Hi All

I'm having a bit of a blank moment, and can't remember what construction is used for trapeze wires, 1x19 or something else.

About to order some wire and things to make some up, and I thought I was right with 1x19, now I'm doubting myself.

Please Help

amsteel 7/64 or 1/8

but yes 1x19

So, how often to you change your synthetic trap lines? My boats are exposed for a 6 or 7 month season. Thanks!

Dave

Hey Dave,
My FX-ONE has Spectra trap wires and they're exposed to the sun everyday it's sunny. I keep thinking about changing them, and in fact I have a new set ready to go, but now it's been so long I want to see how long they'll last. So far it's been since 2005 and I sail a lot. I'll tell you when they finally let me down.

Matt, the most common size is 1X19 3/32"

3 mm dyneema on there since juli 2004 and I'm still counting.

Wouter

3mm marstrom D12 since June 05 only reason I have to repalce them is because they are looking worn at the shackle, at the top, guess occasionally they get pinched when gybing tacking etc with the mast rotation.

For the worlds going to run 2.5mm

Are you guys splicing around thimbles, or just an eyesplice?

Dave

The best thimble to use is the closed end "sailmakers" thimbles. The biggest problem I have had with the synthetic lines around standard thimbles is that they do get abraded around the sharp V. You actually don't need the thimbles at the top. They are necessary at the bottom though depending on how you run the trap line to the hook through them. I have made about 6 sets or so for boats that I was able to keep an eye on and there have been no issues except on the boat with the 7/64 amsteel and a 240lb dude hanging from them who likes to fly around the forestay on a routine basis. Those abraded relatively quick. Another boat has had them up in the Florida sun over the summer and there were no problems.

and they are eyesplices around the thimbles. I would recommend 1/8 because it gives you more play room before the abrasion becomes a problem. Our Scandinavian friend uses knots and hasn't had a problem. I like splicing them so I do that.

I spliced both ends without a thimble, but did choose shackles with nice round bearing areas. Captive pin shackles are used at the top, narrow shackles at the bottom. The cross section of the shackles is circular.

If I was in a rush to make a start line at an important regatta, I wouldn't have any qualms about knotting them.

Plastic thimble on top secured with a figure 8 knot and some stitching. Bottom just a figure 8 knot loop that is secured to the pin of the shackle by a fishers hitch. The trap handle rest on a figure 8 knot in the line. I have no issues with abbrassion. The plastic thimble has "teething" marks of the gear up at the hound fitting but the line itself is fine.

Wouter

Problem with thimbles at the top is that they can push the lines out at an angle, due IMHO to the fact thats theres not alot of room up there and they can't rotate, whereas a soft eye round a nice round smooth shackle gives a nice angle, hard eye splice at the bottom where adjuster is attatched, so can use any shackle!!!