[MHml] Main Halyard

[Creighton Smith]

Paul Nudd wrote:
>My 1:1 vectran halyard actually failed just beyond the bowline.

My point exactly.

> My new 2:1 will be attached at the masthead by a shackle.
> Guess I'll use a round turn and two half hitches to attach to the
> shackle. I do not anticipate having to untie the knot. When time comes
> to end-for-end I would undo the shackle and cut off the rope.

The shackle and round turn etc will take up several inches of hoist.  I'm 
partial to a fisherman's knot, which I've used with no failures.  But I'm 
now, having cut out the knot and a couple of feet of line, experimenting 
with a buntline hitch.  I tie right to the headboard.  None of these knots 
can be untied after these loads, not even a bowline.  Not that you would 
ever want to.
Recently I ran across a lab comparison of the strength of various knots in 
high tech line and the conclusion was they all reduce ultimate strength by 
over 50% and there wasn't much difference in any of them.  Unfortunately, my 
hard drive subsequently ate itself and I lost it.
Creighton