Happy New Year all, And thanks for all the accurate and generous help I've received since I acquired Wind Rose back in June. I'm getting ready to cruise South from the Florida pan handle and changing out some worn lines. I'm going to replace all the halyards. My main halyard is wire spliced to 1/2" dacron. I think I want to replace it with just rope, no wire. Does anyone know of any reason not to do this? Also the specs in my owner's manual list the main halyard as 3/8" as are the other two halyards. Should I just replace the old 1/2" with 3/8"? What difference would it make aside from a little easier on the hands? The thinner line is of course less expensive.
Does anyone have a favorite on-line store for rope?
Thanks again and happy sailing in 2012.
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida
Sam,
You will see a huge difference when you change from a 1/2" halyard to a 3/8" halyard. There will be a lot less friction. The masthead sheaves, exit plates, and everything else, were not designed for 1/2" line. They were designed for 3/8" line. You should check your masthead sheaves. If they are the factory sheaves, they may be toast. They were designed for line, and NOT wire. If your sheaves were swapped out to accomodate the wire, then you need to change them. Your wire-to-rope halyard was not from the factory. Wire sheaves are typically aluminum and V-shaped. From memory, factory sheaves are plastic, and U-shaped? The V-shaped sheaves are not good for rope, and the plastic sheaves are not good for wire. You might want to consider upgrading the masthead sheaves to ball-bearing ones from Garhauer. That also will make a big difference.
I've only ordered a few lines from them, but this place has good prices:
[URL]http://www.cajunrope.com/[/URL]
Hope this helps.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
Tom, Thanks, you're a great help as always. I'm off doing the research and trying to decide the best way to get up the mast to check the sheaves. Nothing is ever as simple as one hopes, is it.
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida
Sam-FYI- I believe you may find that the sheaves can only be changed out while the mast is removed- At least that is what I think someone advised at one time.
Laura Olsen
Past Commodore
S/V Miramar
hull 938 (MKI 1989, TR,WK, M25xp)
Edgemere, MD
Hey Laura, thanks for the comment. Since I initiated the post, I've dug up a lot of discussions about going up mast and removing/replacind sheaves etc. And it seems that its actually possible to change them out with the mast still up, but its a very complicated process. I've decided my need to change is not that immediate. I already planned to have the standing rig replaced in a year. I know a good rigger who will do that job without taking the mast down. And I'm sure he can change out the halyard sheaves at the same time without a big added expense. I just hope I don't need to do it sooner.
Fair winds,
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida