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Old 05-15-2006, 02:37 PM
Brion Toss Brion Toss is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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Default spinnaker halyard

Hello,
First, a Spectra spinnaker halyard is on the non-stretchy side for many boats; a little elasticity can be a good thing where shock loads happen, as on spinnakers and mainsheets. But if you are sure you need HM rope, bear in mind that, unlike double-braid Dacron, all the strength is in the core, so chafe to the cover isn't structrural. Add to that the fact that the cover on HM is much tougher, plus that there will in any event be far less chafe (less stretch = less movement on block sheave and mast entrance and exit), so you might be better off, for cost as well as performance, with a hybrid halyard, Dacron at the bitter end, and HM above the winch.
Or you could just splice both ends of the T-900.
As for the Ring (Lark's Head, Girth, Tete de Alouette, and God help me, Luggage Tag) Hitch, it doesn't weaken the line significantly, as the effective radius is greater, and both sides are loaded.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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