Forestay spectra size?

[slammin]

I'm in the process of replacing my twin forestays, that in addition also have the forestay/furler and old sail all attached as one piece, with a single spectra forestay and an old but usable mylar battened jib. Keep in mind I'm not racing just taking out the kids for a hoot.

 

Anyway I set up the forestay with some spare 3mm spectra I had laying around I also went with a jib halyard. I don't know if that is "normal" or if you just clip the jib on the mast b4 raising the mast like with the old furler setup?

 

Today we took it out - mainly to test the forestay. I chickened out and still used the twin forestays for backup just in case. All seemed pretty good and there was no slippage of the spectra. Rig was nice and tight I had the old twin forestays tensioned a bit but the spectra forestay was doing the job.

 

My questions are, what is the normal forestay SS wire size? Is anyone using spectra/dyneema for their rig and lastly to halyard or not?

 

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[darcy1945]

SS Stays on a 14 are 1/8' (3.5mm). Zipper luff jibs use a halyard, ditch the furler and swivel.

Spectra and dyneema are as strong but weakened by sun/uv.

Plastic coated stays cost about $20/22 dollars ea.

[interested]

Plenty of the Sharpie crews are using it instead of the SS stays.

Benefits are that you can tell when they are about to let go,the SS stays will just go bang.

Lighter,stronger,cheaper and quicker to rig than SS stays..just dont get tangles or they are a pain.