Right Rope for the Right Job This guide gives detailed information on rope materials characteristics, as well as the recommended material to use for specific jobs.
There are four basic Man-made synthetic fibre ropes - Polyamide, Polyester, Polypropylene & Polyethylene. We have also included other, more specialised ropes that you may come across in the marine industry.
To assist you in reading this table, Trade names are included in brackets
| Right Rope for the Right Job |
| Rope |
Uses |
Strength |
Stretch |
Abrasive
Resistance |
UV Resistance |
Floats
Sinks |
Remarks |
Polyamide
(Nylon) |
Anchoring,
Berthing,
Mooring,
Towing |
Strong |
High |
Moderate |
Good |
Sinks |
See Note 1 below. |
Polyester
(Dacron) |
Berthing,
Halyards,
Sheets |
Strong |
Low |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Sinks |
See Note 2 below. |
Polypropylene
(Geoprop) |
Floating Marine Rescue Line |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Poor |
Floats |
See Note 3 below |
| Polyethylene |
Floating Marine Rescue Line |
Moderate |
Low |
Poor |
Moderate |
Floats |
See Note 4 below. |
High Modulus Polyethylene - HMPE
(Dyneema)
(Spectra)
(Plasma) |
Halyards,
Sheets,
Guys &
Control Lines |
Very Strong |
Etremely Low |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Floats |
- |
High Modulus Polyester - Liquid Crystal Polymer [LCP]
(Vectran) |
Halyards,
Sheets,
Guys &
Control Lines |
Very Strong |
Zero |
Poor |
Poor |
Sinks |
- |
High Modulus Polyamide -
Aramid
(Kevlar) |
Halyards,
Sheets,
Guys &
Control Lines |
Very Strong |
Etremely Low |
Poor |
Poor |
Sinks |
- |
Polyethylene Benzobis Oxazole - PBO
(zylon) |
Halyards,
Sheets,
Guys &
Control Lines |
Very Strong |
Zero |
Poor |
Poor |
Sinks |
- |
Note 1. When wet, Polyamide can loose up to 15% of its strength and shrinks.
Note 2. Polyester is the most suitable material for Braided covers on Yacht ropes.
Note 3. Polypropylene should NOT be used as Mooring or Berthing lines due to its poor UV Resistance. Its recommended use is to bring a manoverboard back alongside a vessel and effect recovery.
Note 4. Polyethylene is used for getting a manoverboard back alongside a vessel, ONLY.
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