Long ago I asked about replacing halyards. I have yet to replace them, but am about to. I was pretty "closed" on the New England Sta-Set X, but not sure after reading comments like: I do not personally like Sta-Set X and would never use it again. Or: I agree with Maine, Sta-setX is a miserable line. We will match or beat anyone's advertised price on Samson products. The XLS extra is excellent, a lot of people like WarpSpeed too (a lot more expensive though):
or: That was so awful I replaced it and gave it away to the local fire department.

So...I'm looking at other alternatives. All of the manufacturers say theirs is the best, stretches less, etc. But none of them offer anything about lifespan (that I have seen).

I can see a racer liking a certain brand for performance, but since we are cruisers, wouldn't the life of the line be a big factor in selection? No doubt, I don't want to be adjusting for stretch constantly, but I'm not keen on spending $3.00/ft. either.

So what line will give the best performance, and is the most resistant to chafe, abrasion, and UV? How long would you expect halyards to last on your boat?

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

Because I read the same thing with halyards by Sta-SetX. I went wityh Dyneema Eruo for my main. I'll be eating canned soup for the next month to make up for it.........i2f

So, I'm sure you did your homework...why the Dyneema Euro? How long do you expect it to last?

What kind of soup do you like? I'll send a care package!

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

My 7X19 galvanized halyards have zero stretch, zero chafe, are incredibly cheap and will get me across the Pacific and back. They last ten years of full time cruising on the BC coast. I once used rope halyards crossing the Pacific, switched to wire in New Zealand and have had no reason to even considering going back to rope.

Oops, forgot about wire! I don't think many use it...why would that be?

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

Because it takes inspection of the wire just like you have to do with any other type of rigging. And because people try to use a sheave more suited to rope rigging (i.e., too small) which causes the wire to fail more quickly.

__________________
Regards,

Maren

The sea is always beautiful, sometimes mysterious and, on occasions, frighteningly powerful.

Maybe I don't quite get it, but I can't see two 50' coils of galvanized wire in the cockpit as looking proper on a sailing vessel.

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

No, you're right. You don't get it

With the main down, the wire is from basically from the tack to where the sheave. From there, there is a wire-rope splice which is often a nicopress fitting. When the main is hoisted the wire runs over the sheave and down towards the winch only it stops a bit short. The last few inches are the wire-rope splice and a bit of rope. No wire rope for the running rigging of any other sails. So, in the cockpit is just rope.

Here is what Brent is saying:

• The wire is UV proof and resists the weather better than exposed lines.
• The wire doesn't stretch.
• The combination is therefore cheaper.

Now, a skeptical soul would wonder about the stretch in the rope. Good point, only the rope can stretch only so much before it fails completely. Since an all rope halliard doesn't fail, the bit of rope won't either.

The current trend is all synthetic halliards which are lighter, and have no wire-rope splice to worry about. or fishhooks as the wire rope starts to break over time. But damn they are spendy and still have that UV problem to contend with.

__________________
Regards,

Maren

The sea is always beautiful, sometimes mysterious and, on occasions, frighteningly powerful.

I see how it works now.... Oh, and for all you cyber-lurker-newbees out there...join us! I'm tired of asking all the dumb questions.

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

So, you don't have some magical chart showing which synthetic halyard is best? (no pressure )

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.