Mooring lines

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Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,147 posts

264 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
HMS Simpo could do with some smart new mooring lines for 2015, and I can either pay top money in a chandler or by some cheapos from eBay. Then I remembered that B&Q sell all different kinds of rope - if I found one that looked the same (12mm navy) would it do the same job or rot away in 3 weeks?

s2kjock

1,676 posts

146 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
Whenever I've looked at the stuff in B&Q it has actually looked expensive compared to chandlery stuff like for like.

From memory, the B&Q stuff is mostly polypropylene which is not ideal for mooring. The non-polyprop stuff looks more suited to hanging your washing up than mooring a boat!

Have you tried the likes of Jimmy Green or still too expensive?

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
I used cheapy ebay navy 14mm, bought a 50mtr roll.

It seems to be wearing ok and the colour not fading too much.

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,147 posts

264 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
s2kjock said:
Have you tried the likes of Jimmy Green or still too expensive?
Complex site - polyester seems the best but they have three different kinds. Will talk to them tomorrow to decide; thanks for the link.

3-strand or braided? Braided seems posher... but maybe harder to get tight knots undone?


Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 25th March 17:36

Fishtigua

9,786 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
If you're feeling really lazy, get a braided line with an eye already sliced.

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/mooring-lines.html

Don't buy nylon, it goes hard and brittle in UV, an Ebay roll of polyester is cheapest.

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,147 posts

264 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
25% stretch - that's elastic!

Spliced is an option but if the loop is too small it won't go over the cleats (about 7" long) and if it's too big it could come off when needed most. If a splice is described as '10"' is that diameter or circumference?

And then just as I'm planning to order 8m I see you can have either 6 or 10, grr!

DJFish

5,917 posts

262 months

Chimune

3,159 posts

222 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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Definitely get the cheapest rope you can find - as long as its the right colour!

s2kjock

1,676 posts

146 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
In the olden days the utility companies used to use swanky nylon rope for pulling cables through pipes/ducts etc and it only got used once or twice before they binned it IIRC.

We were given a 100 metre reel of 8mm Marlowe three strand many years ago - saw us right in various small boat mooring lines/warps/painters etc for 30 years - we still have some of it here and there I think.

Is it just for mooring up to a pontoon? The pre-braided lines mentioned above are very good, but a bit long for a wee boat.

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,147 posts

264 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
It's for all kinds of mooring, both in the marina and in the field. Boat is 27' and three tons.

I think I've decided on 3-strand as a sailing friend of mine confirms that braided can be hard to get undone at times.

The Ors

174 posts

112 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
This: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polyester-3strand-twiste...

plus this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dremel-2000-6-Versatip-G...

plus this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLox_ajDGLo

Good quality rope, similar total cost as buying a few pre-made warps with splices, interesting learning experience made much easier by the hot knife and you end up with a 'free' hot knife/portable soldering iron into the bargain.

s2kjock

1,676 posts

146 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
It's for all kinds of mooring, both in the marina and in the field. Boat is 27' and three tons.

I think I've decided on 3-strand as a sailing friend of mine confirms that braided can be hard to get undone at times.
I think I'd go for the same for general use. Splicing bights in is not too difficult to do yourself if you need to.

akirk

5,376 posts

113 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
quotequote all
rightly or wrongly I always used mountaineering rope for my RIB (bit lighter than your boat) / thames cruiser (nearer in weight) - Cotswold outdoor, and lots of routes to 20% off there (mine was through British Canoe Union membership) - worked out cheaper than marinas for rope and never had an issue...

Popeyed

543 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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s2kjock said:
From memory, the B&Q stuff is mostly polypropylene which is not ideal for mooring. The non-polyprop stuff looks more suited to hanging your washing up than mooring a boat!
I think you will find a large majority of merchant ships use polypropylene mooring lines. The properties of the rope; in that it floats, has decent strength, wears well and does not succumb to actinic degradation at the first sight of the sun mean its very popular.

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,147 posts

264 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
quotequote all
Well in the end I bought some 3-strand rope from eBay; a pair of 10m lines and pair of 8m lines for just £44.

At that price if they last a few years I'm happy. Thanks to all who offered suggestions and links smile

s2kjock

1,676 posts

146 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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Popeyed said:
I think you will find a large majority of merchant ships use polypropylene mooring lines. The properties of the rope; in that it floats, has decent strength, wears well and does not succumb to actinic degradation at the first sight of the sun mean its very popular.
You want some "give" in a small boat mooring though. Different boats - different ropes.

Popeyed

543 posts

218 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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s2kjock said:
Popeyed said:
I think you will find a large majority of merchant ships use polypropylene mooring lines. The properties of the rope; in that it floats, has decent strength, wears well and does not succumb to actinic degradation at the first sight of the sun mean its very popular.
You want some "give" in a small boat mooring though. Different boats - different ropes.
Elasticity is needed in ship's moorings as well, otherwise you would have no end of rope failures and resultant snap-back incidents. Hence why ships using wire moorings always have rope tails to provide elasticity.

s2kjock

1,676 posts

146 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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I was always under the impression that polyprop had very little elasticity, hence the need to use nylon (on small boats at least).

Is there still then sufficient elasticity in ship's lines but that polyprop has greater breaking strength and resistance to wear than nylon or is it due to cost?

mickrick

3,700 posts

172 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Polypropylene is rubbish! It's as strong as a bin liner, and rots in the sun.
Polyimide 3 strand is the best option.
Octiplaid looks nice though, and has plenty of stretch. You want a bit of stretch in mooring lines, unless you want to rip the cleats out.
Personally I prefer mooring lines without any splices, and to tie a bowline, as it's handy to be able to let either end slip if you want to double up. also sometimes you have to tie onto rings, so you have to use a bowline then anyway, unless you want to bugger about with shackles.

Of course, when I worked for the rich and stupid, I had to use braided mooring lines with splices because "they looked nice" rolleyes

Anyway, you've got some now smile Another thumbs up here for Jimmy Green Marine though wink

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,147 posts

264 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
mickrick said:
Of course, when I worked for the rich and stupid, I had to use braided mooring lines with splices because "they looked nice" rolleyes
A few months ago a brand new version of my boat appeared alongside. Exactly the same model. Me 2012, him 2014. Grr. And he has brand new braided navy ropes, and yes they do look smart.

I should have just nicked his, and given his boat a friendly push downriver - two problems solved in one go hehe