Hi Brion,
Tara recalls that you actually told us that vectran doesn't care for sharp bends when we back in Friday Harbor. But maybe we had a different underdstanding of 'sharp bend.' Regardless, the only bend issue is at the masthead. Based on Oughtred's plan each stay has an eye that goes around the masthead - I suppose if those eyes are big enough there won't be much of a bend. Oughtred's drawings show a tight eye around the masthead with a pretty sharp bend as the stay goes down to the boat. The other end is an eyesplice around a deadeye, so that should be no problem.
The plans call only for 1/8" flexible wire - no idea if it should be 1x19 or 7x19. Regardless, I was thinking of using 1/4" line for the stays because it ought to be easier to work with (I'm good with wood, rope not so much, at least not yet!). I realize that in terms of strength, that's overkill.
Cheers,
Garth
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