We're looking to change out the original halyards on our '89 32-3. Can we go with all 3/8 line to replace the 3/8 line 3/16 wire or will we run into problems up top? Any thoughts or advice would be helpful. Looking to get her (our 1st boat!) in the water for the 1st time in 3 years on July 1 and of course, everything takes longer than expected. Hoping this isn't another one of those projects!
32-3 Halyard replacement
- Thread starter cdesopo
- Start date
Our '88 boat had the then EY common Kenyon spar. I tried to change to the 3/8 sizing, out of excessive caution. (Using low stretch hi-strength line made strength a non issue.)
I next changed to 5/16 New England T-900. This held in the original factory clutches and in the jaws of the original Lewmar 30ST housetop winches.
In 2019 I changed out the original parts for new clutch stoppers and new size 40ST winches. See my blog entry for some details.
ericsonyachts.org
It is remotely possible that your boat, like some other late-production Ericson's has another brand of spar, so temper my sheave sizing info with that possibility. I stitched the end of the new line to the end of the old rope and careful pulled it thru. Stitch it well - you want to maintain the routing down thru the spar. (presuming that the original factory lines have not been disturbed.)
I next changed to 5/16 New England T-900. This held in the original factory clutches and in the jaws of the original Lewmar 30ST housetop winches.
In 2019 I changed out the original parts for new clutch stoppers and new size 40ST winches. See my blog entry for some details.
O34 - New Housetop Winches & Clutches
The June-July project was to 1) replace the factory Lewmar ST30 winch on each side, 2) replace the out-of-production clutch stoppers on each side, and 3) move both winches aft toward the rear edge and move the clutch array back to make them a lot...
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Tried & it was no good? Or & it was no problem?
I need to recast that sentence..... 
I did make the change to 3/8 for a couple of halyards, and then found that that size dragged noticeably thru the cheeks at the top of the mast.
Slightly reducing the diameter to 5/16 solved the problem. Luckily I was able to resell the larger line, so in the end I was not out too much money.
I did make the change to 3/8 for a couple of halyards, and then found that that size dragged noticeably thru the cheeks at the top of the mast. Slightly reducing the diameter to 5/16 solved the problem. Luckily I was able to resell the larger line, so in the end I was not out too much money.
That splice looks like it was gnawed on!
In olden days the Berserkers were at the forefront of Viking battles, and were so fierce that they would gnaw on their shields in anticipation of the combat.
Rough Bunch of sailors on your boat!!
In olden days the Berserkers were at the forefront of Viking battles, and were so fierce that they would gnaw on their shields in anticipation of the combat.
Rough Bunch of sailors on your boat!!
Regarding the jib halyard, my expensive Dyneema will pull a freight train, but it kinks in iron knots. That can be quite annoying in turning blocks and deck organizer.
We aren't supposed to crank great gobs of tension on the luff of roller furling headsails anyhow, so why the Superman line? Modern rope has little stretch and retightening is easy. I woulds not spend $4.50 a foot next time.
Oh, and the new line will go through the sheaves at the top of the mast just like wire did, there are many threads attesting to that.
We aren't supposed to crank great gobs of tension on the luff of roller furling headsails anyhow, so why the Superman line? Modern rope has little stretch and retightening is easy. I woulds not spend $4.50 a foot next time.
Oh, and the new line will go through the sheaves at the top of the mast just like wire did, there are many threads attesting to that.
My wire-rope halyards and splices look similar to yours, @cdesopo.
I put my calipers on the existing rope and found some sections as wide as 1/2" and some a little narrower than 7/16". I've just ordered some fairly affordable replacement rope halyards from Defender with a 7/16" width after @Loren Beach and @GrandpaSteve warned me about the perils of climbing the wire halyards.
Don't know if the 7/16" will be a problem at the masthead sheaves, but I guess I'll find out. My clutches are set up for that width, anyway. Will report back.
I put my calipers on the existing rope and found some sections as wide as 1/2" and some a little narrower than 7/16". I've just ordered some fairly affordable replacement rope halyards from Defender with a 7/16" width after @Loren Beach and @GrandpaSteve warned me about the perils of climbing the wire halyards.
Don't know if the 7/16" will be a problem at the masthead sheaves, but I guess I'll find out. My clutches are set up for that width, anyway. Will report back.
GrandpaSteve
Sustaining Member
All my replacements are 10mm (3/8"). New England Ropes VPC, 105'.
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Richie 32-3
Member I
GrandpaSteve, I am replacing my wire halyards this season on my 32-3, I was thinking of using 3/8 also, do u experience any binding up at the masthead sheeves. Thanks
GrandpaSteve
Sustaining Member
None at all, it runs smooth.
I replaced my wire-rope jib halyard with 7/16" VPC. It's beefier than I expected and overkill but it turns at the masthead just fine. I did buy it with an eyesplice for the jib shackle but was worried the spliced line was fat enough to get caught in the halyard restrainer. I cut off the splice and now just tie the job on using a halyard hitch.
If I had it to do over, I'd buy 3/8" VPC.
If I had it to do over, I'd buy 3/8" VPC.
On the subject of cost, I find this with a short search:
store.offshorespars.com
T-900 at $1.91/foot today, and we've used this line for well over a decade.
New England Ropes 5/16in (8mm) T-900 White
New England Ropes T-900 features a pioneering blend of Dyneema and Technora core with a durable polyester jacket. Extremely strong, low stretch and durable. A combination of high strength, low weight plus low creep, T-900 is an excellent choice for static loads and is a more economical option to...
store.offshorespars.com
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light24bulbs
E30+ 1984, San Juan Island, Wa
So do you unsheet that part that goes through the sheaves to try to keep the diameter less so that it fits the existing sheaves or do you just run the whole thing and not worry about it?On the subject of cost, I find this with a short search:
T-900 at $1.91/foot today, and we've used this line for well over a decade.New England Ropes 5/16in (8mm) T-900 White
New England Ropes T-900 features a pioneering blend of Dyneema and Technora core with a durable polyester jacket. Extremely strong, low stretch and durable. A combination of high strength, low weight plus low creep, T-900 is an excellent choice for static loads and is a more economical option to...
The T-900 5/16" fits my OEM sheaves and clutches OK, so I have had no need to reduce the diameter. (if that's what you mean by 'unsheet'.)
At one point I did try some 3/8", but it dragged in our clutches and was tight thru the cheeks in the sheaves. I was able to re-sell it for a few $ on CraigsList.
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Dave G.
1984 E30+ Ludington, MI
I use 5/16(8mm) New England VPC on all my halyards & it runs fine through the sheaves. In fact I found that it's actually smoother than the old cable to rope lines. VPC on sale is around a buck a foot too.
New England Ropes VPC Performance Braid
Designed with the casual racer and offshore cruiser in mind. VPC fills the gap between performance polyester lines and ultra-high performance racing lines. Utilizing New England Ropes' hybrid performance technology, VPC features a strong core of blended V
light24bulbs
E30+ 1984, San Juan Island, Wa
Nice this is exactly what I was hoping to find out. And I do think using a sort of medium price double braid that isn't quite as expensive as the $2 foot dyneema is perfect for me because I think that's overkill but polyester doesn't look quite strong enough at 5/16. Just had a climber up today and he confirmed that it looked like 3/8 would be a little bit tight. Thanks for the recommendation of that brand and for letting me know it's on sale. I think I'll grab a few hundred feet right now.I use 5/16(8mm) New England VPC on all my halyards & it runs fine through the sheaves. In fact I found that it's actually smoother than the old cable to rope lines. VPC on sale is around a buck a foot too.
New England Ropes VPC Performance Braid
Designed with the casual racer and offshore cruiser in mind. VPC fills the gap between performance polyester lines and ultra-high performance racing lines. Utilizing New England Ropes' hybrid performance technology, VPC features a strong core of blended Vdefender.com