Chafe Protection for Fiber Rodes

Anchorages are strewn with rocks, coral, or even an old engine blocks. For these places the best rode leader is chain. However, with diving anchor designs and high-strength cordage creeping into sailing, were exploring the viability of no-chain anchor or mooring (now the norm in environmentally sensitive areas). The first step-outlined in several recent articles-is to minimize movement at anchor. Now we focus on fighting chafe along the bottom. Our findings, we hope, will be applicable to kedging as well as to the small boat sailor restricted to familiar bottoms of sand, mud, or clay. All of this is contingent upon selecting an efficient anchor that matches a relatively benign bottom.

What We Tested

Coatings. RP25 by Spinlock and Maxijacket by Yale Cordage are back. In previous PS tests, theyve proven to reduce wear 5-10 times, depending on the application. A new product to PS testing is Rope Dip by Flexdel, a company known for its industrial marine products.

Covers. We narrowed the focus to two of our favorites from previous tests. Our technical editor, Drew Frye has tested both of these in the field in his home waters of the Chesapeake, where all-rode anchoring has served him well.

How We Tested

Instead of the end-to-end motion used in most chafe testing protocols, we used a side-to-side pendulum motion, commonly used to test industrial sleeves, because this is more like a rode moving from back and forth across a rock as a boat yaws in the wind. We tested both dry and wet against a cinder block.

Cordage observations

We tested representative types including nylon and polyester double braid, nylon 3-strand, nylon 12-plait, and Dyneema 12-plait. Polyester double braid was slightly worn, but nylon double braid was seriously worn, with the core peeking through. Nylon 3-strand had lost nearly a complete strand, and 8-plait braided nylon had lost entire sub-ropes. Although Amsteel (Dyneema) did well in our previous end-to-end friction tests, it wears more quickly when dragged side-to-side.

Generally, polyester is about three times more chafe resistant than nylon. However, for preventing bottom chafe, it has become clear that the weave is more important than the fiber, thus our preference for tightly woven covers, or core-and-cover double-braids with polyester on the outside.

Yale Cordage Maxijacket

A quick-drying waterborne polyurethane coating, Maxijacket soaks in deeply and stiffens the line considerably, but it improves chafe resistance 10-fold based on our repeated trials. In the real world on mooring lines (and snubbers) we saw the same improvement; stunning for a product that brushes on in moments and cleans up with water.

Splices can also be dipped, firming them up a bit, locking them together, and providing even deeper chafe protection. Drying time is typical of a latex product; to the touch in a few hours, ready for use in 24 hours, and maximum wear protection in about two weeks. Formulated specifically for protecting rope, we think they have a real winner.

Some sailors have reported that the colors can rub off onto the deck; we tested the clear product and were happy with it. $7.10 for a 4-ounce jar through Knot and Rope Company (www.knotandrope.com) and $40-50/quart through many suppliers.

Bottom line: Recommended for both tucked splices and sections of line prone to light abrasion. We found it very handy, especially for touch-ups.

Flexdel Rope Dip

Similar to Maxijacket, Rope Dip raises the bar, delivering exceptional wear resistance and good economy. If you want a little added wear resistance on a fiber rode, this is the ticket. Coated eye-splices will outlast the line in many cases. It will also work well on lines and snubbers where they pass through chocks. RP25 and Maxijacket come ready-to-use, while rope dip must be diluted with water, further increasing economy.

Bottom Line: Best Choice and Best Buy in a high-resistance coating.

Spinlock RP25

This high-dollar coating is intended to reduce cover/core slippage, increase durability in clutches, and reduce chafe. Solvent based, it soaks in deeper and is a little messier to work with. While surface chafe protection is not nearly as impressive as Maxijacket or Ropedip, that is not the stated purpose of this product, and it seems to perform exactly as described on highly loaded lines of bigger boats.

We like it on our jib furler line and will continue to search out applications. It does stiffen the line a little bit and you should test a section before going all-out; generally it is applied only to critical areas. $50 for 250 ml or $200 for 1 liter.

Bottom line: Recommended where chafe or core slippage (through jammer, etc.) is a problem on running rigging.

New England Rope Climb-Spec

Weve used this on dock lines and for over 25 years, and it generally outlasts the line. Secured with stitching or seizing, it requires only occasional inspection. We use it to cover sewn splices and lashings, providing a cover that is easily slid aside for inspection or adjustment.

The thickness makes splicing in the ends or whipping them down impractical, but heat fuses the ends and no further finishing is required. The only potential weakness is chronic chafe on wet surfaces; though it has worn very well on dock lines or snubbers, we would not recommend it for mooring pendants of larger boats. A 9/16 webbing fits up to line or 3/16 splice for $0.30/foot, A 1-inch tubing fits up to -inch line or 5/16 splice for $0.38/foot, and 2 tubing fits up to 3/4-inch line or a 1/2 splice for $0.68/foot.

Bottom Line: Our Budget Buy in a chafe coverings.

Chafe Pro Tubular Chafe Sleeve

This is the stuff for mooring pendants and heavy duty protection. Like tubular nylon climbing webbing, you just slide it over the line and secure lightly, allowing it to move a little, reducing chafe. However, it is twice as thick as climbing webbing (roughly 1/8-inch lightly compressed vs. 1-16-inch) and wears 3-4 times longer. If this wears through, you either got way too much motion or a sharp edge somewhere.

Bottom Line: The Best Choice in a chafe covering.

Conclusions

Chain remains the champion. But there are heavy duty protection options that really improve the wear of nylon rodes and docklines. We like RopeDip and Maxijacket for docklines and the first portion of the rode. We like tubular webbing for super heavy duty protection near the anchor.