The last couple of spin halyards I used have had a nasty habit of twisting up throughout a day of racing to the point that there are issues with the halyard running through some of the micro blocks. I can only remedy this (on the beach) by untying the snuffer end of the kite, unrigging the halyard back to the mast and manually untwisting the halyard before re-rigging. Any thoughts on causes/solutions? It is a real pain in the a$$! I am using a tapered halyard. Please don't ask me what name the line is, I am really bad about that, but it has happened with the last couple of halyards that were all made with different types of line.
Does the line have a core through it all the way to the retrieval? If so that could be a big part of the problem.
No, there is only cover and core for a couple of feet where the line is cleated when the spin is hoisted.
Let me guess.... it's the round-kind...
Lol. We've been having this issue with the untapered cored halyard that comes stock with the non-race Infusion. I can't find the line type either but it is too stiff. Part of my reason for going to a tapered halyard is to avoid this issue. We'll be doing a double taper with Amsteel Blue on both ends and FSE Racing Sheet in the middle. APS had everything on the sale rack so mega score.
Karl, it may be the way you're storing the line, espesh if it gets coiled up and put away wet. That might explain the issue's persistence across different lines. Try putting it in a line bag (mesh sports bag) and running it through the wash once. Then hang it to dry between two trees or something.
Might be rubbing against the side plate of one of the blocks in the system, like the block at the masthead. If it rubs on the side plate that can force the braid of the line to distort over time and cause twisting. If its happened with multiple halyards this might be the issue. Harken micro at the masthead? Try a block with plastic side plates instead, the micro has relatively sharp stainless edges that can do this. Might also not have enough travel on the athwartship strop at the masthead which would cause rubbing on the side plate.
Karl,
I'm sorry to say but it's gotta be how your rigging it.
As Ian said maybe it's rubbing on the sidewalls of a block.
But like I said, we have used 4 spin halyards out of excel matrix with no problem and have other guys that have used the same.
I've also used the fse racing sheet and will probably be going back to that when it's time for a new one.
When you figure it out I'll make a new halyard for you <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" /> since you cut up the other one I made.
-Todd