I was reading an article the other day which pointed out that until relatively recently the whole world was basically held together with rope.
Watching a YouTube video about a 24' boat crossing the Pacific, the owner mentioned that every fitting (just about) was lashed into place.
I was then in the chandlery plotting a replacement vang attachment which involved a quality (Ronstan) boom hanger which is unrated. The owner suggested 8mm spectra - rated at 3000kg tied with a double fisherman's - at 65% this gives a strength of just under 2000kg. The shackles are only rated just over 2000kg
This made me think that I reach for the stainless too quickly. Even if you are eventually going to use a permanent fitting, a rope "lash up" would let you test the idea for free. Rope is also extremely easy to replace on the go.
I'm sure the Seabreezers are way ahead of me here. What are your tips and tricks for using rope rather than expensive stainless fittings?
Cheers
Bristol
Rope is really good for hanging recalcitrant crew from the yard arm. However that might not even be effective on dwarf crew.
These days with improved diets people are growing taller as in 2 yards or more so an arm at 3 yards won't have enough fall to break their neck and you are going to have to watch them squirm with bound hands and feet while they strangle. Not a pretty sight.
I reckon an arm at 5 yards should be just about right. High enough to break their neck and low enough not to tear their head off which again would not be a pretty sight.
As we all know the only rope carried aboard a sailing vessel is the bell rope and the hanging rope. All other cordage are sheets, lines, braces and rodes.
One thing about sizing rope, particularly spectra and dyneema in longer lines is that we are sizing it for stretch not breaking strain. Eg, I replaced the 3mm wire main halyard on my Etchells with 5mm dyneema sprliced into 8mm spectra. Way stronger than the 3mm but going strength for strength would of meant the dyneema would of stretched under load. Also 3mm is a bugger to cleat!!
Interesting uses that I have done..............
-soft shackle for clew strap
-standing rigging for Sabot's and Sabre's
-Sabre boom without a single shackle and only 9 rivets
- Standing rigging on 50ft ketch
-endless control lines on dinghys/sports boats, meaning you never have the slack on the wrong side
-bobstay wires on cats of all sizes
-small endless loops for 1000's of uses, eg. spliced 50 for a 1000ft ally yacht where the snap shackles damaged the deck attachments and rattled around, solution, cow hitched endless dyneema loops
- soft shackle to attach headsail to furler
-dyneema for the rope around the bottom of bushwalking gators, outlasts poly rope by aleast a factor of 10, look here tasgear.com.au/
Select to expand quotecisco said..
Rope is really good for hanging recalcitrant crew from the yard arm. However that might not even be effective on dwarf crew.
These days with improved diets people are growing taller as in 2 yards or more so an arm at 3 yards won't have enough fall to break their neck and you are going to have to watch them squirm with bound hands and feet while they strangle. Not a pretty sight.
I reckon an arm at 5 yards should be just about right. High enough to break their neck and low enough not to tear their head off which again would not be a pretty sight.
As we all know the only rope carried aboard a sailing vessel is the bell rope and the hanging rope. All other cordage are sheets, lines, braces and rodes.
I thought someone might say that. As a bit of a pedant myself, it's not quite right. To quote John Rousmaniere in his "Annapolis Book of Seamanship "
""In boating language "line" is distinct from "rope". Rope is the stuff produced by manufacturers and delivered to chandleries on large drums. A line is a length cut from that rope for a specific purpose on a boat. A sheet is a line, and so are a halyard, a docking line, an anchor rode and the length of rope sewn into the edge of a sail to strengthen it called a "boltrope".
I would not say, "grab that rope" when I meant sheet. However, I would say, "I'm going to buy some rope to make up the new main halyard "
Cheers
Bristol
Made two of these once upon a time
made them out of same type of rope in the picture as it was cheap and hard wearing but would love to make one out of coloured old halyard rope
Select to expand quoterumblefish said..
Made two of these once upon a time
made them out of same type of rope in the picture as it was cheap and hard wearing but would love to make one out of coloured old halyard rope
Cool. I'm going to use that "not really good enough for anything but can't throw it away " rope to practice this.
Doormat, table mat and coasters on the way.
Thanks
Bristol.
