you can run SK75 trap line in 1.6mm and they last ages too.

Marlow make SK78 Max, which is pre-stretched SK78 and in 3mm is perfect for beachcat standing rigging.

Add in the precourt micro deadeyes and you have a top solution that saves weight but not costs.... still cheaper than PBO though!!

Perhaps it is design specific, but i was recently told that during a race, 2 "regulars here" barely made it through a single use (race) before the tops were "spent" (on a mystere 6.0 which basically is the same design as my cat, just a little more volume in the hulls)

I do know there is some real rubbing going on up top with my rig...

On the Tornado the stays come together in one big shackle on the mast. Just above this shackle there is a smaller shackle, perhaps 4-5cm. This is where the trapeze lines hook in and there is very little chafe there. If your mast is rigged differently so the trapeze lines chafe against the shrouds or something like that, you get chafe and it is instantly noticeable when you know what to feel like.

That's exactly how my boat is set up. My trap lines go to a seperate shackle further up the hound from the shrouds/forestay.

After using spectra traplines for the past few years, I don't ever want to go back to wire trapeze lines. They're cheap if you make them yourself, (Re-using my handles, and thimbles the last set cost me $25 for a pair), they last a long time, and you don't have to worry about kinking them when storing/trailering.

I'd like to make a set of shrouds, but I'm not sure I'm confident enough in my splicing skills yet. I think staymasters would be a must as well. At least then you can tighten them on the water easily if neccessary.

Andrew, Remember your boat gets more use than most anyone on this forum. You sail alone a lot. I don't care what anyone says. The risk out weighs the benefit.

Thanks Mike, good points... maybe i will just make Crew ones first .. wanna crew with me? hahah....