Hi All,

Anybody use spectra instead of wire?

Thoughts/Opinions?

Cheers

G'day Simon,

Interesting story.

On the weekend of the NSW state titles I was boatless in NSW. On the Sunday I took my 8 year old son to Lake Illawarra to see the Flying Ants (and go for a sail on one)

While there I got a crew job on a 16' skiff. I noticed the boat had spectra trapeze lines and asked how the spectra went when used as a trapeze wire. Both skipper and crew affirmed that it was great, they'd used it for years and hadn't broke one yet.

We went out for the race and on the second windward leg the helmsman's trapeze line broke, he fell into the water, boat tipped over and tiller extension broke. We righted the boat and sailed back in not finishing the race. Guess I jinxed them.

On the other hand I've seen stainless cable break too.

Just as an aside: Gee it takes a lot of sail and work on a mono to get it to go fast. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I've used dyneema (my internet research suggests it is almost identical to spectra but more tolerant to shock loads) for a while now. I probably wouldn't bother going back to wire, but will definitely check the rope before a big race and replace if necessary.

Simon,

I think I read somewhere that spectra is good except where there are tight bends ie. at knots. So it's great in tension but not great in shear.

I suppose you could always set up a double loop at each end so that if it broke at a knot you could have have a safety line to prevent falling off. It might get a bit messy at the harness end.

I think I'll stick with the wire and make sure I always have the ends swaged at the riggers shop.

Regards,

Peter

I tried spectra for the trapeze about 3 seasons ago. I found that they vibrated in the breeze when the weight was on. In the end this was so irritating I went back to wire. I couldn't really see any important advantage in using spectra.

Maybe for a sloop with 4 trapezes up the mast the weight may be considered important but I would say one misjudged tack is going to be many times more damaging than that little bit of weight in the rig.

Of course for someone without a swaging tool it's much easier to use spectra.

Thanks for the comments guys, and the story Col. As for the "mono-marans", they maybe slower but they're sure easier to tack in a blow. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />(hope to get that sorted down at Loch Sport)

Think I might try spectra traps. I don't have a swaging tool so it's more convenience than a weight consideration.

The day I can get round a course with only one blown tack I'll start to worry about weight issues.<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Cheers

Simon, in most cases I'd agree with you about tacking monos but on this 16' skiff we managed to end up head to wind on most tacks due to incorrect weight distribution, incorrect sheeting on main or jib, etc. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

All,
I have just done 2 new masts....self and youngest and have used dyneema on mine initially as a trial and will have Peter's done before nationals.....not even thinking of going back to wire...

My thoughts for what it is worth.

David
"Banh Sidhe"

Dyneema or Dynex is the go. It is stronger and half the weight of the wire you would be using.

Turns out very neat when spliced.
You need to be carefull that it does not fray on anything in the hound area.

Have a look at how some of the A class guys splice it.

Regards

Chris Dean

hi simon, i am on the dyneema band wagon. its light, very strong and very neat when spliced correctly. you only have to see how its done once, and you can splice it yourself easily much like a waterski rope splice. as most guys who know me, i am probably the heaviest mossie sailor(ever)! shutup! and i have never had a problem with it. if you go fishing it is exactly the same as spiderwire, just bigger.

Thanks again for all the input. I broke threads on both wires last weekend. I'm having a bit of trouble with trapeze technique as I learn to tame this beast so I'm putting an adjustable system on this weekend. My local supplier gave me a pretty good price including the wires, so wires it is till next time.

Brian.... enjoyed your reference to "hyperspace" the other day. Just gotta learn to avoid slipping into the "alternative reality" while doing it. You know... the one where everything is upside down. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Cheers

the adjustable is great when you are learning. as you can trapeze higher. this allows you to continue to trapeze when you are underpowered that little bit compared to others. it also allows you to stay out of the waves going up hill. just remember to lower yourself when reaching . if you are too high on the reach you will lose balance when you are down the back and end up fairly quickly around the front!!!cheers mate

Hey Brian,

Judging by the "wire" thin bruise runing nearly the length of my body, this would be a great time for you to chime in with a big "I told you so <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

15 to 20 with gusts a little higher, all afternoon at McCrae on Saturday for 2 races back to back. Beam reach, first time with the leeward bow in up to the beam, <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> and only saved by the abrupt stop caused by face planting the side stay! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Boy these boats are fun! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Footstraps going on this weekend.

Cheers

footstraps rule!!!!