J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment replacing wire halyard with rope, suggestions

gave up on splices years ago ... way easier to end for end ... tight bowline at 50% of 5000 lb test 3/8 rope strong enough for anything we need on J30. even my 45 lb heavy weight main.

And anyway who would ever haul someone up on a shackle attached with a splice ... for important stuff you still use a knot.

Although I do like that anchor hitch as described, but one more knot to learn and teach crew ... coin toss.

I inspected my sheaves yesterday, I was surprised to see that there was not a grove from the wire. It actually had a nice radius and smooth. Secondly that that the second set,lower Jib and spinakker sheaves were never used. So I think I will swap them and use the new as primary and the old others as the alternates. Now I have to choose the line. I will place a second jib and spinnaker halyards at this time. I find I do many more jib changes than spinnaker peels. Speaking to the second Spin halyard question.( No OD in my area, Detroit)

I do not use a shackle (-: The halyard is tapered so we tie it to the headboard. You tie a stopper knot on the end of the halyard - push about an 8 inch loop of the halyard through the ring in the headboard and then pass the knot end over the headboard and through the loop, then tighten the loop. No shackle needed - less weight aloft. I learned this from some J/24 guys.

David - great idea, although I'd add a rope stopper ball just in case someone skies the halyard. This would prevent it from passing through the mast crane sheaves and down the mast.