Chuck, You are preaching to a choir here. I would not advocate a stretchy rope for the running rigging. Hence my suggestion to use double braid instead.
My comment was simply to suggest that you can buy climbing rope by length, even if most of the time it is sold pre-cut to 30, 40 or even 70 m. And you made a very important comment about the single stretch capacity of the climbing ropes. After one, high-load event, their stretch capacity is gone. Marek From: Novabraid via CnC-List Sent: Monday, April 26, 2021 1:45 PM To: 'Stus-List' <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: csgilchr...@comcast.net Subject: Stus-List Re: Line question Marek, As a rope guy and racing sailor I have to disagree with regards to using a dynamic rope for traveler control. While there is the occasional desirability of shock absorbing capabilities for the traveler (which is why most have rubber bumpers or dampers on the cars or track ends, one could just as easily suggest dynamic rope for a main sheet. Why not, if that's the desired characteristic for preventing hardware damage in a bad gybe? Because it would stretch and cause your sail to lose shape! Same as the traveler! The reason for using low stretch line for both main sheet and traveler is that of control. Unless you're in a drifter, there's always some level of load on a traveler which is why most use 2:1, 4:1, or even 6:1 purchase. Put on a stretchy line, you'll be adjusting the traveler all the time to compensate for the high percentage of stretch. Additionally, a dynamic rope is much like a crash helmet, designed for one good stretch (or crunch). Once that occurs, the rope is done, stretched out and the stretch is non-recoverable. So after a big crash gybe, you have a significantly weakened rope that may not offer the performance you need for either racing or cruising. Dynamic climbing rope is engineered for fall protection and must be retired after a hard fall. And furthermore, most dynamic ropes have a parallel core which can not be spliced. So to terminate the dynamic rope you have to use a knot (weakening the rope) or sew an eye to attach to a padeye or becket. Nowhere near a strong as a proper double braid eye splice. Chuck Gilchrest S/V Half Magic 1983 35 Landfall Padanaram, MA (Marketing director and Rec Marine Products Manager, Novatec Braids Ltd.) From: Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2021 6:46 PM To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> Cc: Marek Dziedzic <dziedzi...@hotmail.com<mailto:dziedzi...@hotmail.com>> Subject: Stus-List Re: Line question You should be able to find some climbing dynamic rope by meter (even in the US climbing ropes are usually sold by meter not by foot). Choices are more limited compared to pre-cut, but there are a few. Interestingly, Sailing Anarchy had a discussion on the topic. The dynamic climbing ropes are pretty stretchy - 10% - 15% at about 100 kG (let's say 200 lb). This might feel like a bungee cord. Possibly, a simple (and cheap) double braid would work well enough. Marek 1994 C270 Legato Ottawa ON
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