Tapered Spect-set II Halyards?

[russ1302]

I'm not able to find any info on Spect set II line, by New England Ropes. Does any one know if it's a good line to strip and taper, to replace my wire halyards? I don't know how the spectra core will hold up uncovered.

Thanks
Russ

[USCGRET1990]

Why do you need to strip it if you are replacing the wire halyard?

[russ1302]

I'm not able to fit anything larger than 3/16 thru my sheaves, and theres not enough room to get larger ones in the mast head. So I need a larger jacketed portion to go around the winchs and rope clutches.

[sailingdog]

Russ-

What kind of boat is it???

It would probably be a good idea to replace the sheaves at the masthead. Sheaves for wire are often equipped with a v-profile groove, which will cause any line used in it to wear faster than normal.

IIRC, Spectra is mainly protected by the outer braid to make the line easier to handle and softer on the hands. Spectra and Dyneema both have fairly good UV and abrasion resistance.

BTW, Fireline, a fishing line made from Dyneema, is so tough that it can wear grooves in ceramic fishing rod guides, so newer Titanium Nitride guides were developed to help prevent the problem.

[USCGRET1990]

This line is almost 2K lb. test and may fit...might work???
eBay Motors: NovaTech XLE Sail line,1/4 x 100' White/RED (item 170108745581 end time Jul-03-07 03:51:47 PDT)

[sailingdog]

Umm... USCGRET1990, he said he can't fit anything larger than 3/16" through the sheave...and you've specced out a 1/4" line...

[russ1302]

The boat is a Newport 27. The mast head is set up with 2 sheaves on each side, with external halyards. The sheaves are 2 3/4 x 3/8, with a 3/8 pin. I'm not opposed to running the halyards thru the mast, but I can't find a sheave that will work. I have a width of 1" in the masthead, but I need to maintain the sheave diameter to clear the mast. So as of right now, the rigging shop says I have choice between wire halyards or a stripped and tapered vectran/spectra/dyneema halyard. I'm open for suggestions. I would love to be able to run all rope halyards (5/16 or 3/8).

Thanks
Russ

[sailingdog]

You could always go with the MH27 Sheave seen at the bottom of this page.

It measures 2" x 3/8" with a 3/8" ID for the pin. You would need to relocate the hole for the sheave clevis pin.

I cheat and make up my own if I need one...since I have access to a machine shop.

[atoyot]

How does NovaTech rate next to other stuff the information for which I can more readily find on the web? Done a search on NovaTech to compare it with, say, Sta-Set or Sta-Set X and I've found very little. Shop on Ebay has various sizes at very accomodating prices, but don't know much about it.

Thanks for comments.

-TA

[sailingdog]

Atoyot-

Sta-Set and Sta-SetX are both polyester lines... Sta-Set is a polyester double braid, and Sta-SetX is a polyester braid with a parallel polyester core. Neither is spectra or dyneema cored.