Rope to Wire Halyards

zdunc · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2013 09:20 **Posts:** 393

When I purchased Holiday last year, there was one halyard (spare or for spinnaker, I haven't used it yet, goes to top of mast), that was obviously due for replacement. The rope portion that I can see before it goes into the mast is frayed pretty bad. It is a rope to wire halyard. I figured even though I'm not using it now, I'll go ahead and put it on the list for replacement. Are there advantages to rope to wire or should I just go to all rope? And will it require changes to other hardware up the mast? Doesn't look to me like it will. Also, the jib halyard is rope to wire (all others are just rope). I don't have any experience with rope to wire, but when I took the genoa off a few weeks back, I inspected the halyard and the splice between the rope and wire didn't give me 100% confidence. So, I'll be replacing it also sooner rather than later. Same question there, go to all rope or stick with rope to wire? Just want to do what's best for strength, longevity, ease, and the wallet (in that order). I guess someone at some point thought that rope to wire was the answer to have put it on there.

WayneH · **Posted:** 02 Sep 2014 16:32

Here's my opinion and worth everything you paid for it.

Back in the day, rope was best for winches and wire was used to prevent stretching. So halyards under heavy loads ended up being rope to wire splices.

Rope fibers have progressed since then and the newer blends have little or no stretch under load. But they can be degraded by UV from the sun so you need to research both UV resistance and stretch before opening your checkbook.

When we bought Impetuous, only the jib halyard was a wire to rope splice. The splice still looks good so I haven't replaced it yet. But when I do, I'll go with an all rope halyard.

Your Mileage May Vary. All opinions expressed above belong to the idiot spouting them and should not be taken as gospel.

conch · **Joined:** 21 Jan 2010 12:57 **Posts:** 168

What Wayne says: especially with a roller furling headsail, there's scant need for a wire jib halyard.

puffcard · **Posted:** 02 Sep 2014 22:29

When you go from wire/rope to all rope take a good look at the masthead sheaves. Make certain they don't have any cuts or burrs that would damage the rope. You should be ok. If you stay with wire/rope check with Defender. I'm on the fence about switching to rope. I like setting my RF and knowning it's good, I use tape marks on mast for halyard tension.

Tortuga's Lie · **Joined:** 27 Oct 2006 10:32 **Posts:** 827

Yes, it's true that an all rope halyard is much better today than it was ten-twenty years ago and they are lighter than wire. However, one philosophy on this area is that the wire-rope combo on my boat is original (37 years now) and still in half decent shape. Can you get that kind of longevity from all rope? Just a thought.

zdunc · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2013 09:20 **Posts:** 393

Thanks for the suggestions and info. Will probably go to all rope on that spare that the rope is worn out on. I'll snap a picture of the splice area on jib halyard when I'm down at the boat next. Seems like it looks worn out to me, but it may just be normal looking. See what you all think. Thanks, Zach

zdunc · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2013 09:20 **Posts:** 393

Here is the splice on the rope to wire halyard for me head sail. Looks worn to me. Time to change? Thinking of switching to all rope.

Velera · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 09:38 **Posts:** 656

Doesn't look bad to me. When I redid all my running rigging 3 years ago, the folks at Rigging Only suggested that I keep the wire to rope on the headsail. My new one looks more worn than yours. I would have iike more wire on the winch than they gave me so the splice would not be wound on it. I am not sure why they suggested we stay with wire.

puffcard · **Posted:** 16 Oct 2014 08:13

That doesn't look too bad, I have replaced better and used worst. The pre-made from defender fits the T-37 very well only need to cut a couple feet of the wire before you Nicro-press the thimble and shackle. Make certain the splice is not above the winch. Another disadvantage with the wire is how it jumps off the winch when lowering the sail.

Defender P/N 612194, V/N H-650-1450, 50ft 3/16" wire and 50ft 7/16" Braid.

There some great braids out there, light weight and low stretch, check Hamilton (had a great sell last month) and APS

Tartan37.com

Rope to Wire Halyards

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