Page 22 - The Knot Bible

THE BASICS

Synthetic ropes to be smoother and more slippery, Dacron, Tergal and Fortrel is not
Since the invention of nylon in which is nice on the hands but quite as strong as nylon, but it
1938, synthetic ropes have rapidly means knots can come undone (or stretches less, making it ideal for
replaced natural fi bre varieties. Not ‘capsized’) more easily. The solution halyards and other parts of the
only are they stronger for their size, is usually to add a half hitch or two, running rigging where stretch is
but they are also rot- and sun- or even a seizing, although this is undesirable.
resistant. What’s more, they can be time-consuming and not as pleasing Polypropylene, also known as
produced in a variety of different to the eye as a plain knot. Polyethylene. This is the cheapest,
colours, which means the running Broadly speaking, synthetic ropes and weakest, of the lot. Its main
rigging on a yacht can be colour- divide into three categories: Nylon, advantage is that it fl oats, which
coded for ease of use. It’s easy to which is also marketed as Polyamide, makes it useful for water-ski ropes,
get carried away with this, however, Bri-Nylon and Enkalon. This is a rescue lines and heaving lines.
with the result that some boats can stretchy fi bre that does not fl oat, and New ropes are coming onto the
end up looking like rope pizza. is suitable for mooring lines, anchor market all the time, such as
The other major drawback of warps and towing ropes. Polyester, Dyneema, Spectra and Kevlar. Your
synthetic ropes is that they tend which is also marketed as Terylene, local chandler will be able to advise
you on the more specialised (and
expensive!) varieties.

The weave
The other big difference with
synthetic ropes is that they are
woven in several different ways.
As well as the usual three- and
four-strand laid ropes, there are
plaited ropes, braided ropes, and
endless combinations of all
three. You can buy a rope with
a 16-strand sheath over a
three-strand core, or four-strand
rope laid over a one-strand core,
or even a braided sheath over a
braided core.
The main thing to remember,
however, is that three- and four-
strand rope stretches more than
plaited and braided ropes. This
is why it should always be used
for mooring lines, where it absorbs
some of the shock, while plaited
and braided rope is best used for
running rigging, where it maintains
the tension.

Left Salt water not only makes lines
harder to handle but also degrades
the fi bre. Wash your lines regularly
with fresh water.

21