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Old 24-05-2013, 06:32   #1
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dyneema/specta lifelines

I have to replace the lifelines on my cruising sailboat (no racing) and am considering dyneema or spectra. Do you have any experience with either, and if so, is it positive or negative.

Thank you.
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Old 24-05-2013, 06:34   #2
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

Dyneema is the same as Spectra BTW.

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Old 24-05-2013, 06:54   #3
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

Dyneema lifelines done last year, building my soft shackles for jib this year. Next year all standing rigging. Love the stuff. Easy to work with, no special tools required and relatively cheap. Go for it. Practice your Brummel splice on a small piece a few times to learn it. I have all my knots and spliices down after watching a few videos and practicing.

Go to colligo marine website on the right hand side of page for videos or Google them on YouTube.
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Old 24-05-2013, 06:56   #4
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

What people call stretch is not stretch, but the lime pulling tight. You'll notice the difference in line hardness and diameter after it is used. Plan for that in advance and you'll be fine.
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Old 24-05-2013, 06:58   #5
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

Love mine, and the Lapworth 36 L-36.com site has some good tutorials, as does Brion Toss briontoss.com

I think Dyneema came from Heaven, and I'm an atheist....

just saw previous post. The term is "constructional stretch" and is the weave nesting up under tension.
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Old 24-05-2013, 06:58   #6
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

Maybe these pictures will help.
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Old 24-05-2013, 07:26   #7
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

If you don't want to mess with thimbles and turnbuckles, simply use trucker's hitch to tension
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Old 24-05-2013, 07:30   #8
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

Quote:
Originally Posted by tamicatana View Post
If you don't want to mess with thimbles and turnbuckles, simply use trucker's hitch to tension
Good advice. I used the "proper" buckles at all palces, realized I could have had simpler design that is just as good with 50% less hardware. Very good advice!


compared to the alternatives, this stuff is so fast, easy and cheap and good quality, plus comfortable. I really don't know why people would get metal for lifelines anymore. I actually took my lifelines off over the winter and washed them.

btw. if anyone ever decides to wash lines, daisy chain them or something. dont just throw them in or you will spend like 2 hours drinking beer, watching tv in your basement trying to untangle them prior to hanging them to dry! It did not happen to me, but I could imagine;-)
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Old 24-05-2013, 07:35   #9
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

article on spectra lifelines
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Old 24-05-2013, 07:47   #10
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

Quote:
btw. if anyone ever decides to wash lines, daisy chain them or something. dont just throw them in or you will spend like 2 hours drinking beer, watching tv in your basement trying to untangle them prior to hanging them to dry!
put them in a pillow case in the washer
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Old 24-05-2013, 07:53   #11
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Very informative piece, Evans. Thanks
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Old 24-05-2013, 08:23   #12
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

I have been using this set-up for about 5 years now. I have a couple of complaints. If you use lashings at the ends like the some racers do you will have to re-tension several times until the lashings are finally done stretching. The best deal would be to use turnbuckles. The lifelines do show a bit of wear in places so you may need to put a cover over those areas. It ends up looking kinda salty because I use free pieces of cover that don't all match in color.
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Old 24-05-2013, 08:27   #13
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

it does not stretch, more like a chinease finger trap. we just dont get it in a pretightened form and we call it stretching. not to critique, but I just dont want people thinking that the line itself stretches like a rubber band. imagine making a daisy chain of cable. imagine that chain being 20 foot long. put it under tension nd it will become more than 20 foot. you did not actually stretch the cable, but more so tigtened up your knot. Something like that would be better. they call it creep to kind of differentiate it from stretch.
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Old 24-05-2013, 08:37   #14
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

A sharp object cannot cut through a stainless steel lifeline. Because of that reason alone, I think stainless is more secure.
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Old 24-05-2013, 08:43   #15
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Re: dyneema/specta lifelines

Quote:
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A sharp object cannot cut through a stainless steel lifeline. Because of that reason alone, I think stainless is more secure.
Your point cannot be argued.

The only questions I pose is what object on your body would go between you and a lifeline that would cut through the lifeline while you were being hurled against it?
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