New fiber created that is strong like Dyneema but also very tough

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Further, not at all sure what the "polyester rigging" might be. I've heard of using kevlar, carbon, Dyneema and other non-metallic fibres for standing rigging, but not polyester (ie Dacron). Perhaps you could fill us in on the details here for in general Polyester fibres have too much stretch for such usage.

He did say in an earlier post "It's polyethylene, which is not very promising for things like running rigging." Guess he's talking about polyester double braid sheets etc.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by StuM

I presume that he meant "painter".

If so, I sure wouldn't choose Dyneema for that role. The very low stretch characteristic would impose big shock loads on the attachment point on the dink as it follows along behind the boat. Or maybe he never tows the dink... then the extreme slipperiness of Dyneema makes securely tying the dink to cleats or bollards kinda risky. There are better choices than either Dyneema or Dacron IMO.

Anyhow, enough quibbling... I think that Dyneema has proven to be a very useful material for lots of roles in yachting, and that UV damage rates are pretty low. I haven't seen any quantification of these factors, but I suspect that they are better than Dacron... just a general feeling, not supported by data.

And I await further information on this new wonder fibre!

Jim

[Seymore]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Not sure what a pennant is on a dinghy, nor what yours was really made of...

Pennant, pronounced Pendant. Painter. The rope that you tow the dinghy with. Maybe pennant is a Nova Scotia term.

My tow rope was Dyneema.

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Further, not at all sure what the "polyester rigging" might be. I've heard of using kevlar, carbon, Dyneema and other non-metallic fibres for standing rigging, but not polyester (ie Dacron). Perhaps you could fill us in on the details here for in general Polyester fibres have too much stretch for such usage.

"Polyester running rigging". On my boat all the standing rigging is stainless steel, and all the running rigging is 7/16" polyester (ie. Dacron in the UK), which fits in with the cruising ethos. I'm very conservative (meaning I like to tend to do things in the old ways, which have worked well) and have carefully outfitted my boat as a cruising boat. Were I outfitting it as a racing boat I might consider the new exotic fibres for some rigging, but I would watch them carefully for things like UV deterioration.