Halyards

[Miker]

Cheers Mark,
I've been doing some research and splicing spectra isn't really that hard, so I'll get some and do some practice. http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/eye_splice.html . I can test the strenght of the job with a winch or pulley set up in the garage.

Also running the new halyard will mean the splice will need to be done in situ, although you said you had yours spliced off the boat? How did you run the new halyard with the splice in place?

Michael

[Tales]

Not trying to talk you out of the splice if it doesn't foul the sheave but we have been using a bowline with no thimble and no problems. Just about everyone I know uses this setup.
I had planned to cut off the last few inches and re tie down the track if the halyard showed signs of fretting at the snap shackle but so far it has not.
Cheers,
Tom

[storm petrel]

Hi Michael,

I sewed an 20m length of 6mm line to the end of the halyard(to minimise the size of the join I slipped the 6mm line inside the outer coating of the spectra before sewing them together), taped around the join to make it smooth and then pulled the line backwards through the mast with the halyard. I then unpicked the join and sent the halyard off to be spliced. When I got the halyard back I simply reversed the process - sewed and taped the end of the halyard to the 6mm line (that I had replaced the halyard with) and ran it back through the mast head. It was the just a matter of removing the line and sealing the end of the spectra. I took about 10 minutes. I think there are, 'how to replace your halyard sites on the net' that show pictures of how to do this.

But I agree with the others that a knot is probably a simpler solution.

Cheers,
Mark

[Miker]

Now this is what's good about a forum.... I never thought of using a messenger line, as in a small diameter rope sewn and taped to the old, then used to bring through the new.....

Thank you I now have what I need and will get to practicing splicing and Buntline hitches......

Michael