Running rigging replacement intervals and current age

[Jim Walsh]

I'm just wondering how many years of useful life you expect to get out of your sheets and halyards and the age of your running rigging at this time. If you have done a recent replacement, what prompted it? Manufacturing defects should be excluded since we have no control over them. Chafe is obviously one of the factors which hasten replacement. Ultraviolet degradation is one of those factors which is variable according to where your home port is and whether your mast is layed up with the halyards still exposed to the sun or if you employ messengers in the off season.
As an example, I replaced all my running rigging in 2008. I've suffered no manufacturing defects and I'm sure they are rare, especially since we, as a group, are not using cutting edge exotic fibers as are found in use by the racing fraternity. I have an Amsteel (Dyneema) topping lift, that's pretty exotic but certainly not cutting edge. My headsail sheets are getting a a bit "fuzzy" in a few spots, whereas my halyards exhibit only the slightest amount of wear. They have, however, gotten noticeably softer in the last couple years. I spliced my shackles in so my halyards have not been "end for ended".
What are your expectations, experiences, and thoughts?

[jen1722terry]

This is weird. Jenn and I were just sitting in bed here this morning in Nova Scotia watching the sunrise and the topic of halyard care/replacement came up. (yes, we are that boring).

All our running rigging was replaced by the PO in 2007. Neither he, nor us to date, have removed the halyards for mast-up winter storage. This winter, now that we have more time, we will remove them and use messenger lines (we'll be buying a whole bunch of chute cord at Walmart).

So, we have the same question: when to replace? We looked at several other forums and could not find good guidance. Fraying, obviously, is not a good sign. Some owners complained of stiff halyards as they age, others say they get softer. What to do, what to do?

We do have a spare spinaker halyard installed which could raise the mail most of the way up in an emergency.

We did find a post on, I think, Sailnet which I pasted in below. Interesting about the double braid.

Hope this helps, and we'll look forward to other comments.

Jenn and Terry (who just sailed our dear old 31 to the yard on Friday for haulout - boo hoo.

"Is it single braid or double braid?
Are halyards internal or external?

With double braid, the core is experiencing minimal abrasion and UV degradation. When the cover starts to show wear, then it is time for replacement or at least and end-for-end.

With single braid probably best to set a limit of 5yr or so or the first signs of chaffing and then end for end it.

If the halyards are external then it is easier to replace them and you can be a little more liberal about how far you push the halyard life."
___________

[Neil Gordon]

I spliced my shackles in so my halyards have not been "end for ended".

1 - Using sharp knife, remove shackle from end "A"

2 - Pour adequate quantity of single malt into glass

3 - Using single malt, lubricate as necessary

4 - Splice shackle onto end "B"

You should lose less than a foot of halyard making the cut and putting in the new splice.

(Important: Do the sharp knife part before the single malt lubrication part!!!)

[Steve Laume]

I have replaced all of the running rigging on Raven over the 10 years I have had her. For the most part the old lines seemed okay but just looked a bit tired and there are much better choices in line these days than there used to be. You can go lower stretch with smaller lines or a nicer feel with no sacrifice in strength.

I only had two lines that were replaced due to failure concerns. One was the roller furling line. It had some chafe and a failure would have come at the worst possible time and would have been hard to deal with. The other, was the main halyard. It just plain parted! It looked to be in fine shape with no sign of weakness. The only indication that there was a problem is when the main came sliding down the track on a very mild day near the harbor entrance. This was closely followed by the halyard tumbling onto the deck. No harm, no problem and it was on a CD cruise so I had help to get up the mast the next day and rig a new one. Couldn't have happened at a better time.

I looked at that line every time I raised the sail and there was never any indication of a problem. What occurred was a complete failure where the line went around the shackle to form the splice. The best thing that have happened in the rerigging process was being shown the buntline hitch. I will never have another spliced double braided line on my boat again. This is a beautiful knot that is quick, easy and even fun to tie. I love to splice three strand but double braid is a PIA. I believe this knot is a far better choice than a splice and the ease of tying it will take the dread and procrastination out of swapping ends or moving the tie after a year or two.

Splicing new double braid is not much fun but splicing older stuff is nearly impossible, Steve.

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/buntline-hitch/

[Joe Myerson]

The best thing that have happened in the rerigging process was being shown the buntline hitch. I will never have another spliced double braided line on my boat again. This is a beautiful knot that is quick, easy and even fun to tie. I love to splice three strand but double braid is a PIA. I believe this knot is a far better choice than a splice and the ease of tying it will take the dread and procrastination out of swapping ends or moving the tie after a year or two.

Amen, Steve! I bought Creme Brulee 12 years ago this week, and it's clearly time to replace the running reigging. The only failure I've suffered so far was my main halyard shackle, which required me to hoist a neighbor up the mast on the jib halyard. I found that the broken shackle was attached with what I thought was a jammed double half-hitch, but which I discovered was a wonderful, easy-to-tie and difficult-to-untie knot called the buntline hitch. It's one of my favorite knots, along with half-hitches, the bowline and the rolling hitch. All you need.

I do think I've got to consider replacing that running rigging, though.

--Joe

[Neil Gordon]

The only indication that there was a problem is when the main came sliding down the track on a very mild day near the harbor entrance. This was closely followed by the halyard tumbling onto the deck.

Nice that is was holding up the main, and not a bosun's chair!

[Jim Walsh]

I spliced my shackles in so my halyards have not been "end for ended".

1 - Using sharp knife, remove shackle from end "A"

2 - Pour adequate quantity of single malt into glass

3 - Using single malt, lubricate as necessary

4 - Splice shackle onto end "B"

You should lose less than a foot of halyard making the cut and putting in the new splice.

(Important: Do the sharp knife part before the single malt lubrication part!!!)

I must not have scrolled down all the way when I was following your instructions. I got as far as step 3 and just kept repeating. Now I have 85 main halyards and each is 1 foot long. I've also run out of Scotch........and band-aids

[Steve Laume]

The only indication that there was a problem is when the main came sliding down the track on a very mild day near the harbor entrance. This was closely followed by the halyard tumbling onto the deck.

Nice that is was holding up the main, and not a bosun's chair!

That is exactly why you always tie into a bosun's chair instead of using a tired splice and questionable shackle, Steve.

[Neil Gordon]

That is exactly why you always tie into a bosun's chair instead of using a tired splice and questionable shackle, Steve.

Yes, but it's not the only potential source of failure. If you're riding up the main halyard, a safety on the jib halyard might be a good idea.

I went aloft on Clearwater about a month ago, easily climbing the ratlines... but not without a harness/prusik knot arrangement that I slid up a safety line as I climbed.

Easiest way aloft on LIQUIDITY, in any case, is to split the effort between two halyards and two winches. Especially when I'm the one going up, I like to know that if one of my helpers lets go, I still get to defy gravity.

[tjr818]

...Easiest way aloft on LIQUIDITY, in any case, is to split the effort between two halyards and two winches. Especially when I'm the one going up, I like to know that if one of my helpers lets go, I still get to defy gravity.

I like that idea, but how many helpers would that require? We usually have one person doing the cranking and one doing the tailing, so that sounds like a crowd around the mast on our little 27.
I'm almost sure to hit one of them when I drop the screwdriver

[Neil Gordon]

...Easiest way aloft on LIQUIDITY, in any case, is to split the effort between two halyards and two winches. Especially when I'm the one going up, I like to know that if one of my helpers lets go, I still get to defy gravity.

I like that idea, but how many helpers would that require? We usually have one person doing the cranking and one doing the tailing, so that sounds like a crowd around the mast on our little 27.
I'm almost sure to hit one of them when I drop the screwdriver

It does take two helpers. It's not much of a crowd, as each has their side of the mast. A nice weekend day at the marina makes it pretty easy to get two beefy volunteers; more difficult if your boat is on a mooring. Beer AFTER is a good idea!

[jbenagh]

This winter Christine C will get new main and staysail sheets. The outer covers just started wearing through. They may be original to 1983.

I replaced all the halyards and topping lifts in 2011 when I bought her. They are all New England Ropes and holding up well. The jib sheets are doing pretty well also but I might replace them when I do the other shets

The furler line is on its way out as it has become kind of stiff, probably from repeated immersions in salt water. I will probably replace the furler next winter (on advice from the rigger as he says the one I have carries the load of the stay) so no point getting a line before then.

Jeff