How to replace a mixed halyard?

You've just bought an old sailboat with mixed halyards and you're wondering how to change them?

Maybe it's time to switch to 100% textile halyards?

What is a mixed halyard?

On old sailboats, and before the widespread use of the textile and technical ropes we have today, halyards could be made with a steel/textile mix.

This is certainly not the same steel as for shrouds: the halyard must be able to pass through the sheaves, wrap around the winch, and be manageable.

This equipment can still be found on old sailboats. With the used boat market doing well, you might find such a boat for sale, with the need to replace your halyards.

How to change it?

Before placing an order, it is advisable to check that the boat's equipment will not cause problems, or if certain replacements will be necessary.

Check the fittings

The first thing to do is to check the boat's fittings, and especially the sheaves (the pulleys at the top of the mast).

A steel cable is generally thinner than a textile rope, so you need to make sure that the diameter of the sheaves will be compatible with textile halyards.
It can happen that even with a good technical rope, the sheaves are not suitable and need to be replaced.

Sheaves for cable have a V-groove, sheaves for textile have a half-round groove. The larger the diameter (Ø) of the sheave (less important rope bending radius), the better.

Check with the manufacturer

In case of major doubt, you can always check with the boat's manufacturer to see if there are any blocking impediments to switching to 100% textile ropes.

It can happen that, beyond the sheaves, the winches are also designed for these mixed metal/textile lines.
At least you'll know for sure.

Although, let's specify: mixed halyards have a steel part and a textile part. It is of course always the textile part that passes over the winch.

Advantages of the textile halyard

Having checked the fittings, it's time to look at the advantages of the textile halyard for this replacement.

Today (and for quite a few years in fact...) synthetic textile fiber ropes have become technical and qualitative, very high-performance products.

Even without going for high-end material like a Dyneema braid or a Dyneema core halyard with a polyester cover, 100% pre-stretched polyester braids are largely powerful enough for any pleasure boating.

Compared to an old mixed metal/textile halyard model, a new textile halyard will be much lighter, easier and more pleasant to handle, and easy to splice.

How to choose your halyard?

The basic rules are the same regarding the calculation of length and diameter for the new halyard.

The choice between polyester halyard or Dyneema halyard (high-modulus polyethylene) will mainly depend on your sailing style and your pursuit of performance.

Without replacing the sheaves, if a polyester halyard would have too large a diameter, you can also opt for a high-modulus polyethylene halyard: very robust, very low stretch...
A technical product par excellence, Dyneema also allows reducing the diameter of the rope for equal load compared to polyester.

A very good choice can be a Dyneema core halyard with a polyester cover: low stretch, UV and abrasion resistant, very good breaking strength, while facilitating holding in stoppers.

However, if you opt for 100% Dyneema, you will need a polyester over-cover at the winch for better blocking and to prevent the halyard from slipping: uncoated, Dyneema is really not ideal on winches.

Replacing a mixed halyard

We have already seen in a previous article how to replace a halyard on a sailboat. Concretely, once you have ordered your rope and are ready to equip your boat, you can refer to these tips and techniques to easily replace your line.