3 strand or 8 plait rode?

[quill]

any difference in durability,elasticity,cost,chafe?

[xeon_tsd]

I prefer plait. Takes up less room flaked into the locker.

[xeon_tsd]

Nylon Brait / Eight - Strand Plaited Nylon Rope | Yale Cordage

[Cheechako]

I prefer good 3 strand because plait snags on everything. You pull it across a seizing wire on your shackle and you end up with a big snag in the line. Everything is a compromise though, as mentioned plait is nice to handle.

[hlev00]

You didn't mention if you use a windlass. If you do, it may only work with one type or the other. Check your manual to verify.

[Stumble]

I absolutely loath 3-strand line. The only two things it has going for it is that it is slightly more abrasion resistant than braided and has more stretch. In every other category it is not just worse, it is far worse. It stiffens terribly eventually to the point it can't be tied in a know any more, has an awful hand, and just doesn't coil...

For static dock lines in the home berth it is ok, but thats it. Personally I have banned it from my boat.

[charliehows]

3 strand is easy to splice - once you're in practice, its as easy to splice as to knot. I've never even tried to splice multi-strand plait but it is the better rope for sheets as far as I'm concerned - better for lines that are frequently worked hard by hand.

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by quill

any difference in durability,elasticity,cost,chafe?

Three strand is cheaper and more chafe resistant. Both are plenty elastic for any anchoring or mooring. Both are easy to splice.

I prefer 3 strand for dock lines and snubbers. Prefer plait or double braid for rode.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Stumble

The only two things it has going for it is that it is slightly more abrasion resistant than braided and has more stretch.

8-plait has more stretch than 3-strand.

Originally Posted by charliehows

3 strand is easy to splice

I find 8-plait just as easy to splice as 3-strand. Easier, if the line has been used a bit before splicing.

Mark

[Hydra]

8-plait doesn't unlay under high tension, so it isn't subject to hockling.

When comparing the breaking strength and stretch of 3-strand and 8-plait, it is necessary to take into account the actual cross-section. For example, Teufelberger Palermo (3-strand) 10mm rope is 2200 daN and 58g/m but Portofino (8-plait) 10mm is 2500 daN and 65g/m.

Then, Palermo 10mm rope is 13.6% stronger than Portofino 10mm. No wonder it is less stretchy.

But, since Portofino 10mm rope is 65g/m against Palermo 10mm 58g/m, the "strength per gramme" is 38.5 for the Portofino and 37.9 for the Palermo rope, that is only 1.4% difference. The difference in strength and stretch is linked to a difference in actual rope section.

Alain

[gjordan]

I never spliced multi-plait together, but I spliced it to my anchor chain. I liked it much better than 3 strand for ease of use, and I dont think the chain splice was much harder than it would have been with 3 strand. Every year or so, I would cut the rope to chain splice and re-do it, just to make sure internal chafe hadnt occured. I used it for 8 years on my 44 footer, because I could not afford a new windlass and all chain. It worked fine, but if I had the money, I would have prefered all chain. Just another opinion. ______Grant.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by RainDog

Three strand is cheaper and more chafe resistant. Both are plenty elastic for any anchoring or mooring. Both are easy to splice.

I prefer 3 strand for dock lines and snubbers. Prefer plait or double braid for rode.

I agree with all of this.

Except that I use octoplait for everything, just because it is so beautiful in the hand. But it's true that three-strand is more resistant to chafe.

Also RainDog didn't mention, but three strand is vastly easier to splice.

[SVNeko]

Why not consider double braid. Just as easy to flake as 8 strand. Stronger and some studies show it is less chafe prone than 3 strand. Samson super strong is our secondary rode and dock lines. Its strong and chafe resistant and stretchy enough.

[colemj]

It hasn't been my experience that double braid collapses and stores like 8-plait - particularly when it has been used for a while. Also, many rope/chain windlasses don't handle 8-plait well, and I have never seen one handle double braid. So if the OP plans on using a windlass, that is a consideration. Unless he is using a warping drum, of course.

Mark