Replacing wire halyards with rope

[DRM]

I have a C&C 29 with the orginal 1983 wire to rope jib halyards. They need to be replaced. I was thinking of switching to all rope halyards. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing this?

[maestro]

advantages.....
less weight (no marked increase in windage as the halyards are right next to the stick)
Easier on the hands.
no "fishhooks" to catch on a sail
the quality of line has improoved so much in the past 10 years that all rope halyards are becomeing the "norm" rather than the exception.
Easier to replace.

Less expensive (unless you're going for the racing spectra cored halyards)

My friend replaced all his halyards (main,genny,spin) on his 1983 C&C 29 last year with 3/8 in. sta set x

[knothead]

It's important to check your sheaves. You have either wire sheaves which only will work for wire or a line of similar diameter, or a wire sheave shaped like a vee which will acommodate the wire and a line of a larger diameter. Or a wire/rope sheave which is shaped like a U to accomodate the rope with a smaller u in the bottom to accomodate the wire. The third sheave is fine for conversion to all rope while the first and second type are not.
The diameter of the first is obviously too small and the proper size line will not fit. The second type, while large enough to accept a larger size line, will, under load, damage the line.
If you have small wire sheaves, you will probably have a thicker divider between the sheaves. You may be able to replace the divider and then use wider sheaves. Good Luck.