When is Webbing Better Than Rope?

[thinwater]

As I've done more with low friction rings, it's became evident that rope is not the best material for sliding through a ring. Double braid can get lumpy and is high friction. Single braids, like Amsteel flatten under load... leading me to the obvious conclusion that maybe webbing is better for some things.

By including loops at several points, it can adjust to various reefing heights. This boat uses roller reefing, so there is no jiffy-reefing tack line.

For example, webbing has been used for years in dinghy Cunninghams. The purchase is doubled by running it through the Cunningham eye, but it's just a regular grommet. Webbing runs more smoothly, with less friction.

Webbing is perhaps the most traditional method of attaching sail slugs to the mainsail. Wrap 2-3 times and sew.



So what about other applications?

• Lifeline lashings.
• Sewn to the jib or reacher sheets at the end, there is nothing to hang up on. A friend of mine has done this.
• Slab reefing outhaul tackles. Less friction through the clew ring. I've done this.
• Furler line. I use webbing on the reacher--I can fit more on the drum that way. The webbing is spliced to a larger rope tail.
• Control lines that are underfoot on deck.

This is also similar to what we do when we strip cores, such as on furlers. I'm aware of that.



You don't want to handle it under load and it does not play well with winches.


Just a thread to share ideas. Maybe something clever will come up.

[jdazey]

Jacklines


Cheers,

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by jdazey

Jacklines


Cheers,

That was too easy. Something non-conventional. Not hiking straps either. Applications where you might not think of webbing first.

• Lifeline in cockpit areas. More comfortable.
• Lashing blocks and low friction rings. This is actually a Dyneema climbing quick draw. $8 and easier than splicing that short.

[Training Wheels]

I use webbing on all our fenders. Rubs less on the corner of our deck.

[Benz]

Webbing is less convenient because you can't splice it (that I know of), and the knots you can use with it (that still look tidy) are very limited. Also the most commonly-used water knot takes some fiddling to do, and can jam pretty tight.
So you're limited to sewing, for all practical purposes, and doing that properly requires a machine or very tedious stitching.
Sewn loops are good for boom strops because they spread the load, and webbing is easy to use in quick-adjusting buckles. Rather have a webbing belt than a rope...

[thinwater]

Yes, webbing generally needs to be sewn. But I don't consider that more tedious than splicing (similar time factor) and the testing background is at least 80 years old (many of the methods were developed for WW II parachutes). I suspect it is easier to teach than splicing.

[MartinR]

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

I use webbing on all our fenders. Rubs less on the corner of our deck.

I use the cover of a double braid for the same purpose. Very similar to webbing, but easier to knot.

[MikeTC]

What different types and strengths are available?

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by MikeTC

What different types and strengths are available?

Like rope, pretty much anything you can think of. Like rope, the best choice depends on the application. Like rope, polyester is most generally useful and available... but lots of choices.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by thinwater

As I've done more with low friction rings, it's became evident that rope is not the best material for sliding through a ring. Double braid can get lumpy and is high friction. Single braids, like Amsteel flatten under load... leading me to the obvious conclusion that maybe webbing is better for some things.

By including loops at several points, it can adjust to various reefing heights. This boat uses roller reefing, so there is no jiffy-reefing tack line.

For example, webbing has been used for years in dinghy Cunninghams. The purchase is doubled by running it through the Cunningham eye, but it's just a regular grommet. Webbing runs more smoothly, with less friction.

Webbing is perhaps the most traditional method of attaching sail slugs to the mainsail. Wrap 2-3 times and sew.



So what about other applications?

• Lifeline lashings.
• Sewn to the jib or reacher sheets at the end, there is nothing to hang up on. A friend of mine has done this.
• Slab reefing outhaul tackles. Less friction through the clew ring. I've done this.
• Furler line. I use webbing on the reacher--I can fit more on the drum that way. The webbing is spliced to a larger rope tail.
• Control lines that are underfoot on deck.

This is also similar to what we do when we strip cores, such as on furlers. I'm aware of that.



You don't want to handle it under load and it does not play well with winches.


Just a thread to share ideas. Maybe something clever will come up.

A solution for soft lay "yacht rope/webbing :






Use hard lay 3 strand polyETHYLENE (NOT polyPROPYLENE) pot warp when you need a very slippery rope. It is so slippery that you really can't trust a knot in it without tucking strands also. Best practice is splicing. It will slip thru fathoms of rings,loops,etc. without jamming.


Any lobster fishing supply will have it in 100 & 200 fathom coils-approx 40lb/100fa. @ $2.00/lb or $80/600ft


https://www.friendshiptrap.com/index...0&redirected=1


Len

[Lambretta]

I have used them for sacrificial pieces at the end of a stern mooring line when med mooring (70mm width) on rocks and trees or stumps and it does not ring bark a tree

Have made them up in various lengths and then sawn loops on the ends to which I tied the mooring line. So the webbing in essence becomes a sling.

Has worked well and my mooring lines are no longer getting shorter with age

[Benz]

Almost forgot: I use 2" tubular webbing tied around the waist to attach myself to my foul-weather tether (Actually it's my old swami belt from when I climbed rocks. Tom will know what one is). Far less annoying and uncomfortable than an inflatable shoulder harness, it can go under my jacket (over the bibs), with the tether coming out between the buttons.
I can go below, peel off jacket an boots, and sleep with bibs and swami, ready to get topside quickly if need be. Anything thinner than 2" would dig in uncomfortably.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Lambretta

I have used them for sacrificial pieces at the end of a stern mooring line when med mooring (70mm width) on rocks and trees or stumps and it does not ring bark a tree

Have made them up in various lengths and then sawn loops on the ends to which I tied the mooring line. So the webbing in essence becomes a sling.

Has worked well and my mooring lines are no longer getting shorter with age

Climbers call these rabit runners. Many uses.