Last season I finally went from wire to rope which I think most boats have already done long ago.

Today's rope is plenty strong enough and far lighter/pleasanter than the wire rope.

I use 6mm Vectran from West Marine. I stripped the cover off the top so when the sail is up, the cover begins about where the halyard exists the mast at the bottom. The connection to the shackle is spliced for strength.

I didn't change out my sheave (which is recommended) as a visual inspection showed it to be good shape and not scored by the wire. The new rope halyard doesn't seem to be suffering from the old sheave.

Others have reported that when switching if they don't replace the sheave their rope halyard will get eaten up pretty quickly by the sheave if the sheave was worn by the wire.

Bryan

:: Today, we put up the mast for another sailing season.
:: After doing an inspection of everything on the mast, all
:: looked good but the two plates at the top of the mast
:: that enclose the main halyard sheave.
::
:: It appears the halyard has been wearing into the plates.
:: I still have a wire rope halyard for the main.
::
:: My question is, what would cause the wear on the plates?
:: It almost looks like the halyard has been a rope saw on
:: this.
::
:: Also, is it common to keep the wire halyard or have
:: people converted over to rope? If so what is required,
:: does the sheave in the mast have to be replaced.
::
:: Thanks!