I just bought the Harken Carbo 7:1 setup and I'm finding my old 7/16 line too big to run smoothly. I need to change it out for 3/8 I suspect. Since I normally hand hold the main 90% of the time, comfort is an important factor. The Dacron Spun Braid stuff is what I've used for years, but at the larger diameters. I'm not to keen on doing a cover splice/taper since I've never done it and won't know where to start. Is there a better choice of line for these blocks?

The best line is the Warpspeed. If you need the comfort zone 3/8" is the best, otherwise the 5/16" runs a bit better. The nice part about Warpspeed is that you can strip the cover off the part that runs through the blocks so it really does a great job, yet keep the cover on the part that is in your hands.
Warpspeed's core is the strongest, least stretch on the market and is already UV protected and they have color coded lines.
You can go to our Catsailor Online Marine Store by clicking on the following link: http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg=products or to go directly to Warpspeed, click on the following:
http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jscpemirm
The price of the 5/16 is $1.73
and the 3/8 is $2.34

Good luck and good sailing,
Rick

I am using Samson Ultralite 3/8" through a 7:1 old-style low profile Harken setup. At first I found it to be slick and hard to grab, but after a month of use it fuzzed up a little and has become very nice. I am running 2.25 blocks though, so it is not as smooth as I would like.

I also have a question for anyone out there with carbo mainsheet systems: How much better are they and is it worth $300 to upgrade?

I am seriously looking into the 8:1 system. My experiance with Harken's carbos so far has be excellent on other parts of my boat.

The warpspeed is awesome! I runs through like its namesake!! It is tough and does not fade in the intese Florida sun. I use the 5/16" on a 8:1 setup. I was using 3/8" before. I like the 5/16" better personally. The ultra-lite frays quickly if you use the ratchets alot. I use the ultra for the spin.

2 cents....

AJ
Nacra 6.0 Express

I like using the cheap Dacron core stuff for mainsheet if not tapering. Stretch is not really (IMHO) on a 7 or 8 to one purchace. The upsides: cheap, soft, and fuzzy. Downside: Soaks up water like a sponge.

Warpspeed upsides: Lighter overall, can be tapered, little water obsorbsion, nice dense core means that it doesn't pinch you hand as bad if you wrap around you hand, cover's
pretty rugged. Downside: Price

Ultra-lite upsides: least water absorbtion, lightest line.
Downside: Cover is a polyprop. weave and isn't very rugged.
Been known to melt right off around winches (not an issue for you). Core isn't suitible for tapering, though I've seen it done. Price.

A good catalog to check out is the APS (www.apsltd.com)
book. After checking out the options, buy from Rick, though.