Ocean Rope are here to help with any rope or rigging question you may have. However we have put together this guide to cover some frequent questions
Contact us at info@oceanrope.com for more information
How to choose the right rope size
There are number of considerations when selecting the right rope for your application.
The first is to consider the strength of the rope, using our information on Break Loads and Safe Work load below, ensure you have considered the demands of the application
Secondly it is important to consider the implications of the hardware you are using. For yacht halyards it is import to check the rope size range for your rope clutches, this ensures your rope will not slip. For yacht sheets, check your winches to ensure the rope size is within the suggested range, this is especially important for self tailing winches.
Thirdly, consider the handling of the rope. Don’t choose a rope that is too small and difficult to handle. This is often an important consideration and generally leads to customers choosing a larger rope than required for the workload.
Finally it is important to carefully match the rope’s construction to your application. There are many different materials and construction methods. Selecting the correct rope can ensure your rope lasts much longer. For example a Technora Braid sheet could last up to twice as long as a polyester sheet.
Rope Construction
Single Braid
Single braid ropes consistence of a core only material and are constructed using a 12 strand method as found in Ocean Rope’s dyneema cores. These ropes are easy to splice and very flexible for movement through block and purchase systems. Single braid rope is often used for wire replacements, strops, cascades and loops.
Double Braid
Double braided lines include braided core material and a braided cover. Many high tech ropes have a core, which carries the majority of the rope’s strength, however often these core materials have low melting points and are affected by UV damage. The Cover material helps to add heat resistance, which is required for fast moving sheets or halyards. The cover also adds stability to the rope for ease of handling. When selecting a double braid rope it is important to select the correct cover/core material for your application.
Core Material
Polyester
Polyester braided cores are found in our braid on braid rope, these provide good strength, durability and are cost effective. Perfect for cruising rope applications. However for racing yachts or applications where very low stretch is required, a high modulus fibre such as our dyneema core is better suited.
UHMwPE
UHMwPe (dyneema) is made using a 12 strand construction method, this allows for easy splicing. Dyneema is extremely popular for wire replacement of any kind.
This core material does not take up any water. Ocean Rope dyneema has a polyurethane coating for increased UV and wear resistance. Dyneema has good UV stability when compared to cores such as Vectran. When a dyneema core is used in a braided rope such as Ocean Rope’s dyneema braid, the core carries the ropes strength therefore the cover can be stripped in order to reduce the weight of rope, this is especially popular on-board racing yachts.
Cover Materials
Polyester
Polyester fibres are used where strength and durability are required from a rope’s cover. With a melting point of 260 degrees, polyester is used in many yachting rope applications. Polyester is the most common choice for cover material given its durability and cost effectiveness. Polyester also blends well with other materials such a technora and PBO. Our dyneema braid uses a polyester cover construction.
Technora
Technora provides excellent heat and abrasion resistance. Technora has heat resistance up to 500 degrees celcius and very low stretch and Creep.
This material is popular for sheets and control lines on-board racing dinghies and yachts, as it provides good grip in ratchet blocks and around winch drums. Ocean Rope’s Technora braid uses a 50/50 (technora/ polyester) cover.
Zylon (PBO)
Zylon (PBO) has a high tensile strength which is around 1.6 times that of technora. This material is often used in grand prix applications which require high strength and thermal stability. PBO has a melting point of around 650 degrees celcius.
Break Loads
Break Loads are based on straight line pulls under laboratory conditions. These conditions are rarely replicated whilst in use, therefore Ocean Rope recommend using the safe work load method when choosing your rope, we recommend using a 1/5 factor of safety. All our rope has a break load figure, however if you need anymore information in selecting the correct rope, please contact us.
