Chafe cover for UHMW

[John D]

I'm replacing the 'fixed' portion of a running backstay with fiber. I'll be using 12 strand braided UHMW (spectra/dynamee) line and plan to create a soft eye at each end to cow hitch (luggage tag) to the existing attachments. The eye splice will be a locked brummell having 2 fids of bury plus one fid of taper with a whipping over the insertion points.

I'm worried about the possibility of chafe against the mast at the top end. I'm thinking about using a polyester cover over the brummell and bury. Where I'd like advice is on how to finish the ends of the cover, both at the eye's throat and past the taper. Does burying the cover in UHMW weaken the line? Assuming I milk the cover tight and lockstitch it in place, is whipping each end of the cover enough?

It's been suggested that I just use heat shrink tubing rather than the polyester cover. Are there any gotchas if I go that route?

I don't need pretty, just functional. We usually send the bowman up the mast about once a month to inspect things.

Thanks

John D.