Running Rigging

Documenting running rigging is a bit of a problem, as there are a lot of dependencies and variations. Whitby's brochure specified the sheets as 7/16" dacron. This was 3-strand, not braid. Times change, and there are different ropes available today. There are various braids and there are materials other than dacron. I've seen sizes ranging from 3/8" for light air racing sheets to 1/2" double braid for easy handling.

Gord Laco's Rigging Schedule

Gord Laco has contributed his rigging schedule for Surprise, #426. This is a great starting point if your boat is still similar to the way Whitby delivered it. If you or a previous owner has made changes, check to see if the description fits what you have. For example, a number of boats have replaced the mast sheave to use an all-rope main halyard instead of the original wire to rope halyard. If so, you need to use a rope sized to fit that sheave.

Other Variations

I used to have an editable page where people could describe what they were using in an attempt to capture some of these variations. I gave up on that because of the constant struggle with spammers putting inappropriate comments, mostly links to stuff they were selling or to pages full of malware, that I had to delete. Then the spammers started automating their posting, and the load on the web server threatened to have my ISP cancel my account. These posting bots were making it difficult for other clients on the same server. But enough about my hosting troubles!

This formerly editable page is archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20101212054448/http://alberg30.org/collaborate/RunningRigging. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to the Internet Archive. today I'm duplicating that information here.

Main Halyard

• I used 3/8" all rope halyard. Mine is 85 ft long. That's 70 ft for up and down the mast, and an extra 15 for leading aft and for enough to splice both ends (which I'll need to do when I end-for-end it). The rope is Yale Vizzion, which is a blended vectran/polypropylene core and polyester cover. It has a nice hand and splices easily. Breaking strength of 4300 lb and 4.1 lb weight per 100ft. -- J Bergquist

Mainsheet

• 90' of 7/16" dacron. This is enough to reach the aft end of the cabintop with the boom pushed out against the shrouds. I've got a 4:1 purchase, and the eye is sewn, not spliced. -- George Dinwiddie, #543

Genoa Halyard

Led Aft

• 80' of 7/16" dacron. The eye is sewn, not spliced. -- George Dinwiddie, #543

• 5/16" yale crystallyne (vectran core 7200 lb breaking load a bit more expensive) for the jib halyard -- J Bergquist

Genoa Sheet

Spinnaker Halyard

Led Aft

• 80' of 7/16" dacron. I found this long enough to go from the bow pulpit, to the masthead, down to a turning block, back to the aft end of the cabin and down to the bridge deck. You could probably get by with 3/8", but the larger line is easier to grip. The eye is sewn, not spliced. -- George Dinwiddie, #543

• 5/16" vizzion for the kite halyard -- J Bergquist

Spinnaker Sheet

Spinnaker pole lift

• 48' of 3/8" dacron. The pole is handled at a cleat on the mast. -- George Dinwiddie, #543

Also take a look at http://www.alberg30.org/maintenance/disorganized/RunningRigging/ for less organized information.

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