Main Halyard Size 48ft Cruiser Racer?

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by JustMurph

On my 48 footer with similar specs I run a 12mm 2:1 dynema core halyard. I ran 10mm for a long time, but it had a little more stretch in some situations that ideal. It wasn't a problem most of the time and really just meant in some situations I'd need to winch a little more load into it. 10mm is more than strong enough.

If I were you, I'd keep my clutch and go 10mm, it will be fine.

Thank you and the others.


Meanwhile I received the original spec from Selden.
They say 10mm Dyneema.
I got the 5500daN variety.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi,


our main halyard needs replacing.


Boat & sail characteristics:

14.7m long
7.4m wide
8 ton cruising displacement
23m mast height above deck
75m2 mainsail with roach



Anyone has a boat of similar characteristics and can tell me what they use?


We are on a budget, so I don't want to overspend if I can avoid it.
Longevity and chafe resistance is more important to us then the most ultimate low stretch characteristics.


Unfortunately I have no information on what product the original one is and if it has a Dyneema core.
Measured 12mm diameter in some areas closer to 10mm.


We are in Malta, Europe and can get Liros, Gleistein, Kingfisher and Gottfredi ropes as it looks like.

If you have low stretch sails you are best to use low stretch halyards. If your sails are Dacron just about anything will be OK.

[Aloha-Ralf]

here is an overview of the lines for a Nautitech 46 Open and FLY

[DragonflyBob]

Originally Posted by JustMurph

On my 48 footer with similar specs I run a 12mm 2:1 dynema core halyard. I ran 10mm for a long time, but it had a little more stretch in some situations that ideal. It wasn't a problem most of the time and really just meant in some situations I'd need to winch a little more load into it. 10mm is more than strong enough.

If I were you, I'd keep my clutch and go 10mm, it will be fine.

Agree, 10mm with Dyneema core and polyester/Aramid blend cover would offer low stretch and good chafe resistance. Don’t go cheap on your mainsail halyard, it’s the most important halyard on the boat.

On our Dragonfly 32 trimaran with a 58m2 mainsail, we use an 8mm 2:1 main halyard with same specs above. Let a professional rigger do the eyesplice for the attachment to the masthead unless you know how to do them.

Low stretch halyards are valuable in strong winds as in a puff/gust, the stretch in the halyard will be minimized and that will help maintain proper mainsail shape and keep the boat sailing efficiently.

[CatLove]

Another option to avoid halyard stretch, chafe, AND eliminate mast compression is to use some sort of locking headboard car system (similar to Karver KMS30, KMS40, KMS60).
The issue with this is cost, especially if the mast track is incompatible and needs replacing.
I'm looking into modifying my Harken system with a custom made such lock , keeping the existing cars, track, headboard.
This also eliminates the no stretch requirement for the mainsail halyard so less expensive options can be used. It also increases the rig safety margin.

[CarlF]

One advantage of dyneema is that it is much more chafe resistant than polyester covers. So given your priorities, I would certainly go with a dyneema cover.

If you have an electric halyard winch you might consider going to a single part halyard. I think a lot of cats carry the two part as a left over of the time before dyneema. The primary potential problem with doing this is that the clutches can't handle the load. But clultch slippage is usually due to slippery line or worn jaws - not clutch strength,

Going to single part halyard - besides cutting the rope cost in half - makes sail handling much quicker since only half as much line is going in or out. Since the load to raise a sail or tighten the luff is very small, the winch strength isn't really an issue.