Choosing the correct line for your halyard doesn't just improve performance, it's essential for keeping your sails safe. Lose a halyard while sailing and you'll likely have to end your race and head to the loft for repairs, so making sure you use the very best for your halyards is a worthwhile investment.
Gone are the days of heavy metal wire halyards, with so many advances in rope technology there are a baffling number of options available, from basic polyester double braid to new high-tech materials. (N.B. If you are looking to upgrade from wires? You'll also need to replace your sheaves with U shaped rope sheaves, instead of traditional V-shaped sheaves).
Below is a top level guide to selecting the right halyard for your needs...
Diameter and Length
The diameter of your halyard is determined by 2 factors:
The strength of the material in relation to the loads on board
Size of your clutches and winches on board
The table below is the starting point we use for a mid-displacement monohulls, to specify lines, but we do then cross reference with the boat type and mast / deck hardware onboard. If you have a very heavy displacement boat or a multihull, line diameters may well increase from these guide figures.
<24ft 25-30ft 31-37ft 38-46ft 47-55ft
Main / Genoa Halyard 1:1 6-8mm 8mm 8-10mm 10-12mm 12-4mm
Main Halyard 2:1 6mm 6-8mm 8-10mm 10-12mm 12-4mm
Spinnaker Halyard 1:1 6mm 6-8mm 8-10mm 10-12mm 12-4mm
Code Zero Halyard 2:1 6mm 6-8mm 8-10mm 10mm 12mm
Summary
Choose the correct diameter based on existing hardware
Calculate the length required from basic, easily available rig/boat geometry data
Core material choice is driven by boat size, performance parameters and budget!
Cover choice - start with Polyester but then add exotics to deal with specific / known issues like abrasion or slipping in clutches
Select your hardware
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