Nylon actually has a fourth appealing characteristic that you will surely appreciate: it is less expensive. Polyester is marginally better in this category, but the advantage is insufficient for giving up elasticity. Nylon lines enjoy quite a long life in that environment. It is like the difference between hitting the steering wheel or hitting the air bag.Īs for nylon's resistance to ultraviolet damage, dock lines - particularly permanent dock lines - live in the sun. ![]() Nylon doesn't come taut suddenly, but dissipates the load by stretching. Even if the rope is strong enough not to break, it is hammering cleats and bitts with every surge. The likely consequence is a broken line - not unlike how you might snap a piece of thread with a jerk. When your boat surges against an unyielding dock line, the load on the line goes from zero to the maximum at the instant the line comes taut. The value of strength is self-evident, but the benefits of elasticity may not be as obvious. It is incredibly strong, it is very stretchy, and it is very good at resisting the harmful effects of sunlight. Nylon has three characteristics that make it ideal for dock lines. The right rope for dock lines is plain old nylon. These may be good for large boats in protected marinas, but for tying your boat to whatever dock, slip, pier, or seawall you might encounter, you should skip right over all rope labeled polyester or Dacron or Kevlar or Spectra or any other fancy name. In pursuit of dock lines that do not stiffen with age, some rope manufacturers have in recent years begun offering pre-spliced dock lines made from "stretchy" polyester. For dock lines, however, sailors and powerboaters alike need a rope that does stretch. ![]() Most marine cordage is for general or specialized use aboard sailboats, and the less it stretches, the more it is revered by sailors. If you are after rope to secure your boat to the dock, you can - and should - ignore most of those spools. ![]() When you decide to purchase dock lines, it is possible to be overwhelmed by the variety of rope available.
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