I saw some 'rope' for sale at home depot. It was 3/8 with a 240-280 lb useful load. Would this work for genoa sheet or main?
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cheap vs expensive
Yeah, it'll work. The primary differences between "home depot rope" and line made for use on sailboats are mostly: Stretch. That home depot rope will stretch a lot, especially at high loads (sailing in high winds). While this isn't really that big of a deal, instead of the force on the sail being translated into force pulling the boat forward, some of that energy is spent stretching the rope. UV Resistance. The home depot rope doesn't stand up all that well to UV. I use it to keep my tarp covering my boat, and after two months in the sun, it's noticibly more stiff and the outer jacket is much more rough than a fresh rope. So if you leave your halyards on the mast and don't cover them, the line will wear out pretty quick. Comfort. "proper" yacht lines have a much denser weave to the fibers of the outer jacket, so your hands don't get all scratched up from hauling line all day. This gets MUCH worse for the home depot rope if it's been in the sun for a while, as the outermost fibers get nice and rigid. Most of these differences aren't really that big of a deal. Rope from Home Depot is so cheap, you can replace your lines five, six, seven times as often as you would with "proper" yacht line, and still have spent less money. The only difference that I know of that might be of concern is that when rope gets wet, its breaking strength is lower. By how much depends on the quality of the rope. But I don't really know too much about this to know if it'd be a problem with the Home Depot rope. So it's up to you. I just wanted to point out the differences between the cheap stuff and the expensive stuff.
Yeah, it'll work. The primary differences between "home depot rope" and line made for use on sailboats are mostly: Stretch. That home depot rope will stretch a lot, especially at high loads (sailing in high winds). While this isn't really that big of a deal, instead of the force on the sail being translated into force pulling the boat forward, some of that energy is spent stretching the rope. UV Resistance. The home depot rope doesn't stand up all that well to UV. I use it to keep my tarp covering my boat, and after two months in the sun, it's noticibly more stiff and the outer jacket is much more rough than a fresh rope. So if you leave your halyards on the mast and don't cover them, the line will wear out pretty quick. Comfort. "proper" yacht lines have a much denser weave to the fibers of the outer jacket, so your hands don't get all scratched up from hauling line all day. This gets MUCH worse for the home depot rope if it's been in the sun for a while, as the outermost fibers get nice and rigid. Most of these differences aren't really that big of a deal. Rope from Home Depot is so cheap, you can replace your lines five, six, seven times as often as you would with "proper" yacht line, and still have spent less money. The only difference that I know of that might be of concern is that when rope gets wet, its breaking strength is lower. By how much depends on the quality of the rope. But I don't really know too much about this to know if it'd be a problem with the Home Depot rope. So it's up to you. I just wanted to point out the differences between the cheap stuff and the expensive stuff.
Use if for Everything
I have used the Home Depot rope for several years. I use it for everything including halyards and sheets. I have not had any problems whatsoever including stretching with either my MAC 23 or American Fiberglass D-18. The quality is not as good as the "marine" rope. You will find flaws such as small breaks and loops. All in all I am well satisfied. As a side note I started a thread several years ago in this forum about "saving money". I mentioned using the Home Depot rope. It resulted in a firestorm in which several people stated that they did not want to sail on the same lake with me.
I have used the Home Depot rope for several years. I use it for everything including halyards and sheets. I have not had any problems whatsoever including stretching with either my MAC 23 or American Fiberglass D-18. The quality is not as good as the "marine" rope. You will find flaws such as small breaks and loops. All in all I am well satisfied. As a side note I started a thread several years ago in this forum about "saving money". I mentioned using the Home Depot rope. It resulted in a firestorm in which several people stated that they did not want to sail on the same lake with me.
The comment about not...
sailing on the same lake seems a little over the top. It depends on which rope you are talking about. Home Depot carries some fine quality climbing rope...in fact, they have a rather wide selection. It is polyester double braid and is hard to distinguish from quality yacht braid. They also sell a bunch of crap...that looks like yacht braid, but doesn't come close in quality. The climbing rope (or dry rope) is pre-shrunk, low stretch, largely hydrophobic and abrasion resistant. However, it does not appear to be very much less in price than decent yacht braid. You can easily calculate the maximum sheet loads to expect...and I'll bet the stuff you are talking about is adequate for sheets. The only caveat is making sure the size you get will fit through your blocks, etc. I still have and use some of the original rope that came with my boat, and it is still going strong after 18 years...I wash it every season and take care of it...and since it came with the boat from the factory, it's probably pretty safe to say is was the cheapest around at the time. What did you say the name of your lake is again
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sailing on the same lake seems a little over the top. It depends on which rope you are talking about. Home Depot carries some fine quality climbing rope...in fact, they have a rather wide selection. It is polyester double braid and is hard to distinguish from quality yacht braid. They also sell a bunch of crap...that looks like yacht braid, but doesn't come close in quality. The climbing rope (or dry rope) is pre-shrunk, low stretch, largely hydrophobic and abrasion resistant. However, it does not appear to be very much less in price than decent yacht braid. You can easily calculate the maximum sheet loads to expect...and I'll bet the stuff you are talking about is adequate for sheets. The only caveat is making sure the size you get will fit through your blocks, etc. I still have and use some of the original rope that came with my boat, and it is still going strong after 18 years...I wash it every season and take care of it...and since it came with the boat from the factory, it's probably pretty safe to say is was the cheapest around at the time. What did you say the name of your lake is again
.But Its Cheap Crap
It may be crap, but it is cheap and more important, it works. I haven't observed any of the complaints about it. It does not stretch enough to concern me. It has weathered very well and it fits through the blocks. Just a few observations. There appears to be two groups of sailors we tend to praise openly. We praise those that spend enormous amounts of money to get the best. We also praise those that sail across the Atlantic in a bathtub with a broomstick and tarp. There is a large group of us who fit into neither category. We enjoy sailing, but either we do not have a lot of excess money or sailing is not the only thing in our life. We scrimp and sail and have fun doing it.
It may be crap, but it is cheap and more important, it works. I haven't observed any of the complaints about it. It does not stretch enough to concern me. It has weathered very well and it fits through the blocks. Just a few observations. There appears to be two groups of sailors we tend to praise openly. We praise those that spend enormous amounts of money to get the best. We also praise those that sail across the Atlantic in a bathtub with a broomstick and tarp. There is a large group of us who fit into neither category. We enjoy sailing, but either we do not have a lot of excess money or sailing is not the only thing in our life. We scrimp and sail and have fun doing it.
I am definitely an each to his own...
guy. I buy what I think is appropriate for my style of sailing and my pocketbook. I don't care what anyone else buys, or why, or if it works or if it doesn't...I'm not a crusader. However, I am opinionated and since this forum is designed for sharing opinion, experience and expertise, I don't shy away from expressing what I think...just as you do and should. I totally agree, whatever gets you on the water, in a sailboat having fun safely is the way to go.
guy. I buy what I think is appropriate for my style of sailing and my pocketbook. I don't care what anyone else buys, or why, or if it works or if it doesn't...I'm not a crusader. However, I am opinionated and since this forum is designed for sharing opinion, experience and expertise, I don't shy away from expressing what I think...just as you do and should. I totally agree, whatever gets you on the water, in a sailboat having fun safely is the way to go.
manilla for me
Since arthritis has been kicking in, I've been considering using a rough natural fiber for my jib sheets. I sail on smallish inland lakes, and the wind is ALWAYS changing. I have to retrim the jib constantly. Manilla has a very high friction constant, so less hand strength is required for the same pull. And with its rough texture, it'll keep my callouses in fine shape. It was good enough for Magellan....
Since arthritis has been kicking in, I've been considering using a rough natural fiber for my jib sheets. I sail on smallish inland lakes, and the wind is ALWAYS changing. I have to retrim the jib constantly. Manilla has a very high friction constant, so less hand strength is required for the same pull. And with its rough texture, it'll keep my callouses in fine shape. It was good enough for Magellan....
Funny you should mention that...
...even being the snob I am, it did occur to me that Joshua Slokum, just to name one, went around the world more than once with rope worse than that crappy stuff you can get at the red store. If I was going to go retro, I think I'd use hemp...multi-purpose on those long, boring voyages.
...even being the snob I am, it did occur to me that Joshua Slokum, just to name one, went around the world more than once with rope worse than that crappy stuff you can get at the red store. If I was going to go retro, I think I'd use hemp...multi-purpose on those long, boring voyages.
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