Traditionally gaffed rigged with dyneema standing rigging

[benz]

Hi Mark,

I rigged my Atkins gaff cutter with synthetic shrouds--pics on my website: zartmancruising dot com

I used Vectran with a polyester cover: Samson Ropes' Validator II. Vectran has no creep issues like Dyneema, and if you keep the sun off, it seems to last. If you want additional protection you can slide a Dyneema sleeve over the line, and you can also leather over that if need be. Where chafe is unavoidable I've used a heavy PVC chafe guard called "Spiroll" with great success. The Dyneema sleeve is available in black from Marlow--that's the best look, IMO.

Rather than normal jib hanks, I slid a bunch of round brass thimbles onto the jibstay before splicing it. These each have a short tail of dyneema spliced to them, which I tie to eyelets in the luff of the jib. Takes about as long as hanking would, but the thimbles don't wear on my rope cover. Pics of that on my site as well.

There are more options for heat-set Dyneema than formerly: New England now makes a version called HSR; Marlow makes one called D12 MAX; Dinice makes DUX. I think Vectran still comes out cheaper, but you never know what you'll get when shopping for deals. The fancy multihulls around here (Newport) are all using Kevlar with a black dyneema cover, but those are custom-made to length with end fittings in situ.

For deadeyes, I used Colligo Marine's terminators with Dyneema lanyards. I used leathered soft eyes aloft and have had no problems at all.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions, or email me from the address on my website if you like.
Ben

PS Santa did NOT bring me the latest edition of the Rigger's Apprentice so I don't know if it deals with HM line. But there's a guy around here who might know :0