Jimmy,

I shouldn't post without access to accurate info, but I am pretty sure my 1999 halyards are 3/8 inch diameter. The Genoa sheets are 7/16 inch because they see much heavier loads.

A few thoughts:
The sheaves at the mashead may not accept 7/16 dia without the line riding high in the groove which may stress it unnecessarily. While you want low stretch in a halyard, I don't think going up in diameter in this case is a good choice or needed. Just use low stretch cordage.

Your length of 120 ft also sounds like plenty, but hopefully before you commit to anything, someone will confirm my recollection.

Jimmy,

On my 1994 tall rig I recently replaced my halyards. I used 3/8" which matched the original. I bought 125' which is a lot more than needed; I think 120' would be better. I used Sta Set X which is a low stretch line purchased from [url]www.riggingonly.com[/url] . There prices are very good. I also used 55' of 1/2 in Sta Set (no X, more flexible and stretchy) to replace the geonoa sheets.

Richard
#1347

Jimmy,
I agree with Duane. You should replace the halyards with 3/8" low stretch. 7/16" will create more friction, and I think 1/2" will be too large to fit. The owner's manual calls for 117' for the tall rig.

In 2001 I received this response from Catalina to the same question:

"All the halyards on a tall rig C36 are 3/8" low strech by 117'
long. Thanks! David Graas Customer Service/Technical Support"

When I replaced my jib halyard last year, Layline.com had good prices.

Elliott
Collaboration #1469
1995 MkII
Port Annapolis Marina

I went with 3/8 120 just to leave some room if I needed to redo a knot from chaffe. A few extra coils in the bags back in the cockpit. Much easier to remove additional line than to add it. I agree on the spec of 117 but I felt a few feet more woud be OK.

Good luck.

Tom,

I did not see a specific reference to my situation which is a 1986-87 Tall Rig. Does the 3/8's x 117 ft apply for this boat as well? Appropriate sheets for the Genoa?

Thanks!!!!

al

Al,
The dimensions of the Std rig and the Tall rig have not changed thru the years, so 117' of 3/8" would be correct for your boat as well. I like the feel of larger line for the sheets, so I also use 1/2". If you buy a single piece 110' long, you can slip it thru itself in the middle, at the clew of the headsail, avoiding a pair of bowlines that often get caught on the shrouds. A rigger suggested this to me, and he was right! A lot fewer hangups while tacking. He also said that if I didn't like it that way, I could always cut the line in half and end up with two 55' pieces. That was five years ago, and I still have the single long line. Works great.

BTW, I noticed that you recently signed up for a three year membership. Good for you! Within a few weeks you will receive the free Tech Notes CD. Besides the Tech Notes for the past 25+ years, it contains TONS of info, including the Owner's Manual for the MkI, and over 30 other equipment manuals. It should answer a lot of your questions!

Tom,

Thank you for the welcome to the membership! The site and assistance has been GREAT!

Love the idea re the single genoa 110ft sheet. Mine hangs up on the shrouds all the time. Do you simply knot it at the clue?

As to the Halyard...my boat yard installed a 5/8 last summer! No wonder it is so difficult to hoist! Assuming I am going to replace with 3/8", is there a way to thread it through without climbing the mast? Can I connect the new line to the hold halyard and pull through the mast?

Also, any thoughts or experience with combo halyards of wire and rope?

Thanks again!

al

Al,

When I replaced my old halyards with new(both 3/8), I butted the two ends together and then used nylon twine to hold them together. On top of that I wrapped the two butted ends with electrical tape about 8" over each of the ends so that there was one continuous smooth line. I then slowly pulled the old and the new one that threaded through the mast, over the top and down with ease-much to my relief.

Windward!

Yuu 'da man! Okay, I think I am going to give that a go! Like you, terrified that I might loose the new halyard in the process....but hey! let's go!

Hoping all goes well!

al

yeah, I've done it pretty much the same way, though I sewed the ends together with waxed sail twine or dental floss, since it's very strong and doesn't increase the diameter. I used a piece about a foot long piece of duct tape lengthwise on the joint, so I'd have a continuous joint. No, I wasn't paranoid about having it come apart while threading it through:rolleyes:

I'm replacing all running rigging this spring, after my furling line parted last fall while out in 25 knots. Went from about a 90 percent jib to a 150 instantly and some white knuckles getting the sail down. So I decided to replace all of the 13 year old rope. I lucked out when one of the local West Marine stores closed and had all rope marked down. I walked out with more 3/8 Sta Set and line for sheets than I could carry for about $100 bucks....!!!! WOO HOO....!!!
So I'll be replacing my halyards and everything else in the near future.

Gary,

I like the the idea of adding the duct tape, etc. Seems like an additional bit of insurance!

I am going to contact the boat yard that installed the incorrect halyard and see if they will address first. If not, I have my project for next week.

What a deal on the rigging line! I just took a look at prices at our West Marine and I think I am going to be in for about $150 on this single halyard!

Thanks all! I will keep you posted!

al

yes, it was great luck. Got an email re: the closing, and jumped in the car. People were back in the rope dept. buying whole spools of rope, even if they didn't need it. If I'd waited another half hour, it would have all been gone.

Should have driven to Atlantic City to a casino right after :)

Exactly! That is the kind of luck you want to keep on a roll!

CHeers!

al;

Al,
STAY AWAY FROM WIRE-ROPE HALYARDS!!! Maybe 30-40 years ago they made sense, but with all the low-stretch lines available now, there's no reason to use them. It only takes one sliced up hand from a wire "meat hook" to make you a believer in rope halyards.

For fastening the single long sheet to the clew, find the middle, pass the folded middle thru the clew, then pull the free ends thru the loop you have just created. Simple as that. Much harder to explain than do.

Tom,

Thanks for the caution....rope it is!

Also, I am going to do the single line jib sheet later this week. Love that idea!

Cheers!
al

Had the single line sheet knotted like that on our 28 and it was great. Until I tried to take the sheets off the sail to pack it away. The only way that loop was coming undone was by cutting it or working a small sharp object into it to loosen it and likely damage the line. So the sheet and the sail are married, for life. But that's not really such a big drawback, certainly not enough to not do it. It was so handy and never snagged or hung up.

I have an 86 standard rig and I just replaced the halyards with 7/16 Sta-set, I also changed the top shives to 1/2 from Catalina direct, I can raise the main with one hand from the mast most of the way up and they strech much less than the 3/8 I had before, a little tight thru the clutches. I used the measurment of 115' from Catalina and have plenty left

My running rigging is getting a bit salty looking, it has not moved to the top of the to do list yet. I was wondering if any of you have purchased any line off of ebay, there are often many listings there, looking under "yacht braid" I came up with several hits today. You can buy a full 300' spool of 1/2 inch for $79.

Any input?

I just bought a 1983 C-36 and want to replace all halyards (2 jib, 1 main, 1 spinnaker)... After reading this entire thread, it seems that 120' of 3/8" is good for Main Halyard. But does anyone know about Spinnaker and Jib Halyard lengths. Or does anyone know easy place to find info (I'm new to organization and am learning where to find info). Any tips will be greatly appreciated!

Do you have the original configuration with the halyard winches on the mast, or are they led to the cockpit?

In the original configuration, I got away with a 95' main halyard. For my new spin halyard, which runs to the cockpit, I went with 125' and I probably could have gone a few feet shorter. 120' should be plenty for all halyards, basically you are going up and down the mast (90' round trip for the std. rig, 95' for the TR), along the cabintop (10') and a bit more so you can get some slack, particularly in the spin halyard.

1/2" is too big and will cause a lot of extra friction. I used 3/8 for most stuff and went 7/16 for the jib halyard as I don't want to see it stretch at all.

You can often get a deal on a spool of line, but my dad did this on his 40'er and we had the exact same color rope for jib sheets, spin sheets, spin guys, a halyard, and the runners and you couldn't tell anything apart in the cockpit. For the few ropes a Catalina needs it doesn't cost much extra to buy separate lengths that you can tell apart from one another.

Just bought the boat and THINK its a standard rig. All halyards are on the mast, but plan on bringing atleast the Main halyard to cockpit so I can reef the main from the cockpit (obviously I'm rigging a one-line reefing system too). 120' it is! Thanks.

Stu,
Are you SURE you want to do a single line reefing system???? With as little effort as an extra rope clutch on the cabin top, you would have a much better reefing system if you use a two-line reefing system. Just a thought.

Tom,

I have a single line reefing system where I have the line running through two small blocks attached to the fore and aft cringle, which eliminates a great deal of friction. It works pretty well except the leach of the sail doesn't quite get down tight enough and needs some manual help. I am not quite sure how your two line system works with a rope cluch in the cockpit

Richard,
I assume that your one line reefing system terminates in the cockpit with a rope clutch? If it does, I found it very easy to add a second rope clutch, and change to a double line reefing system. One line for the clew, one line for the tack. Elsewhere on our website is a link to a bunch of upgrade photos I took. Hope this helps.

Tom,

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to find your photos.