Spreaders when Switching to HM Rigging

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
First, do not make your shrouds out of nylon.
Second, if you do, try to avoid touching them with a knife when they are heavily loaded.
Third, have you ever seen how steel wire behaves when it parts under load?
Fourth, Spectra stores less energy than either steel or nylon, and is in any event very hard to cut.
Fifth, don't touch it, or any other rigging with a knife, either. Loaded or unloaded, unless you want to cut it.
Sixth, correctly sized Spectra is several times stronger than steel for the same standing rig application, so even if you ignore the no-knife edict, you will be sawing a while.
Seventh, was there some other question? Oh yeah, spreaders. John Franta will be able to make specific recommendations, but I can tell you that it is much less of a problem than we had at first thought, precisely because the stuff is so very tough; a little radius is all you need. You might also try serving in the way of the spreader, or sliding a short piece of cover into place. This also works on lifeline stanchions.
Eighth and last, two caterpillars watch a butterfly going by. One says to the other, "You'll never get me up in one of those things."
Fair leads,
Brion Toss