Rope Test Yields Rope Hernias

Think twice before stuffing that old dock line into the washer.

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Rope Test Yields Rope Hernias

 Researching an upcoming article on the effects of various cleaning chemicals on ropes, our testers scrubbed and machine-washed mountains of nylon and polyester rope of every description. Samples ranged from three-strand dock line encrusted in marine life to brand-new polyester double-braid line.

Our testing for that article continues, but we want to report one immediate finding relevant to any sailor who is wondering how to deal with old or dirty lines. Fully 70 percent of our test samples, including new and used line from New England Ropes (NER) and Samson Ropes, experienced failure of pre-spliced eyes; the buried portion of the core worked its way out of the main line and into the eye, where it carried zero load. In some cases, these failures were scarcely visible, while in others, the tail was exposed.

Another rope, the new double-braid dock line from NER produced large herniations of the core through the cover every six to 12 inches. Interestingly, none of the older braided lines suffered this type of failure.

Although some websites still recommend washing dock lines in a washing machine, we found that even when protected inside a pillowcase, herniations and failed splices were common. Generally, ropes should be washed by hand using mild soaps or just plain water. We will be taking a closer look at this topic next month in our full report on cleaning methods and the effects of cleaning chemicals.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.

1 COMMENT

  1. Thanks for very informative article! Whether I have a small or large boat, I need to have two or three mooring lines. It’s crucial to get the best rope for mooring lines so there’s assurance that my boat is safe and secured even when I can’t look after it.