in-passage problem

[zeboink]

I''m posting this for a friend who is currently sailing in the south pacific, so no internet browsing capabilities, who could use some advice with the following problem:

"The problem is this. When the main is hoisted, the halyard has about 100 ft
in play, from the masthead to the jammer in the cockpit. The halyard is
Yale Maxibraid. This is a vectran core with some sort of cover. A vectran
core was selected because of the desire for as little creep as possible.
Kevlar was NOT selected because it loses its strength so quickly as a
result of being bent over and over. Stretch of even 0.5% would still mean
the head of the sail could move by 6 inches as a result of halyard stretch;
hence spectra was not selected.

When sailing deep with the main touching the spreaders, the head board
twists off. Therefore the halyard is not running straight out of the sheave
at the masthead. As a result, I am getting a lot of chafe on the halyard.

Because I was getting a lot of chafe, I removed the cover at the end where
the halyard runs over the sheave. My theory was that the core would chafe
less quickly than the cover. And because I could see what was happening, it
was easier to inspect and decide when to cut it off again, to expose
not-yet-chafed line. Is this theory correct?

Perhaps one solution is to install some vertical fairleads at the masthead
so that the halyard runs straight out of the sheave and then turns over the
fairleads. Of course, I''m in the middle of the pacific right now, so that
will have to wait until New Zealand.

I could replace the halyard with spectra core, which is far more resistant
to chafe, and just live with the extra stretch.

Another solution, that I have not yet tried, is to drop the halyard about
1/2 inch every 12 hrs, taking up the slack with the cunningham. In a 4 day
passage that spreads the wear over a 4 inch section. At the end of the
passage, inspect the section for wear. Cut as necessary.

I suppose the other solution would be to drop the main every day and
inspect the halyard. But that''s a pain in the :-).

Any other ideas?"

let me know if you guys have any suggestions I can send to him
Thanks much.

[Jeff_H]

Actually, the more normal solution is to add a sacrificial cover of an abrasion resistant material. Typically the cover is kept on the halyard and a second cover material from the next size larger rope is slid over the top. The ends of the sacrificial cover is tucked into the cover of the rope and stitched into place. In really high chafe areas a cover of elk hide or cordura is stitched over the line as a chafe gear. In that manner the abrased protective covers can be changed whenever it is necessary. This also increases the radius if the bend and so reduces the fatigue on the core. Although I see his point, cutting off the covers is the opposite of what would have occured to me.

Respectfully,
Jeff

[zeboink]

I''ll pass your advice along.
thanks again