Sailboat halyard rope is a key component of the running rigging system on a boat. If a halyard breaks it will drop the sail and may damage the mast.
When choosing a rope for your halyards you need to consider the load it will be carrying and how it is used. You also need to consider the material it is made from.
Double Braided Polyester
For decades, polyester (Dacron) double braid has been the workhorse of cruising-boat halyards. Cost-efficient, durable and resistant to ultraviolet radiation, polyester is a popular choice for frequently adjusted lines like main and jib sheets, as well as moderately loaded control lines.
High-tech fibers are gaining acceptance as lightweight alternatives to wire rope for all types of running rigging, including sailboat halyards. Aramids, kevlar, and tarpon are all strong fibers that stretch little and are heat-resistant to prevent breakdown under pressure.
Practical Sailor tested a variety of high-tech lines from New England Ropes, Novatech Braids, and Samson Ropes to determine which fibers offer the best cost-vs.-stretch value for halyards, and found that a low-stretch fiber offers big breaking strengths without the need to spend a fortune online.
While high-tech halyards may not be right for every boat, they do offer substantial savings over wire and they add a lot more life to your sails. For example, a basic sailboat that costs $2,000 can add more than a year of sailing with a high-stretch halyard.
12 Strand Polyester
A double-braid polyester halyard rope is a good choice for most sailboat applications. The polyester 24-strand sheath (cover) provides protection from heavy wear while the 12-strand core retains most of the strength.
This is a very strong and durable sailboat halyard rope that offers excellent performance at a very reasonable price. The 12-strand core of the rope is made from SK78 HMPE fibers, which gives it a low stretch and excellent durability.
The cover is a unique mix of 16 strands of HT Polyester and Cordura grip fiber. The cover has a soft feel and is easy to handle.
It is a great choice for sailboats and dinghy sheets. It has high strength, low elongation, and good abrasion resistance.
Polyester is one of the fastest-drying fibers on the market and is resistant to most chemicals. It also performs well under heavy UV conditions, and if properly taken care of, should last for many years.
HMPE
HMPE or UHMWPE (Dyneema and Spectra) fibers have become very popular in recent years, because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent resistance to stretch. They are also light enough to float, have good chemical resistance, and stay tough even when damp.
Typically used in halyard ropes, these high-modulus polyethylene fibers are covered with a high-tenacity polyester sheath to help reduce handling and abrasion. They are available in single-braided, double-braided and multi-strand constructions.
Colligo Dux: This abrasion-resistant synthetic line is pre-stretched and heat-treated to produce an extremely strong, low-creep line suitable for standing rigging. The kevlar and polyester cover offers a good grip, while the abrasion-resistant nylon core provides added durability.
Technora: Like Dyneema, Technora is a high-modulus polyethylene that is able to maintain its strength and flexibility at very low temperatures, while resisting UV degradation and providing moderate abrasion resistance. Its high-strength-to-weight ratio and exceptional resistance to creep make it an ideal choice for upwind sail halyards under static loads, such as permanently hoisted roller-furling headsails.
LCP
In cruising sailboats, the halyard rope is typically a 20-foot length of basic 5mm line on smaller boats and 80 feet of high-tech double braid on larger ones. Its job is to pull the sail up and down the mast.
When the halyard stretches, it can cause your sail to rotate aft, causing uneven wear and tear on its fabric. That can shorten the life of your sails and make it less likely that you’ll be able to get full power from them.
This is especially true for roller-furling headsails and in-mast furling mainsails, which remain hoisted for months at a time.
Choosing the right line for your halyard system is critical to the performance of your sails. Using the right fiber can increase halyard stretch, which will allow your sails to pull more efficiently and help them last longer.