Tapering/covering sheets/halyards...

[Adam Yuret]

Hi gang,

So I have a bunch of vectran and spectra kicking around after the boat
show. I now need to sort out how to put it to use.

I think I get the concept behind burying the cover into the core but I
have
a few questions...

1. do I need to use 1/4" cover if I'm covering 3/16" core or can I
size up
for better handling? If so, how?
2. how much of the halyards & sheets should I cover? (just the part
that
comes out the exits to the winches/cleats or more/less?

Also, if anybody's looking to trade some low tech cover for some
spectra/vectran I'd be keen to make a deal so I don't have to strip
the
existing halyards for cover. :-)

If anybody knows of any books, articles or online resources with
instructions I'll be grateful.

Cheers,

Adam Yuret
Mr. Manager
The Banana Stand
Santa Cruz 27 #104

"There's always money in the banana stand." -George Bluth Sr.

[Ishmael]

You don't want to use too big a cover over the core or the core will
slip through it under load. And it just doesn't feel right in your
hand (kind of squishy).

For tapered halyards I recommend having the cover start just above
where the halyard exits from the mast. That will protect the core of
your halyard from UV if you sky them when you're not sailing the
boat. This is recommended for spectra/dyneema and critical for
vectran which is not very UV tolerant. It will also protect them from
chafe exiting the mast and it will be easier on the hands of whoever
jumps your halyards. For tapering sheets, just taper enough so that
the line is covered wherever it goes around a winch, ratchet block, or
gets cleated.

I would recommend only using the vectran on main and jib halyards as
it also does not handle chafe well. Spectra/dyneema is much more
chafe tolerant and better for spinnaker halyards and sheets.

As far as the splicing and tapering, all the major line companies (NE
Ropes, Yale, Samson) offer some form of a splicing guide. The most
critical thing is that you taper the buried core or cover inside the
splice. If you don't, the fat to thin transition is the most common
failure point in a splice.

Hope that helps!
James Clappier
SC27 116 Furthur

[Andy Schwenk]

covers will almost be guaranteed to fail if you're planning on using clutches...

[Adam Yuret]

Andy, 

Are you suggesting I not cover the vectran? (BTW it's coated for UV) 

Cheers, 

Adam Yuret

Mr. Manager
The Banana Stand
Santa Cruz 27 #104

"There's always money in the banana stand." -George Bluth Sr.

[Andy Schwenk]

You can't just hang any old cover on vectran and then "splice" it and expect it to be durable over time. It might last a few races but covers and cores must be matched for performance. 

[Adam Yuret]

So covering my Vectran would be worse than throwing the vectran out altogether and buying "properly" covered warpspeed or vectran or whatnot? FWIW, I don't have clutches or line-stoppers and won't until they turn up at goodwill or a long time from now. :-) 

Cheers, 

Adam Yuret

Mr. Manager
The Banana Stand
Santa Cruz 27 #104

"There's always money in the banana stand." -George Bluth Sr.