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speakeasy · 31-12-2014, 17:45

Polyester? Really. I know it floats and splices nicely, but isn't it hard to knot and stiff as hell for small anchor lockers?

UNCIVILIZED · 31-12-2014, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakeasy

Polyester? Really. I know it floats and splices nicely, but isn't it hard to knot and stiff as hell for small anchor lockers?

Polyester is otherwise known as Dacron. Typically found on boats as double braid, for things like jib sheets. And unless I'm mistaken, you're referring to polyethylene, AKA water ski tow rope. Or something of that ilk. Does the stuff which you're describing have like zero UV resistance? If so it's likely in the water ski tow rope family.

speakeasy · 31-12-2014, 18:11

Right you are. Polyethylene what I was thinking of. doh

susswein · 31-12-2014, 18:11

My favorite is used climbing ropes. They are designed to be dynamic (controlled stretch to absorb shock) by nature, strong (5000 lbs minimum for 10mm), extremely supple compared to marine line, and cheap. Climbers typically discard ropes every year or tow after they've taken a certain number of falls, and you can pick up a 200' rope for $40.

UNCIVILIZED · 01-01-2015, 00:08

Climbing ropes were on my short list, gear wise, years ago when I had a small boat. Do you find yourself needing to use different types of knots due to their slipperiness? That, & does their hydtrophobic coating affect how you use them, & if so, in what way?

colemj · 01-01-2015, 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakeasy

Right you are. Polyethylene what I was thinking of. doh

Polypropylene.

Mark

colemj · 01-01-2015, 07:16

If you wish for the anchor rope to work in a rope/chain windlass, 3-strand is the best, followed more distantly by brait/octoplait (some gypsies work well with it, while others do not). Any of the other types of rope mentioned here will not work in a rope/chain gypsy.

Mark

susswein · 01-01-2015, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

Climbing ropes were on my short list, gear wise, years ago when I had a small boat. Do you find yourself needing to use different types of knots due to their slipperiness? That, & does their hydtrophobic coating affect how you use them, & if so, in what way?

I use the same suite of knots whether climbing or sailing: clove hitch, figure 8, double fisherman's, and bowline.

I also use (new) static climbing line in various diameters for all my running rigging. It's significantly cheaper than sailing specific line.

**Bulawayo** · 01-01-2015, 08:26

Guys/Gals; Happy New Year.
1) Polyprop is not recommended for tropical use - it fails swiftly with UV degradation.
If you look on eBay you'll see plenty of ex-Royal Navy polyprop lines that have reached what the RN call their sell-by date. There is good reason for that bargain.
2) Climbing ropes are not good for rigging on a cruiser. They have too much stretch. I grant that for smaller boats you may get away with them. I also buy used climbing ropes (generally 9.5-10.5mm dia) and use them for all sort of applications - but never for rigging, altho' in an emergency I would use anything.

susswein · 01-01-2015, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulawayo

.
2) Climbing ropes are not good for rigging on a cruiser. They have too much stretch. I grant that for smaller boats you may get away with them. I also buy used climbing ropes (generally 9.5-10.5mm dia) and use them for all sort of applications - but never for rigging, altho' in an emergency I would use anything.

There are 3 types of climbing rope:

1) dynamic ropes used for lead climbing. These have a large amount of stretch to absorb shock loads, and work well for mooring pendants dock lines and anchor line. Easily bought used. Typically 9-11mm; standard lengths are 50, 60, and 70 meters
2) static rope. No/low stretch. Used for top roping, canyoneering, and rapelling. Typically found in the same diameters and lengths as dynamic rope mentioned above. This is what I use for halyards and jib sheets.
if you have a local climbing gym there's a good chance you can get all the static and dynamic rope you want as they tend to replace ropes often for insurance reasons.
3) accessory cord. Also no/low stretch. Used for various rigging purposes. Comes in diameters of 3-8 mm including 5-6mm vectran. This is what I use for running rigging like reefing lines. I'll probably use the vectran version when I relace my standing rigging. There's a new 3mm vectran available that's rated at over 3000 lbs that I'll probably use to replace my lifelines at some point. One of the big advantages of climbing cord over something like sta-set is that it comes in a gazilllion different colors.

Another useful climbing material is tubular webbing, which comes in 9/16" nad 1" widths. This is the perfect material for jacklines, and a lot of folks also use it for shore ties in the northwest.

**boatman61** · 01-01-2015, 09:59

Multi plait Rocks...

Pretty easy to chain splice.. stows really well unlike most 3 braids..
Luv the stuff.

UNCIVILIZED · 01-01-2015, 10:37

Thanks for the tip on where to source used climbing ropes. In return, a suggestion/bit of wisdom. I'd suggest something a wee bit thicker than 3mm for your lifelines, even if it is Vectran & rated at 1.5 tons. As a guy who's caught himself from going for an accidental swim thanks to said magical perimeter around the boat, it's nice to have something big enough to get a grip on if you need to. And I've tried it on 3mm (550 cord), it ain't easy. But then adding in a Samthane coating, & that 12 strand weave, good luck.

Plus there are other things to consider like UV (which is a big vote for Spectra, it laughs at el Sol), abrasion, etc. So perhaps you might go with 6mm, or even 8mm. It's not as if you've got a lot of lineal real estate, life line wise. Oh, & of course I'm fairly certain that you'd know to use chafe covers where it goes through the stanchions. Which is especially important, as they're looking at nixing Spectra lifelines on race boats, due to chafe induced failures.

**Bulawayo** · 01-01-2015, 10:45

Hi Susswein.
I just learnt something new.......and even worse I belonged to the University climbing club many, many years ago! I buy my used climbing ropes used from eBay. As liveaboards it is always 'fun' shopping for items and getting them delivered. Unfortunately, our boat (45' cat) is a little too large / fat to use them extensively on. However, they get cut up for all sorts of uses and the kids are always disappearing with them for various projects. All our fenders use climbing ropes, dinghies are secured for sea using them, more lengths are used (with chain) on the dinghy anchors, they are used for dinghy hoisting, scuba tanks are hung off the stern when diving, on the rare occasion that we tow a dinghy the climbing ropes are used and they are pretty cheap to buy used. We have always some to hand.
Thank you for the info......shall now be on the look out for the largest diameter as an emergency halyard.