Chasing Elegua

[estarzinger]

If you thread the shock cord down thru the middle of a piece of dyneema single braid, it can last a lot longer.

I have never seen this . . . . . the braid cover for UV protection? Or does it also have some other function? If it is mostly UV protection, I would imagine a tightly braided dacron cover would also work (for less money and more likely to be in a scrap pile for most people).

good durability testing is really hard to do and there is relatively little data on what works and why. So crowd-sourced ideas, where the better ones get good word of mouth diffuse out more widely to more people than the worst ones . . . .seems the way this works in practice.

 

[Steam Flyer]

I have never seen this . . . . . the braid cover for UV protection? Or does it also have some other function? If it is mostly UV protection, I would imagine a tightly braided dacron cover would also work (for less money and more likely to be in a scrap pile for most people).

good durability testing is really hard to do and there is relatively little data on what works and why. So crowd-sourced ideas, where the better ones get good word of mouth diffuse out more widely to more people than the worst ones . . . .seems the way this works in practice.

The braid also adds more strength at it's longest extension. The trick is to pull a greater length of single braid over the shock cord, so you get the right amount of stretch. I used to do this primarily with control lines for racing rigs, where you want adjustability but not floppiness if things go loose.

Nylon or dacron single braid should work just as well. I used dyneema because I had a lot of it laying around....

 

[estarzinger]

The braid also adds more strength at it's longest extension.

ah, great - limiting max extension is definitely going to help prevent operator error that could shorten life.

A dyneema cover would give you a 'hard stop' (when it reaches max extension) while a dacron one would (I guess) give you a 'softer stop' - might not make any difference or might depend on the application which would be better.

as a small optimization, for the UV protection aspect, you would want as tight a braided cover as possible - the specific dyneema anti-chape covers and climbing rope covers tend to be great for this. I know they are 'better' at UV protection than just 'typical braid' but I really can not say how much better.

 

[Elegua]

@Steam Flyer @estarzinger Thanks - this is a lot of grist for the mill. Very helpful.


@Kris Cringle Do you know a Lafitte 44 out of Rockport named Chinook?

 

[Kris Cringle]

@Kris Cringle Do you know a Lafitte 44 out of Rockport named Chinook?

I can't recall seeing it in the harbor or around here. Not another Rockport?

 

[Elegua]

I can't recall seeing it in the harbor or around here. Not another Rockport?

Nope, Rockport, ME. Had a chat. Boats been off cruising for 2+ years and May have been purchased elsewhere. Nice couple, both Mainers.

 

[Panope]

A dyneema cover would give you a 'hard stop' (when it reaches max extension)

I am just guessing, but maybe not a 'hard stop' because with the core filled with rubber, the dyneema still has to "squeeze" this in order to reach its maximum extension.

Thinking about it further, maybe the rubber will be "incompressible" since it is captured on all sides. Maybe not?

Thinking further, Maybe a longer dyneema line could be made to have significant elasticity by loading the core with rubber. Could be good for dock lines or anchor gear.

Has anyone tried this?

Steve

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Has anyone tried this?

It's been done with spinnaker pole bridles - haven't tried it myself though.
Insert your shock cord and sew one end. Straighten out the leg of the bridle, stretch out the shock cord and sew the other end. For this purpose it doesn't have to be full length. You use a leader of small stuff /whipping twine to stretch it out inside.
Keeps the bridle from swinging/slapping around when not in use.
Hope that makes sense.

 

[Elegua]

 

[slug zitski]

View attachment 566692
View attachment 566693

Opps…waves on the beach…rolly anchorage

 

[Elegua]

Opps…waves on the beach…rolly anchorage

No, not really. There is a headland to hide behind.

 

[slug zitski]

No, not really. There is a headland to hide behind.

Cool

And sometimes the wind keeps you aligned with the swell so everything* works out

a good technique to learn is to bring the anchor chain back to amidships ..tie off with a short rope

this brings you beam too the wind and aligned with the swell

typical Bahamian technique

 

[Titilingus]

View attachment 566692
View attachment 566693

That's beautiful. I need to leave this dark, cold and wet Country and sail away with the wife next year. I'm going to to it.

 

[Elegua]

That's beautiful. I need to leave this dark, cold and wet Country and sail away with the wife next year. I'm going to to it.

You’ll get there. The UK has its own beauty. Find the sacred in the commonplace.

 

[Elegua]

Cool

And sometimes the wind keeps you aligned with the swell so everything* works out

a good technique to learn is to bring the anchor chain back to amidships ..tie off with a short rope

this brings you beam too the wind and aligned with the swell

typical Bahamian technique

I’ll try that if I end up beam on.

Very light breeze and low swell or I probably wouldn’t be here. When the wind does blow, it’s blowing me offshore and what little swell wrap is going to the other side of the bay. I’m in shallow water so a bit of a calculated risk.

 

[Russell Brown]

Ummmm. Can we have a high-res copy of the photo of your dinghy on the beach?

 

[Rantifarian]

I am just guessing, but maybe not a 'hard stop' because with the core filled with rubber, the dyneema still has to "squeeze" this in order to reach its maximum extension.

Thinking about it further, maybe the rubber will be "incompressible" since it is captured on all sides. Maybe not?

Thinking further, Maybe a longer dyneema line could be made to have significant elasticity by loading the core with rubber. Could be good for dock lines or anchor gear.

Has anyone tried this?

Steve

Yes, I have seen it done with nylon braid dock lines a few times. I believe the taper at the end of the rubber is quite important to stop chafe of the line, very similar to tapering the end of dyneema before you tuck the tail in.

 

[Elegua]

Ummmm. Can we have a high-res copy of the photo of your dinghy on the beach?

As the guy who made it possible? Of course. Sent to PTWatercraft.

 

[Elegua]

The 420 coach son has taken an armchair approach to cruising.

 

[accnick]

The 420 coach son has taken an armchair approach to cruising. View attachment 566893

Tell him not to forget the sunblock, and the sunglasses.