Anybody have a preference? I read some stuff on sailnet and everyone seems to think all rope is great and that the rope/wire combo halyards were only in place because older lines stretched too much.

My boat has all rope halyards which I think make them easier to replace, just not sure if it's the best route...

I have the wire/rope combo which needs replacement. If it was just a stretch issue that would be great.

My info is just reading as well. Seems with low stretch ropes, the wire is no longer necessary, but don't forget the pulley sheaves are set up for the small diameter of wire, must be replaced if you go to the larger rope size. . .

I'm guessing that since mine already has the all rope that the sheaves have already been replaced. I believe the previous to the previous owner did a lot of replacing on the boat. Won't know until the mast comes down though I guess...

How the wire doesn't come off the rope is one of those magic sailing things I have never understood.... and I got all "A"s in physics.

And isnt everyone's pulley sheaves big enough for the rope anyway - since the rope goes through first before the wire?

By design with the sail down, the wire is on the sheave.

(ever try to pull a little more slack to make it easier to attach the halyard, and it wouldn't come? This is because the rope wouldn't fit between the sheave and guard.)

When the sail is hoisted, the wire runs over the sheave. If you look, you'll see that with the sail raised the rope/wire splice is now lower than the halyard shackle was before you started--the wire went up the mast and over the sheave before lifting.

Till I saw this thread I thought I just needed to learn how to splice rope to wire as I have the wire on hand for the halyards. Chris got me thinking it would be simpler to go all rope and just switch out the sheaves as Guy mentioned. While pricing sheaves I checked out new halyards from the same place. $301.70 for main and jib. Sheaves look like around 50 bucks each. Plus shipping.

66 feet of new halyard rope including shipping: $62.79.

Soooo how hard is it to splice??