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Line for Halyards

Marine grade lines for sailboat main halyards, jib halyards, and spinnaker halyards. For advice on selecting the right halyard, see the information at the bottom of this page.

A halyard line is the rope that pulls the sail up the mast. On some small sailboats, this might be a short 20 foot length of basic 5mm line. On larger, performance boats, this might be 80 feet of high tech double braid line. No matter what type of halyard line you need, West Coast Sailing has you covered. Shop diameters between 4 mm and 12 mm including favorites such as Marlow Doublebraid, Robline Admiral 5000, Dinghy Control Line, Sirus 500, and more.


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  • 5mm New England Ropes Sta-Set

    5mm New England Ropes Sta-Set

    New England Ropes
    $0.51
    Sta-Set is a strong, flexible and long wearing performance double braid polyester line with superior durability and dependability. It is high strength, low stretch, and extremely durable, yet it still remains soft over time. Sta-Set is both easy to...
    Qty in Cart: 0
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    $0.51
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  • 6mm New England Ropes Sta-Set

    6mm New England Ropes Sta-Set

    New England Ropes
    $0.77
    Sta-Set is a strong, flexible and long wearing performance double braid polyester line with superior durability and dependability. It is high strength, low stretch, and extremely durable, yet it still remains soft over time. Sta-Set is both easy to...
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    $0.77
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  • 4mm Alpha SSR Line

    4mm Alpha SSR Line

    Alpha Ropes
    $0.54
    4mm SSR from Alpha Ropes is a perfect sail control line on small boats and designed with Olympic racers in mind. A single braid blend of Spectra and Cordura makes this line both durable and soft in the hand. Very similar to Maffiloli switfcord...
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    $0.54
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  • 5mm Sirius 500 Line

    5mm Robline Sirius 500 Line

    Robline

    $0.40
    5mm Sirius 500 from Robline is a great low stretch yet affordable line for control lines, halyards, and other application on recreational sailboats. This is a double braid polyester line, meaning it has a 8-plait polyester core and a 32-plait polyester...
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    $0.40
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  • 5mm Robline Dinghy Control Line

    5mm Dinghy Control Line

    Robline
    $1.04
    Dinghy Control Line from Robline is a great all around high-tech control line with Dyneema SK78 core. This 5mm version is ideal for all kinds of applications where you need the strength of a low-stretch core with the durability of a cover, such as using...
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    $1.04
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  • 6mm Alpha SSR Line

    6mm Alpha SSR Line

    Alpha Ropes
    $1.17
    6mm SSR from Alpha Ropes is a perfect larger diameter sail control line or sheet on small boats and designed with Olympic racers in mind. A single braid blend of Spectra and Cordura makes this line both durable and soft in the hand. Very similar to...
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    $1.17
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  • 6mm Marlow PreStretch Line

    6mm Marlow PreStretch Line

    Marlow Ropes
    $0.65
    6mm Marlow PreStretch is a 100% polyester single braid line that is pre-stretched to improve strength and reduce elongation. It cleats very well and has great abrasion resistance. A great option for any small sailboat halyard or control line applications...
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    $0.65
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  • 6mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line Blue 6mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line Green

    6mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line

    Robline
    $1.13
    Robline Admiral 5000 is an allround rope that is easy to splice and taper while offering highest breaking load values at the same time. Recommended for halyards on larger boards where low stretch is required. Admiral 5000 is made for sailors and...
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    $1.13
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  • 6mm Robline Dinghy Control Line

    6mm Robline Dinghy Control Line

    Robline
    $1.46
    Dinghy Control Line from Robline is a great all around high-tech control line with Dyneema® SK78 core. This 6mm version is ideal for all kinds of applications where you need the strength of a low-stretch core with the durability of a cover, such as...
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    $1.46
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  • 6mm Robline Orion 300 Line Green 6mm Robline Orion 300 Line Red

    6mm Robline Orion 300 Line

    Robline
    $0.46
    Robline Orion 300 is a versatile all-round rope featuring a traditional design. Its high UV resistance, longevity, and great ease of handling make this product a benchmark for many recreational and cruising applications. The soft hand and durable...
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    $0.46
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  • 8mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line Green 8mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line Green

    8mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line

    Robline
    $1.77
    Robline Admiral 5000 is an allround rope that is easy to splice and taper while offering highest breaking load values at the same time. Recommended for halyards on larger boards where low stretch is required. Admiral 5000 is made for sailors and...
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    $1.77
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  • 10mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line 10mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line

    10mm Robline Admiral 5000 Line

    Robline
    $2.59
    Robline Admiral 5000 is an allround rope that is easy to splice and taper while offering highest breaking load values at the same time. Recommended for halyards on larger boards where low stretch is required. Admiral 5000 is made for sailors and...
    Qty in Cart: 0
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    $2.59
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Halyard Recommendations

Dinghy / Small Boat Recreational

 5mm Robline Sirius 500

 6mm Marlow Pre Stretch   

Dinghy / Small Boat Performance  

 5mm Robline Dinghy Control   

 4mm / 6mm Alpha SSR

Keelboat / Cruising Recreational   

 6mm Robline Orion 300   

 6mm / 8mm Marlow DoubleBraid   

Keelboat / Cruising Performance   

 6mm / 8mm / 10 mm Robline Admiral 5000   

 

Finding The Right Diameter

If you are replacing an existing line, the easiest way to determine what diameter you need is to match what you already have. This can be done with a caliper or by close estimation with a tape measure. If you've previously used a 7mm halyard and it has performed well, another 7mm line is likely a great choice. In most applications, there is some flexibility in the exact diameter that can be used. Most blocks, for example, have an 'ideal' diameter (ie, the line diameter that runs most effectively though the block's sheave) but also have a range so that you can run a slightly thinner or slightly thicker line. If you have a halyard that is getting hung up in your rig, stepping down 1-2mm might help the halyard run more efficiently. If you have a larger boat or rig and want to run a thinner halyard, consider a double braid line that features a Dyneema or spectra core for strength.

Line Diameter Conversion

1mm = 3/64 inch | 2mm = 5/64 inch | 3mm = 1/8 inch

4mm = 5/32 inch | 5mm = 3/16 inch | 6mm = 1/4 inch

7mm = 9/32 inch | 8mm = 5/16 inch | 9mm = 3/8 inch

10mm = 25/64 in | 11mm = 7/16 in  | 12mm = 1/2 in

Double Braid vs Single Braid

Two terms you will often see in line descriptions are 'double braid' and 'single braid', which refer to the way the line is constructed. At the most basic level, a double braid line has a cover and a core whereas a single braid does not, but there are other important distinctions to consider when making a line selection.

Single Braids are made up of either 8 or 12 strands that are braided into a circular pattern, half clockwise and half counter clockwise. This produces a line that is supple, absorbs twists, and tends not to kink. There are two types of single braid lines: performance single braids and polyester/blended single braids. Performance single braids are made from fibers with very low stretch and designed to handle extreme loads - think Dyneema, Spectra, or Vectran. Polyester/blended single braids, sometimes called hollow braid, are soft and easy to grip, built for sheets and hand-adjusted control lines. These are less common than performance single braid lines but recommended in a few specific applications.

Double Braids, sometimes called braid on braid, have a braided core within a braided outer jacket or cover. This creates a strong, durable, smooth-running line that is easy to handle. Double braids are used for the vast majority of all running rigging on sailboats including sheets, halyards and control lines for both cruising or racing. There are two types to consider: polyester double braids and high-tech double braids. Polyester double braids, found most commonly on recreational and cruising sailboats, have a polyester cover with polyester core. These are low maintenance, affordable, and long-lasting, while offering relatively low stretch and high working loads. For additional strength and minimal stretch, consider high-tech double braids. These lines typically feature a Dyneema or Spectra core (non-stretch) inside a polyester or polyester/dyneema blend cover for additional durability. They are more expensive but often the go to choice for high performance racing boats.

For halyards, we typically recommend a line with double braid construction because they hold their shape well under load and when cleated or in a clutch.

Whipping & Splicing

Looking to clean up the end of your line or need to add a splice to your rig? Visit our Whipping & Splicing page for a full selection of whipping twine, fids, splicing needles, and complete splicing kits. Perfect for the DIY sailor looking to further optimize their rigging.

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