy is to inspect frequently, and if you see ANY glimpse of core, replace. Sooner if highly loaded (winched hard). And remember that a retired halyard very likely has a good section long enough to be a back-up sheet.