I actually sailed today

[Frank B.]

....in a manner of speaking.  What I learned:

That outboard that I've spoken ill of as of late ran perfectly for long periods of time at all RPMs.  I bought it a new, high quality fuel line. Could it be that simple.

A boat deteriorates faster if not used if it is in the water at the dock.

I've reached the age, or rather condition, whereby I am no longer comfortable single handling, particularly on a day with strong wind. I should have put reef in before I left the dock, but rather I fought it the whole time.

I need to get one of those holsters that has a pair of pliers and a pry tool as my hands can no longer manipulate any mechanism without aid.  also need a slot for a small can of dry lube.

I paid my dock fee, who da thunk they still charge you if you don't use your boat.

My OEM halyards and sheets are stiff and powdery although show no signs of cuts.  They are twenty years old and have been in the weather constantly.  Probably time to replace.

I'm due for a bottom job, have always done that myself.  This time the yard may get to do it.  As a close friend recently told me, "At our age a dollar saved is a dollar wasted",

[Riley Smith]

Yay! I'll bet it is a whole lot cooler at that end of the state! And yeah, when "powder" forms on the halyards, it's time for new. You can have them made or do it yourself. My lines are 1/4" and I tried unsuccessfully to put eyes (with thimbles) in them. It's really hard to do with 1/4" but would probably be possible with 3/8". Now I just tie them to the shackle instead of actually shackling them. Maybe I'll try again later in the winter, but it actually helps because I don't have to figure out which is the front side of the mast in a tangle of lines. Not as "shippy" but adequate for my small boat. The larger the line the easier it is to work with it (up to a point). Not cheap, either, for really good line but I let WM rip me off some in the interest of expediency and being near a store. Tomorrow is supposed to be actually COOL here on the coast! I'm intent of fishing tonight, if the wind lays, but Mrs. Smith has been working me like a slave before hand 

[Spot]

I found a place on Ebay 'Valley Rope' that sells nice double braid at hard-to-beat prices.
He doesn't always have every color in every size but that is OK by me.
When I did my boat a few years ago, I was 'overeager' and purchased lines too big for my sheaves, causing me to demote 2 of the oversized halyards to jibsheets and ordering smaller working halyards.
It's worth a dimension check and not rely on memory or hand feel.

PS these I have not spliced, I just tied a halyard hitch to the shackles. I have to look it up the one time I tied the three shackles and have since forgotten...

[Frank B.]

Riley a lot cooler is a stretch, but for sure it is a little cooler and a lot less humidity which makes for great comfort.  Highs in the low to mid eighties with lows in the mid fifties is comfortable.  My work day has gone from four hours in August/Sept. to ten hours in Oct. Could really use some rain though.

Spot one of the things I look for in a double braid is ease of doing an eye splice.  I have two to do on the OEM set, one for the mainsheet and one for the main halyard.  Small eye splices one for  a shackle, the other as a start point on a standing block. 

[Captain Kidd]

I'm looking forward to a sail. Weather has been gorgeous but waiting to recover from surgery. Tuesday will be 4 weeks. I'm going to consider that done and I'm going sailing!

I bought new rope for halyards for the Hunter just before I sold her. I attempted to splice the shackles but was unsuccessful. I was using plastic fids. Maybe they were too thick?? I just couldn't work that fid up inside the outer sheath. Oh, well.

[Charles Brennan]

Dale, I am a big fan of this splicing kit:

It's made by Samson.
You cannot view this attachment.
https://www.amazon.com/Samson-Selma-Splicing-Fids-Five/dp/B006L9GB48/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=17Q9IB97SC1S6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IL3CVWGfbhZO4ObgfIkVKRbrffgSBn2C7FVb4pJ6Bv38aV1BoN4yJubkIPa3eGhLck7YQcPUUpYmGs1zarInnpsMDMUbS9SR4ito7Sl2XeI2JsELKqLPkx5HrvlqN2UQ1vVPzymlv_xLqDsEroJ73RAtlDpwJf51gjVW7XFnxe6UcsJL6W0ydSVdQ1a8uba4WbFP0qOH6KftShv-QfuQ6rmwSvZHTWnNrXPp-Y-QrHC1aF_72RHcw-24a_6jVnSsNGqYkSjdjHvjkRQ5ZAvZcoIKTJ6Ye-lh8U7VakaNJsE.TCsyO_F79N2f7jF0lHGYNHMMp7ZuwnmwyJUTuDrI5C4&dib_tag=se&keywords=stainless+steel+splicing+fid&qid=1760186396&sprefix=stainless+steel+splicing+fid%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-12-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

Notice the flare at one end, that helps stretch the line to allow the regular diameter to pull through more easily; also the notch at the other end.  You stuff the frayed ends of the line inside the tube and the notch holds the line captive.  A very well thought out, tool.
It's fairly pricey, but like any premium product, it didn't take the Chinese long to come in with reasonable knock-offs.

https://www.amazon.com/XIALUO-Splicing-Stainless-polishing-Suitable/dp/B0FJ52MWSS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=17Q9IB97SC1S6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IL3CVWGfbhZO4ObgfIkVKRbrffgSBn2C7FVb4pJ6Bv38aV1BoN4yJubkIPa3eGhLck7YQcPUUpYmGs1zarInnpsMDMUbS9SR4ito7Sl2XeI2JsELKqLPkx5HrvlqN2UQ1vVPzymlv_xLqDsEroJ73RAtlDpwJf51gjVW7XFnxe6UcsJL6W0ydSVdQ1a8uba4WbFP0qOH6KftShv-QfuQ6rmwSvZHTWnNrXPp-Y-QrHC1aF_72RHcw-24a_6jVnSsNGqYkSjdjHvjkRQ5ZAvZcoIKTJ6Ye-lh8U7VakaNJsE.TCsyO_F79N2f7jF0lHGYNHMMp7ZuwnmwyJUTuDrI5C4&dib_tag=se&keywords=stainless+steel+splicing+fid&qid=1760186396&sprefix=stainless+steel+splicing+fid%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

I just couldn't work that fid up inside the outer sheath.

Using the next biggest fid up from your line size to make room for the regular fid, might help a little.
If you're trying to splice old line, soaking the ends in fabric softener for a few days has always worked well, for me.

Grandpa Brennan used to say: "Tools don't cost, they pay."
The right tools can turn a frustrating chore, into a pleasant hobby.
As far as being "recovered" after 4 weeks, try pushing a fid into a double-braid core and see if YOUR core doesn't feel it, just a little bit! 

Hope this helps,
Charles Brennan