[quote=MN3]YES you can replace *ALL your steel rigging (more standing vs running rigging) with HM line (amsteel, spectra, vectran, etc,). You can't really use pure HM line as running rigging as it doesn't cleat without a jacket or blended materials.
12 strand is VERY easy to splice and a great place to start
A trap line is a good place for HM line... IF your setup will permit it. I know several Tornado sailors who use spectra (dynema) for trapwires. they are light, cheap, easy to do and look cool... BUT on my mystere my set up causes chafe up top (the mast) and i was advised against it. I THINK i may still try next time i need to replace. Perhaps i will make small pig-tails for up top .. but that may remove any benefit of going to HM line.
you CAN use HM line for your shrouds but its just to easy for ANYONE with a knife to walk by and demast you... to big an Arsehole factor for me... plus i hear (from those who have done it) you spend more time re-tightening your rig (most HM lines have some creep/stretch) than its worth (every time).
If you wish to try it (trap lines)... i say go for it
You need to use thimbles on both ends (easy to do) as HM line does / can chafe and pull apart semi-quickly if you dont.
As per your fingers / arms getting wrapped up.... well i guess it is possible, but you would really have to try to get something wrapped up in a trap wire.. but its possible. I know someone who lost a digit using very very thin dynema as a dog leash..and when the dog took off after a cat.. and it was wrapped around the persons finger.... POP![/quote]
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