What is the best type of anchoring line?

nylon For most docking and anchor lines, standard nylon is a good choice. It has great strength, "gives" under load to absorb energy, and is relatively inexpensive. It's also easy to handle and resists the harmful effects of sunlight better than other synthetics. It's the rope of choice for anchoring rode.

boatus.com - Choosing The Right Rope | BoatUS

How much should I charge to record in my home studio?

Booking time in a good, acoustically sound production studio can cost anywhere from $50 to $500 dollars an hour to record a song. For most studios,...

Last updated Aug 4, 2019

How thick should a shed floor be?

The best concrete thickness for a shed tends to be 4 inches which is the standard size used for most residential concrete patios, walkways and...

Last updated Apr 8, 2022

Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

When you buy, read the latest product information. Most boaters will use either one form or another of nylon and perhaps also polypropylene.

Nylon

For most docking and anchor lines, standard nylon is a good choice. It has great strength, "gives" under load to absorb energy, and is relatively inexpensive. It's also easy to handle and resists the harmful effects of sunlight better than other synthetics. It's the rope of choice for anchoring rode. Nylon comes in strands and braided. Three strand is usually used on anchor rodes because of its stretch and resistance to abrasion. Braided, more commonly seen on dock lines and in sailing rigging, will snag easier than stranded line, (a serious detriment when scraping across the bottom of the sea) although it's usually easier to handle and has great strength. Some types of stranded lines are softer than regular 3 strand and less desirable for boat use. If you see stranded nylon in a hardware store, for example, that's very inexpensive, beware. Some types of braided lines are stronger and less subject to snagging. Don't just buy rope. Read the various product descriptions each time you buy to help you make the right choice. Normal loading should be nowhere near a rope’s breaking strength, certainly no more than 25%. This means your lines will stay on duty even when stressed well beyond the service intended, resisting big wakes, strong winds, and other challenges. Remember that breaking strength decreases with age and wear and knots and kinks in the line will weaken it.

Polypropylene

Most people know this as "that yellow rope" that's commonly used to tow skiers, wake boards and dinghies. Because polypropylene rope floats, it's handy to have around for multiple purposes such as these. Made of synthetic fibers, polypropylene is almost as strong as nylon but is considerably less resistant to the sun's UV rays and will normally not last long. You shouldn't use this type of rope for more than a year, two at the most, depending on usage and degree of exposure to UV. This line will actually begin to visibly disintegrate as it ages. But if you replace it regularly it has its uses.

Sailing Lines

How do I start woodworking with no experience?

If you know a few people, it probably wouldn't be hard to find a friend to teach you the basics. Finding a Woodworking Class In Your School...

Last updated Jul 15, 2019

How much is labor to build a 10x10 shed?

Whether your shed is a custom design or prefab kit, hiring a professional for the project can bring peace of mind. Most homeowners can expect to...

Last updated Feb 24, 2020

Promotion

Your boat's running rigging is not the place to economize. If you purchase quality rope designed for a specific use, you'll do more than improve your boat's performance: quality rope, properly cared for, can be used repeatedly for progressively less demanding jobs, giving it a long and useful life. With today's new high-tech synthetic fibers and advanced rope construction, you can buy rope that's 10 times stronger than steel with extremely low stretch. Many racers and cruisers have switched from wire to all-rope halyards; others have also opted for high-strength, low-stretch, lightweight ropes for their running rigging. All-rope halyards have several advantages over wire. Wire is hard on your hands and gear. Rope is easier to splice, it won't scrape paint or anodizing from your mast, and you don't have to decide whether or not to rely on a worrisome rope-to-wire splice. The primary disadvantages are that rope is thicker, so it has more windage aloft (but around half the weight), and even the ultra-lowstretch fibers elongate more than wire. Quality rope costs more than wire but is easier to install, lasts longer, and can be recycled to a less demanding capacity.

Color Code

To avoid hassles out on the water, color code your lines so that they are easily identifiable to your crew.

Examples of colors to use are:

Mainsail sheet and halyard — White

Jib/genoa — Blue

Spinnaker — Red and green for guys

Vangs and travelers — Black

Color coding also helps distinguish the different lengths of dock lines.

boatus.com - Choosing The Right Rope | BoatUS

Do you need planning permission to install solar panels?

You need only apply for full planning permission (flats) or householder planning permission (houses) to install a solar panel when any of the...

Last updated Aug 19, 2022

How do you protect the inside of a shed?

If you want a clear treatment to protect the interior of your shed while making it easier to clean, we would highly recommend Sadolin Polyurethane...

Last updated Aug 16, 2018

Promotion

Can you pour concrete in an existing shed?

Small sheds can go on concrete slabs or blocks. Larger sheds can also use slabs or blocks as a foundation to raise them off the ground. Concrete...

Last updated Feb 1, 2019

Promotion

Can solar panels blown off roof?

This phenomenon is capable of tearing panels from their mounts, or the mounts from the roof or ground. In the most extreme cases, solar panels may...

Last updated Jun 25, 2020