tophatyachts.com

Posting this here for Glenda

Hello fellow Top Hatters, I'm the proud owner of "Genda" of Williamstown and was hoping to get some advice regarding halyards (the string for the main sail) new to sailing so a very empty vessel. The halyard is old and i bad condition and has wire woven though the end, can anyone advise the most suitable replacement thickness and type please.

I think you will have to get a rigger to make you up a new wire/braid halyard.

Unfortunately you will not be able to replace it with braid only as the pulley at your mast head will be for wire only.

Phillip / Martin,

When I had to replace the wire halyard on my Mark 3, I was able to replace it with a rope halyard without a problem. The sheave was suitable for both wire and rope. It may be that older masts were only suitable for wire, but it would be worthwhile trying to get rope through the sheath before going to the expense of having a new wire halyard with rope tail made up.

If the sheave is suitable for rope, the ideal material is 8mm Spectra or Dyneema, but 10mm polyester is lower cost and will work fine but you may have to adjust it as it stretches.

Steve

Definitely worth trying to do the easy switch over to rope. Maybe take a trip up the mast to have a look at the sheave.

Whats the go with Spectra?, is it usual for it to get "hernia's"?? the inside core seems to want to bubble out through the outer casing, or have I been looking at faulty Spectra?

cheers

Thanks Phillip and Shaun for the advice on the halyard.
Up the mast you say, unfortunately I think I have a bosuns chair I think that is the name of it. I'll work out how to to use it and give it a crack.
I have noticed rust on the base of the mast support,looks like a tricky repair, is this something I have to fabricate or does anyone reproduce them.
Any advice would be great.
Cheers Martin

Martin,

Do a search of the posts and look for Mast Bridge or Mast Girder.
You will find plenty of information plus the address of the original and only manufacturer of the Mast Girders/Bridge.

Take care on your trip up the mast.

Shaun,

Whats the go with Spectra?, is it usual for it to get "hernia's"?? the inside core seems to want to bubble out through the outer casing, or have I been looking at faulty Spectra?

From what I've been told on spectra halyards, you should have a swiveling shackle where you attach to your sail.

Phillip
Thanks again, I'll chase up that clown in NSW re the mast girder and work out how to shimmy up the mast.
AAAhhh the joys of sailing, not quite like the brochures .
Cheers Martin

Martin,

If your current halyard is wire/braid, by default, your sheave at the mast head should be built to take both wire and braid. This means you should have no issues with braid only. If however there is no braid at all, you may have a problem.

I didn't even check mine, I just changed it by sewing new braid to the old braid and made sure it has a smooth joint then simply pulled it through, carefully. Job took no more than ten minutes including the sewing. When I spoke to my rigger a year later, he said tha the sheave was fine, and you should only need to change sheaves I'd you have a wire only halyard. Mine is 10mm, and it could be done with 8mm easily.

Thanks Michael
You saved me a trip up the mast, I think my Bosuns Chair is only a safety harness anyway.
I imagine 10 mm will have a much better feel over the 8 mm spectra, I have been advise to use 21 mt does that sound about right ?
So many small and large jobs to do it's surprisingly enjoyable ticking them off. I have lost three stoppers on the Boom track, not sure of the correct name, at $50 ago I've decide to modify the track with bolts
Keen to make up a timber bench/seat at the back of the cockpit, saw young Kevin's TH moored next to mine at Willie and it looks quite practical.
Thanks again hope to be out on Monday
Cheers Martin

Martin,

I think 10mm would be total overkill for halyards. 8mm spectra is fine for a Top Hat and my rigger told me I could even use 6mm for my halyards.I went with 8mm spectra at my last re-rig 8 yrs ago and have had not problems since.

21m sounds about right. I think I used 22m but my halyards come back to winches above the cockpit.

Cheers,
Mark