Vectran steering cables

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
First, I originally heard about Vectran for lashings in connection with lightning strikes; people who had wire tackle were being blown off the helm from a bolt coming up the rudder post. Vectran was used because of its high melting point (which means that the Spectra lashings are not necessarily a good idea). It sounds, in this case, as though the builders made the transition without taking the characteristics of of the HM into account. Vectran has essentially no creep, and the multiple turns on the lashings and their short run should eliminate Spectra creep, so that leaves constructional stretch as the likely culprit.
In addition, the fact that the lines are chafing at all seems to indicate that the system was simply not worked out well. Recommending frequent replacement of the materials sounds like a way of acknowledging the problem by saying, "Them are like that," without addressing the root causes of the problem.
Going back to wire might seem tempting, but that means going back to wire's downsides, including fatigue and conductivity. Therefore, assuming there's no slop in the axles and such that might account for slack, I agree that Polyester or Nylon lashings should do the trick. Assuming, of course, that the constructional stretch is taken out of the equation and the leads are corrected.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[Asylum]

Thanks to all of you. I now feel like I can go about solving the problem.

[Brian Duff]

I second what :"Big B" said

[mrgnstrn]

To eliminate the chafe where the Vectran Crosses, put in a simple upright block, like a Harken 096. This will push one of the lines up (or down) to prevent them from touching.

Everything else can be same as designed.

A friends Hunter 45 had a similar issue, only their wire chafed thru, during the "bringing it home from purchase" delivery from Porto Rico to New Orleans, during a nasty gale.
They got to use the emergency tiller on a 25000 lb "dinghy". HA!

First purchase after the new wire was the 096 block to prevent them from touching.

-M