My spin halyard keeps twisting and kinking, most often on the takedown, which causes it to hang up going through the tramp gromet, ruining what should be a quick, clean snuff. What type line are you guys using for the halyard? Mine is the standard red covered line that looks just like the line in the pictures Pete posted under the "internal downhauls" thread below.

I have seen some spinnaker halyards made of dyneema, with no cover at all, and it seems very supple, maybe it won't kink up so much? Any problems with it getting cut or damaged rubbing on mast fittings and such?

And Wouter, how about posting some pictures of the Party over there?? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

pure plain dyneema is too slippery to use for a halyard for the most part. However, you could do a blended single braid like apex (but not sure you can get it in 3/16). What came with my boat- and what you probably have is the 3/16 spyder line which is actually really good stuff.
I had the problem with lots of kinking in the past on a previous boat but most of it can be solved by making sure you run all the twists out of the halyard before you set it up on the baot. If you coil it you need to unwind it all the way to the ends- making several passes. Usually that will get rid of the twists and it shouldn't kink. I tapered both ends of my halyard (the snuffer end to protect the sail/snuffer hoop- although that is probably unecessary with the aluminum hoop) and the halyard end to "save weight" (HA!!! nope.. I like splicing/tapering and I was bored one evening). Tapering probably won't solve the problem as much as making sure you unwind it.
If you want me to taper you let me know.. all it will cost you is shipping as I have nothing to do in Michigan right now. (same offer goes for any of my f16 compatriots, tapering, splicing, etc. not double braid eye splicing though.. ewww)

Thanks, I will be sure I unwind it better next time I set it up. I had the same type line on my last boat and never had a problem with it but I think this line is so new, it's stiff and kinks easily.

some people recommend washing the line in a pillowcase or something in a washing machine to help with the "newness"

I wash mine on 4.3 EVERYTIME 5 use it and run it thru my fingers to make sure there are jo twist. But mine is a little different than yours. As mine is one piece. I still have to fix my pole, BUT can't wait toget Blade in 2008

Doug

We had the same problem...drove me crazy.
Changed a couple things and it seeems to be working much better. First we changed the block at the top of the mast to a larger Harken block..changed out the halyard to Spectra line with no inner core...and last we put a block on the underside on the tramp at the grommet to help with the angle. Also we straighten the halyard before rigging. All the mods have helped a lot with the knots. Good luck...

I think spectra has poor UV resistance. You might consider keeping it in the bag.

The only time our halyard sees the sun is during regattas. The boat is stored broken down on the trailer, under the car port with the spin pole/bag in the box.

Have suffered the same problem. Have tried washing the rope, untwisting etc. The rope looks fine, but when the kite is hoisted, top 1m of spin is twisted. My guess is that core has somehow twisted in side the outer sheath.
I'm going to try a new type of line called paraloc ( http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d279000/e277617.asp ), where the core is braided with the outer sheath. Hopefully might solve my problems.

I had the problem of twisting gennacker halyard too.
It was caused by a grommit where the line was pulled trough.

BTW we use now a simple dyneema 6mm line without core for the halyard. at the point where the spinlock gribs, we inserted a core. The dyneema line is quite slippery and dosn't burn holes in to your spinny. On the downside it is hard to hold, but with the rubber gardening gloves we use it is perfect.

I just put some Paraloc brand Pirhana line on for the halyard on the Tornado. Used 4mm (~2700 lbs tensile strength). I like the grip it affords compared to bare spectra (which must be used with gardening gloves w. latex palms). This line is supposed to eliminate hockling (twisitng) and hold very well in cleats as there is not cover to core slippage.

So far, we've had a couple of problems on our first two douses. We use a 3-6mm range Spinlock (new version) as halyard cleat and for some reason, the untensioned side of the line seems jam up trying to go through the spinlock, causing it to sometimes re-cleat. There is still some pre-twist in the line so I want to remove that before any final judgement about the line's qualities.

The line appears slightly oval and rougher on oe "side" where the stitching process appears. The shape I think causes an eery sort of whitsling when the line is on leewrd side of the mast at speed. This might disappaear with line use.


Mike.

Liros
01500-0400 MAGIC GOLD
16-plaited, 4 mm ø

Comes in black blue yellow red or white.
Always works.

Liros ropes

Andi, is that block on top or under the tramp, and if it's under, what do you anchor it to?

Hi Tim

The block in our case is attached at the rear beam and above the tramp. I saw on other boats, which had the grommit for the retrieval line near the front beam, that they stitched the block to the tramp (with a good reinforcement).

Good luck getting rid of the twist!

Ours is attached under the tramp at the grommet. Seems to work well taking the edge off the grommet and helping with the angle.

The problem comes about when you induce the twist by the way you hand over hand hosit the spin.

After several goes... it will twist up like a rubber band.

One solution is to remove the halyard, tie and end to a tree and starting at the tree with the line wrapped around a screw driver pull the kinks out towards the free end.

It gives you a fresh start but will kink again unless you modify your hand over hand hoist