Apples, Oranges or Bananas?

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

There ya go... like sitting in the waiting room waiting for the girls to walk by.... You'll know the right one ....

At the free clinic?

[Cheechako]

Do they still sell XL? You dont need XLS. and ditto on the comfort factor. 1/2 about right for your boat. 5/8 too big. 9/16 maybe if it fits your self tailers...

[Goingbuddha]

Avoid anything made by Orion Ropeworks. They have some serious quality control issues. Samson is a great name in ropes. I say this not as a sailor, but as someone who used to manufacture rope at Maritime Cordage.

[HopCar]

Hi Cheechako, I stock it.
Samson LS Polyester Double Yacht Braid Rope

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

At the free clinic?

Good one Skip!

I might go for a soft to the touch Kiwi then....

[capt-couillon]

Fourth option (Blueberries?)
Cajun Ropes XLE (NovaBraid) ... Canadian manufacturer NovaBraid makes a double braid polyester comparable to Samson XLS or NE Ropes StaSet. The link points to the distributor I use, who has excellent prices and service. Last order received 5 days after order (East Coast US) They also offer custom splicing (halyards etc) if you're not comfortable splicing braids.

Using XLS for all my running rigging and very satisfied with the performance of the lines.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Good one Skip!

I might go for a soft to the touch Kiwi then....

Thanks Happy, I surprised myself on that one!

I agree, those New Zealand gals are alright.

Oh, maybe you were talking about the guys?

[sck5]

not only should you care about how it feels but equally important, what fits best in your self tailers? I have a 33 foot boat that is actually 35. I use 7/16 - tried half inch and went back to 7/16 because I really didnt need a stronger line and also wanted something stretchy enough to be kind to my fittings

[Windseeker]

Originally Posted by capt-couillon

Fourth option (Blueberries?)
Cajun Ropes XLE (NovaBraid) ... Canadian manufacturer NovaBraid...

Hey, Thanks all for the feedback. FYI, my Genoa winch is the ST44.2 which the manual says is can handle 9/16. I like the way the 1/2 line fits. I agree with Stumble when you start pushing the products to their limits. Yeah, it fits, but...

I'm thinking now about 7/16". You guys (gender non-specific) made me think about how much sail handing I actually do. Other than helping it across, I am mostly grinding on the winch. The weight reduction should help. In light air, the 1/2 line weighs the sail down. Plus, I have big bowline knots at the clue which doesn't help. I saw a video on a guy making a soft shackle and I was getting as excited as if I was in the waiting room at the Free Clinic. The soft shackle is a good solution.

About stretchiness...
Given that I cannot see going below 7/16" for the human comfort factor, the polyester double braid is plenty strong enough for the application. I won't need a small high tech line. What about the elongation under load? I did see the Novatech lines on Ebay at very reasonable prices, but I also read where they are significantly stretchier than the others. I see the value in absorbing some shock load to save your gear, but when is it too stretchy for a sheet?

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Windseeker

Hey, Thanks all for the feedback. FYI, my Genoa winch is the ST44.2 which the manual says is can handle 9/16. I like the way the 1/2 line fits. I agree with Stumble when you start pushing the products to their limits. Yeah, it fits, but. . .
About stretchiness. . .
Given that I cannot see going below 7/16" for the human comfort factor, the polyester double braid is plenty strong enough for the application. I won't need a small high tech line. What about the elongation under load? I did see the Novatech lines on Ebay at very reasonable prices, but I also read where they are significantly stretchier than the others. I see the value in absorbing some shock load to save your gear, but when is it too stretchy for a sheet?

I would suggest that the line is too stretchy if when you sheet it in close to the shrouds and when a strong puff comes along it looks like you are sailing "wing on wing."

It really depends upon your boat. In a light small high performance boat they might want to capture those puffs and transmit them down the sheet to the boat. The boat can handle sudden or sharp increases in loads. However, in a much larger, heavier boat the shock loads would be considerably larger (large sails, etc.) and the shock loads on the winches, etc. might be too much or too uncomfortable. But that is for sudden high energy shock loads whereas with slow cycling load increases a "stretchy" sheet might work against your getting any benefit from the "puff."

Not really much help as basically it is an - "it all depends . . . " kind of situation.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Thanks Happy, I surprised myself on that one!

I agree, those New Zealand gals are alright.

Oh, maybe you were talking about the guys?

HAY NOW!!!

The only swinging I do is on the hook...

Originally Posted by Windseeker

Hey, Thanks all for the feedback.
You bet!
I'm thinking now about 7/16". In light air, the 1/2 line weighs the sail down. Plus, I have big bowline knots at the clue which doesn't help. I saw a video on a guy making a soft shackle and I was getting as excited as if I was in the waiting room at the Free Clinic.
HAAA ! GOOD ONE

but when is it too stretchy for a sheet?

Why not try 7/16??? I agree with below... Unless you need the puff energy I think you're all right... I've not used the stuff though... But I would take a chance ...

Originally Posted by osirissail

I would suggest that the line is too stretchy if when you sheet it in close to the shrouds and when a strong puff comes along it looks like you are sailing "wing on wing."
BRILLIANT!

It really depends upon your boat. In a light small high performance boat they might want to capture those puffs and transmit them down the sheet to the boat. The boat can handle sudden or sharp increases in loads. However, in a much larger, heavier boat the shock loads would be considerably larger (large sails, etc.) and the shock loads on the winches, etc. might be too much or too uncomfortable. But that is for sudden high energy shock loads whereas with slow cycling load increases a "stretchy" sheet might work against your getting any benefit from the "puff."

Not really much help as basically it is an - "it all depends . . . " kind of situation.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Windseeker

Hey, Thanks all for the feedback. FYI, my Genoa winch is the ST44.2 which the manual says is can handle 9/16. I like the way the 1/2 line fits. I agree with Stumble when you start pushing the products to their limits. Yeah, it fits, but...

I'm thinking now about 7/16". You guys (gender non-specific) made me think about how much sail handing I actually do. Other than helping it across, I am mostly grinding on the winch. The weight reduction should help. In light air, the 1/2 line weighs the sail down. Plus, I have big bowline knots at the clue which doesn't help. I saw a video on a guy making a soft shackle and I was getting as excited as if I was in the waiting room at the Free Clinic. The soft shackle is a good solution.

About stretchiness...
Given that I cannot see going below 7/16" for the human comfort factor, the polyester double braid is plenty strong enough for the application. I won't need a small high tech line. What about the elongation under load? I did see the Novatech lines on Ebay at very reasonable prices, but I also read where they are significantly stretchier than the others. I see the value in absorbing some shock load to save your gear, but when is it too stretchy for a sheet?

Dont go 7/16....1/2 is better on the hands. 9/16 if your winch will take it well.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

HAY NOW!!!

The only swinging I do is on the hook...

Sorry about that. Just taking a few Salty M....... lessons.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Sorry about that. Just taking a few Salty M....... lessons.

Never gunna hurt my feelings... Life's too short not to laugh at yerself!

The monkey is quite spunky ain't he???
This place wouldn't be the same without him!

PS: I think our resident crabs give him a pretty good run wit wise....

[Stumble]

The winches are maxed out at 9/16 for the 42.2ST's. I guess you could go that big but I wouldn't.


I would point out that where endura, and other dyneema lines don't absorb water, the polyester ones do. Which can make them double in weight when wet. Not that the weight is a huge matter on a cruising boat, but coiling 20lbs of wet line compared to a 5lb wet line gets old quickly.