I also am interested in going back to non tapered jib and main halyard- Whats the minimum size folks are using?

:: I still use a 7/32nd wire main halyard for the last 12
:: years with a real la france schacle that won't let go.
:: And dacron covered 5/16th kevlar forward wings for the
:: last 10 years. Remove wings from mast with lanyards
:: after every race, Go with the light spectra and change
:: out annually.
::
:: mb
::
:: :: After breaking a main halyard and a jib halyard from
:: :: which the cover had been stripped I have returned to
:: :: halyards with covers. The weight saving aloft isn't
:: :: worth the issues of chafe and UV damage to halyards
:: :: without covers, in my opinion.
:: ::
:: :: :: This particular failure would not apply to the spin or
:: :: :: jib halyards because it occurred due to rubbing on the
:: :: :: upper shroud through-bolt, which is above both of these
:: :: :: halyards in the mast. However you should measure where
:: :: :: your chafing is occurring on the spin halyard so you can
:: :: :: determine what is causing it (my main halyard chafe was
:: :: :: ~47" away from the shackle, which indicated it was
:: :: :: occurring inside the mast).
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Did you take a picture? I have some chafing on spinnaker
:: :: :: :: halyard and plan to inspect it also.It would help to
:: :: :: :: know what it supposed to look like.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: FYI. Our main halyard has been chafing in the mast so we
:: :: :: :: :: pulled the mast today and discovered that the halyard
:: :: :: :: :: was led on the wrong side (forward) of the through-bolt
:: :: :: :: :: for the upper (rod) shroud ends. Even worse, the boat
:: :: :: :: :: must have had a wire halyard earlier with the same
:: :: :: :: :: problem, because the through-bolt was "sawn" halfway
:: :: :: :: :: through! Luckily we caught it before the rig failed.
:: :: :: :: :: Lesson-learned.