Synthetic Lifelines- what's the latest

[twospeed]

It's looking like its time to replace the wire lifelines on my sport boat. What's the latest line people are using ? Looks like Dyneema SK75/78 has been the choice. How bout SK90 ? And what about cost / strength benefits. All the synthetics are "stronger" than wire. Have people had problems snagging - I'm guessing a tighter weave is better. And I know I have to look out for chafing through the stanchions. Any special Splicing/attachment issues ? There doesn't seem to be a very recent thread about this - if there is send me that way.

 

[carlwasher]

Check the Cruising Forum. Thread there

 

[USA 007]

Use the New England STS product. Dyneema with a dyneema chafe cover. Bitch to splice but perfect for lifelines.

 

[Clove Hitch]

you mean "death" lines?

 

[CowboyKell]

Yes, "death lines". Make sure you extend your stanchions to 4' high and add 6 more lines just to be safe.

 

[Murphness]

chain link fence

 

[Clove Hitch]

chain link fence

connected to the battery bank. that way it will shock careless crew that get too close and bump into them.

 

[ease hike trim]

Use the New England STS product. Dyneema with a dyneema chafe cover. Bitch to splice but perfect for lifelines.

Thought that was SK75.

 

[USA 007]

All of the SK# products are dyneema

http://www.teufelberger.com/en/products/marine/new-england-ropes/grand-prix-racing/wr2.html

 

[Roleur]

Did you read the thread in Gear Anarchy?

 

[ease hike trim]

All of the SK# products are dyneema

No shit. My point is who in their right mind would use SK75 for lifelines?

 

[The Gardener]

I used SK90 with a dyneema cover at the stanchions.

Replaced annually. Failure is not an option.

Not cheaper or better than other alternatives. or even close. but looks cool.

OPM

 

[LB 15]

Life lines? How needs fucking life lines! I have heard of this guy who sails his 30 foot rocket ship, in some of the 'snotiist' conditions known to mankind ,single handed, without lifelines. The rest of us need to grow a pair. Or should that be 'pairs'?

 

[Christian]

Use the New England STS product. Dyneema with a dyneema chafe cover. Bitch to splice but perfect for lifelines.

that is a mis-guided product - for the same diameter/weight a single braid will give you at least 30% higher breaking strength and it turns out that the UV protection from the cover doesn't even slow the UV degradation of the core by much. If you start out with a singlebraid with 30% higher BS you will probably be ahead in terms of strength for the foreseeable future. A lot easier to splice and inspect too.

My personal preference is Dynex Dux as it is - by far - the toughest Dyneema line in existence.

Just one thing to bear in mind for the OP: switching from wire to Dyneema you have to make absolutely sure that you have no sharp edges anywhere - they will chew through Dyneema in no time - you will probably have to polish all the stancion holes.

 

[ease hike trim]

The cover on lifeline material is not there to prevent UV degradation but chafe, from sheets transitioning from inside to out as well as from stanchion pass throughs. Increased breaking strength in switching to single braid is largely irrelevant as the loads on lifelines never approach the breaking strength.

Visual inspect ability is not a valid argument for using singlebraid. If the cover is not chafed, then guess what?

Your comment that DUX is by far the toughest Dyneema line in existence is just silly. Perhaps you should end that sentence with "that I know about".

 

[Training Wheels]

Okay, I'll bite. What is the toughest dyneema line?

 

[ease hike trim]

Not interested in being told to buy an ad but there are other far more appropriate options for heat set Dyneema in low to zero creep grades i.e. 78, 99 and DM20 that are readily available in the US and Christian's comment that DUX is the "toughest Dyneema - by far" is no doubt in comparison to non-heat set products and in that regard it is certainly not alone.

 

[Lifted Tack]

I'm a little out of date on this, but aren't synthetic lifelines illegal, or is that a local thing?

 

[left hook]

Hey Ease, Hike, Trim... just go ahead and plug for the Marlow product already. It's clearly the best product out there because you're slagging every option that someone brings up.