Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 16-11-2010, 07:59   #1
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Optimum Dinghy Painter

I've got replace the painter on my dink as the result of a night dinghy cruise where the painter got into the prop (don't ask).

What does anybody think about the optimal type of rope for this? Regular braided polyester like a sheet?

Nylon octoplait?

What do you guys use?

My dink is an 11" Avon RIB with 25 horsepower. I was thinking about 10mm nylon octoplait for stretch. On the other hand, chafe . . .
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 08:23   #2
Registered User
 
cfarrar's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Brooklin, Maine U.S.A
Boat: Allures 44
Posts: 734
Images: 2
We only use polypro, because it floats! The standard 3-strand degrades quickly in sunlight. We have a towing bridle made from New England Rope's dual braid - polypro core with a nylon cover. It's 7/16", strong, and it floats.

However, we don't tow very often, so usually we just use a lightweight painter made of Regatta-lite, a 12-plait polypro.
cfarrar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 08:32   #3
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfarrar View Post
We only use polypro, because it floats! The standard 3-strand degrades quickly in sunlight. We have a towing bridle made from New England Rope's dual braid - polypro core with a nylon cover. It's 7/16", strong, and it floats.

However, we don't tow very often, so usually we just use a lightweight painter made of Regatta-lite, a 12-plait polypro.
Thanks. I looked at polypropelyne, but since I never tow my dinghy, I didn't think it was a good trade off to get floating in exchange for UV degradation.

Nylon = good for stretch but bad for chafe

Polyster braid on braid = no stretch but better chafe resistance

That's what I'm looking at so far. Unless someone has some other argument for polypropylene
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 08:45   #4
Registered User
 
marc2012's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: abbeville la
Boat: seawind II Patience
Posts: 541
I very ! rarely tow but use polyprope ,never know when might have to move & floating line helps.marc
marc2012 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 08:46   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Napa CA USA
Boat: Piver Victress
Posts: 87
Use floating line ... that means it doesn't get among your prop ... but you have already learnt that lesson ...

I tow an 8ft grp dinghy and have learnt several lessons the hard way ...

1. Use floating line
2. Tow the dinghy with 2 lines ... regardless of whether or not you rig a bridle ... use 2 towing lines
3. Use L O N G towing lines when sailing or motoring downwind or when there is a following sea ... long towing lines keep the dinghy in the next trough behind meaning the dinghy doesn't surf downwave & ram your transome
4. Do not leave gear in or attached to the dinghy whilst under tow ... outboard, bailer, oarlocks & fuel container have all mysteriously vanished at one point or another
5. Beware dinghy filling up with water when it rains
6. Employ effective anti-chafe measures for both towing lines & check frequently for signs of chafe
svtadpole is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 09:11   #6
Registered User
 
cfarrar's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Brooklin, Maine U.S.A
Boat: Allures 44
Posts: 734
Images: 2
Quote:
I didn't think it was a good trade off to get floating in exchange for UV degradation.
The NE Ropes' dinghy tow line has a nylon cover, so the polypro isn't exposed to UV. The other polypro ropes are cheap, so you can afford to replace them.
cfarrar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 09:15   #7
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Quote:
Originally Posted by svtadpole View Post
Use floating line ... that means it doesn't get among your prop ... but you have already learnt that lesson ...

I tow an 8ft grp dinghy and have learnt several lessons the hard way ...

1. Use floating line
2. Tow the dinghy with 2 lines ... regardless of whether or not you rig a bridle ... use 2 towing lines
3. Use L O N G towing lines when sailing or motoring downwind or when there is a following sea ... long towing lines keep the dinghy in the next trough behind meaning the dinghy doesn't surf downwave & ram your transome
4. Do not leave gear in or attached to the dinghy whilst under tow ... outboard, bailer, oarlocks & fuel container have all mysteriously vanished at one point or another
5. Beware dinghy filling up with water when it rains
6. Employ effective anti-chafe measures for both towing lines & check frequently for signs of chafe
I don't, however, tow at all. I have electric davits. I just need a painter.
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 13:01   #8
Registered User
 
tager's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Vashon, WA
Boat: Haida 26', 18' Sea Kayak, 15' kayak, 6.5' skiff, shorts
Posts: 837
Nylon 3 strand, dirt cheap, takes splices nicely.

Are you seriously that worried about chafe? You can always replace it when one strand finally gives.
tager is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 13:19   #9
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Quote:
Originally Posted by tager View Post
Nylon 3 strand, dirt cheap, takes splices nicely.

Are you seriously that worried about chafe? You can always replace it when one strand finally gives.
Probably not. I would be more worried about UV since I leave the painter tied to one davit. Thanks for that; I just ordered some nylon. But octoplait which is nicer to handle than 3 strand.
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 13:21   #10
Registered User
 
tager's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Vashon, WA
Boat: Haida 26', 18' Sea Kayak, 15' kayak, 6.5' skiff, shorts
Posts: 837
Octoplait splicing is a bit more involved, but looks nice.
tager is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 13:22   #11
Registered User
 
tager's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Vashon, WA
Boat: Haida 26', 18' Sea Kayak, 15' kayak, 6.5' skiff, shorts
Posts: 837
tager is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 13:42   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Seattle
Boat: Schock 35
Posts: 157
This is what we use both for towing and for stern tieing.

Fisheries - Product Detail
Tom Spohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-11-2010, 13:50   #13
Eternal Member
 
capt_douglas's Avatar

Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Boat: Vancouver 36 cutter????
Posts: 620
Send a message via Skype™ to capt_douglas
I use 5/8" poly for my dinghy painter as well. It's not as strong as 3-strand, nor does it seem to handle UV as well, but it floats. I'd never consider towing with it as I don't think it has the durability. And I change my painter yearly, using the replaced one as a spare or for other purposes.
__________________
Capt. Douglas Abbott
USCG/MCA IV/M.I./C.I. 500-ton Oceans
capt_douglas is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Dinghy Painter - How Long? landonshaw Auxiliary Equipment & Dinghy 9 28-10-2014 02:27
Optimum Dagger Board Use solarbri Multihull Sailboats 15 03-03-2013 13:56
Optimum Backstay Antenna Length Beausoleil Marine Electronics 3 04-10-2010 15:16
Painter Length for Dinghy Sergy Auxiliary Equipment & Dinghy 12 20-08-2009 18:23

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 23:22.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.