Dart 15 Forums

nick wrote:

As it is freezing I thought I would tidy up the boat, can any one tell me what type of rope I should use for the main halyard and The tramp lacing, and I am still struggeling to fix my toe loops does any one know the type and length of rivets required.
Happy new year to you all

AndrewHannah replied:

Whilst I am no expert on ropes, the point to bear in mind with the main halyard is that there is no tension on it. Once the shackle-eye is on the hook, the halyard is simply coiled and put out of the way. But the halyard should be able to run freely at the masthead sheave. So, it shouldn't be too thick. Three quarter inch circumferance should be enough. And as there is no tension, it can be of the inexpensive stuff. But please, not that blue muck!

The tramp rope is another matter. It MUST be pre-stretched, as tension is very important. I use the modern rope, Dyneema. Its only drawback is that it's not terribly pliable.

And as for the toe strap fixings, I have to admit I have never made any sense of them. I have a Heath-Robinson arrangement, whereby the toe straps are tied to the loops of the tramp and to the tramp pole. It's not very elegant, but is better than it was. Hitherto, the straps were tied together within the rear beam, and the straps would move around. I never liked that arrangement.

Happy new year,

Andrew.

cat bitz replied:

Main halyard is usually 6mm 3 strand and toe loop rivets are 35 by 4.8 aluminium with stainless mandrel. The rivets are really difficult to get hold of but we do have them in stock

nick replied:

Many thanks for the info> I would have overlooked the non stretch part .Will give cat bitz a ring re rivets