Boat rope, marine rope, ropes and lines on board a sailing vessel

Mooring lines

No matter if it is a small sailing dinghy, a yacht, a passenger ship, or even a large cargo carrier - every vessel needs several mooring lines. This type of boat rope is used to securely fasten the ship to the jetty in the harbour. A high-quality mooring line should be very break-resistant and sufficiently stretchy. To prevent the rope from slipping out of your hand and to avoid skin-abrasion, it should also be easy to handle. Mooring ropes are exposed to constant external influences and should be able to withstand high loads over a long period of time. Otherwise there is a risk that the ship will detach itself from the mooring. Mooring lines withstand environmental stress such as seawater, rain, and frost as well as UV radiation and abrasion. It is recommended that every pleasure boat be equipped with at least four mooring lines. The length of the lines should be: two pieces of 1.5 x boat length and two pieces of 1.0 x boat length. We recommend a visual check of the lines before and after each use. It is necessary to replace mooring lines if the power-bearing elements show significant signs of wear or are damaged.

Halyards

Another type of marine rope are halyards, which are used to set and hoist the sails. Halyards should be extremely resistant to salt water, UV radiation and abrasion. Halyards are exposed to very high loads and tensile forces. That is why extreme stability and tenacity are also important. In addition, a halyard should not stretch with changing tension. The less elastic the halyard, the less your sail will come down under load (sag). A good grip is another requirement for a halyard. In the past, halyards were made exclusively from natural fibres such as hemp or sisal. However, some of these materials stretch a lot and are susceptible to rot. Modern halyards are made of synthetic fibres or wire ropes. While 100% polyester lines may be fine for cruising purposes, uncompromising yachtswomen and yachtsmen will opt for lines made of polyethylene-based synthetic fibres. Halyards made of high modulus polyethylene fibres (e.g. Dyneema) are particularly popular because they are extremely strong, thin, and light weight.

Sheets

Also elementary for every boat are the sheets. They belong to the so-called running rigging, which is characterized by the fact that it is not attached at both ends. With these robust lines you operate the sails and control their angle of attack to the wind. Sheets should be stable, easy to handle and, above all, have a good grip. They are constantly operated, because every time the wind and course changes, the angle of each individual sail is changed. Since sheets are often fixed in winches, clamps, and other fastenings, they must be extremely resistant to abrasion. The exact qualities of the sheets depend on the size and characteristics of the sail in question. For example, the jib requires different sheets than the mainsail.

Towing lines, flag lines and other yacht ropes

In addition to the commonly known categories of sheets, halyards and mooring lines, there are other types of marine rope used on modern sailboats and yachts. For example, flags are hoisted on the mast with flag lines, which are usually made of polypropylene. Towing lines must be particularly strong and elastic, as they are used to pull one or more boats. Fender lines attach fenders to the boat, which protect the hull from damage.

Mooring lines

It is recommended to equip each vessel with a minimum of four mooring lines. The length of the lines should be: two pieces of 1.5 x ship length and two pieces of 1.0 x ship length. We recommend a visual check of the lines before and after each use, to make sure the power-bearing elements show no significant signs of wear or damage. Otherwise they need to be replaced.

Cruising: Leisure and pleasure

Performance: Racing and regatta

(! Important note:) For the Spi-Guy choose a diameter one size larger. Always choose the appropriate stopper for the respective rope diameter or adjust it accordingly. Wrong dimensioning may damage the rope!