for the top halyard fixing has anyone tried bending 8mm stainless steel rod into a horse shoe, flattening the ends and pop riviting it to the mast in place of the rope. hoping this would eliminate the chaffing where the rope passes through the mast. every thing else would remain the same?

Yes I have seen that on some spinnaker cats in the past, but I think almost all use the dyneema loop these days. I think you are assuming there is a problem (chaffing), my experience is with a bit of care smoothing out the hole in the track of the mast and using a smooth shackle on the pulley, that the loop out lasts the mast.

Hi all,
On a slightly different note, I need to replace my halyard, as my boat is set up to have a separate halyard and tack-line (a bit awkward to say the least!) and the current halyard is not long enough to accommodate the extra line required.
What types of rope are folk using?? Is there a specific type that resists twisting?
Any help would be much appreciated.

sounds like your going Tornado style.
Go to the one system halyard system, so mush easier less things to go wrong. some people use 5mm soft rope, not sure what it is, but i use 4mm spectra and when i put it if the mast i run the whole rope out to the end to get twist out, after a few races the rope will soften up and twist are easy to get out.

Matt

Cheers Matt,

I was thinking spectra, but wasn't sure it was essential. My previous dinghy experiences have told me that a little bit of stretch on the kite halyard is not a terrible thing.

I think I'll go 5mm double braid to start with!

It should be long enough Hacko. You must be doing something wrong. HB

i start one one end,
Tie one end to the ring on the bridle then with other end tread the rope in this order....up thru the pully at top of mast...down the mast thru a rig or rope at spreaders (so the halyard dont get caught behind spreader)at the base of mast on the spin pole should be a pully and go forward to a double ended pully (for the tack line)back down the pole thru the cleat on main beam or on trap somewhere... crossing over the opposite side of center beam, thru a pully at the back of the center tube, under the tramp and up thru the chute which is between the dolphin striker and beam.
the halyard should be 20 meters. i went 21 to make sure.

the tack line goes from the pully at the end of the spin pole, thru the double ended pully which the halyard is thru and the end goes in a hole in the side of the pole with a knot tied behind it!

Matt

Cheers Matt,

I think I have it covered! Steve is just being a smart-butt! I hope that I will have something to brag about on this forum on Monday, after our first official showdown this weekend!