We received the new 2022 Nonsuch Registry yesterday, (thank you very much).
Near the back of the booklet there are listings for the running rigging for each of the Nonsuch models. For our 1986 NS26 the Main Halyard is listed as 3/8" dia. Nicro-Fico Cupsheet. Despite several internet searches I am unable to find any information on that line. The manual that I found on the Nonsuch Website calls for 7/16’ low stretch dacron. I would sure like to switch to the 3/8" size. What are others using and what is recommended? Will 3/8" line work with the Standard Barent 2-speed self-tailing halyard winch?
Thanks,
Tim in STL
White O’morn NS26U #216
Harbor Point Yacht Club
West Alton, MO
Good morning. I have a 1986 NS 26 and just replace my halyard with 3/8 dineema line, purchase 120 ft. Tensel strength is 9000.. Works just fine. Ron. NS, BUONA VITA
Thanks for that. Is that line 100% dyneema, or is it sheathed with poly? I would have thought that plaine dyneema would be too slippery for the self tailing winch.
Tim in STL
White O’morn NS26U #216
Harbor Point Yacht Club
West Alton, MO
Sounds like Marlow D2 Club line @ 10 mm. A direct replacement, they say, for 3/8" low-stretch. This Marlow line has a Dyneema core but still feels good and works good on winches. I agree with you that pure Dyneema would be no fun and needlessly strong and $$$$$.
Ernie A. in Toronto (that had snow yesterday - boo hoo - how truly awful)
Replaced all my running rigging two seasons ago. Used New England Ropes’ Starting-Set X for halyards. Good price/performance ratio. I’ve used T-900 on race boats in the past, which allows you to use a smaller diameter line, but it’s hard on the hands.
NIcro Fico disappeared awhile ago. Part of it got absorbed into Ronstan, the rest of their product line appears to be just plain gone.
Most Barient winches, and in fact most self-tailing winches, will handle line from 5/16ths inch to 1/2 inch. So you should be just fine there.
If you’re considering Dyneema, I’d test it with your winches and sheetstoppers if at all possible before you commit. It is pretty slippery.
New England Ropes Sta-Set X is a well-priced low stretch dacron line, and I believe it to be lower-stretch than what was standard when “low stretch” was specified some 35 years ago.
Thor Powell has pointed out in a few other discussion threads that modern sails are tougher and require lower-stretch lines than older ones. I think New England Ropes has kept up with that. However, with that in mind, I personally would invest in a higher-performance line if downsizing from 7/16ths to 3/8ths.
(In fact, I’m about to; there’s a really great marine surplus store an hour’s drive from my house where I just got 140 feet of 3/8ths Vectran line with dacron cover for $85. Two hours round trip but definitely worth it. It’s going on as soon as I finish installing the Lewmar Ocean 30 winch I got at the same time.)
I’ve also found good deals on line at R and W Rope (RWrope.com), so you might want to check their offerings, also.
Tim, I use 3/8” on La Reina and it works in the winch although I do have to use an extra wrap or it tends to come out of the jaws. I would go with what is generally referred to as core dependant line. It will have a polyester cover over a Dyneema, Spectra or Vectron core. The Dyneema and Spectra are very similar. The Vectron is slightly different but they are all low stretch and good for halyards. All three will have higher working loads than Dacron (polyester) lines of the same size and will stretch much less. The hoist on a 26 is about 41 feet and it is about 20 feet back to the cockpit so when the sail is hoisted you will have about 60 feet of line under tension. 2% stretch which would not be uncommon for Dacron translates in to about 1 foot which will give you scallops in the luff just when you don’t want them. My halyard has Dyneema core because that is what the rigger carried. Splicing a core dependent line is very difficult so it is worthwhile having a rigger splice on the shackle for you.
When I bought La Reina she had an oversized Dacron Halyard. If the winds were expected to be 15 knots I would crank up hard on the halyard. As we beat to windward scallops would develop in the luff. As we tacked I would crank up harder still on the halyard but in short order the halyards would stretch and the scallops would return. Switching halyards has made a significant difference.