Classic Boat – July 2019

CRAFTSMANSHIP

CORDAGE: THE BASICS

C

ordage is changing so rapidly that it is easy to

get tangled up in the various types available

these days. Until as late as the 1960s, natural

materials such as hemp, manila, sisal and coir

were still very much in use, spun together from relatively

short pieces, hence the term “spun yarn”. The fi rst synthetic

lines appeared soon after the war, and everyone will

remember the wiry three-strand blue polypropylene, used

from the 1960s on for everything from hay bails to marine

use. The fi rst synthetic line with a more traditional

appearance appeared in the late 1960s; it was the same

stuff but in a more sympathetic beige. The superior

three-strand polypropylene that came in the 1980s is still

the basis of what many classic yachts use to this day, but

now of course, there are other types of modern rope, all

with diff erent characteristics for diff erent uses on the boat.

Two important things to note is that most modern rope

is so strong the diameter is chosen for appearance and

comfort in the hand, rather than breaking strain, and that

stretch, nearly eliminated in some modern ropes, might

actually save an old wooden boat, by absorbing some of

the strains exerted by the rig. As Paul Dyer of Marlow puts

it: “Our products need to be durable, spliceable, fl exible,

and work in jammers and winches and so on. All rope

design and manufacture is a compromise and the trick

is understanding what you are trying to achieve.” Here are

the main types of cordage used on classic yachts today...

NATURAL PRODUCTS

Some companies (Master Ropemakers, Kingfi sher and Liros

among them) still make natural products, such as three-

strand hemp, manila, coir and sisal cordage. Strength is

inferior to synthetic, but stretch is less than you might think.

“Natural ropes are less stretchy than some synthetic ones,”

says Master Ropemaker’s Ian Bell. The Thames sailing

barges Pudge and Centaur, for instance, use natural

cordage for authenticity.

SYNTHETIC THREE-STRAND

This three-strand synthetic (either polypropylene

or polyester) line looks like the real thing and is

soft to the hand. For this reason, it is often used

as running rigging on restored classic yachts,

particularly given that this sort of rope has some stretch

in it (typically about fi ve per cent at 20 per cent of break

load), often desirable with high-tech, low-stretch sails.

Mariquita has mainly English Braids three-strand polyester

for its running rigging (above). Polypropylene is still used,

both for running rigging, and mooring warps, where its

strength, light weight and ability to fl oat come in handy.

BRAIDED ROPE

Braided rope is rope that is woven in both directions to

eliminate twist. This is a more modern sort of rope

construction, and doesn’t give the timeless look of laid or

twisted rope such as three-strand. But it is has a smoother

feel in the hand than three-strand, and comes in the hemp

tones required on a classic yacht. It is a little stronger,

although as discussed, that’s not likely to be an issue. It also

has slightly lower stretch, typically at around three per cent

at 20 per cent of break load.

Single or ‘hollow’ braid is the simplest form, with an even

number of strands (8 or 12 is typical) and an internal void.

This is easy to splice. “Braid on braid”, “double braid” and

“braided cover” ropes are all themes on a variation whose

central premise is to provide the strength and low-stretch

of, say, Dyneema or Vectran as a core, with a more

attractive, easier-to-handle outer, plaited sheath. These

ropes can be used, in their various iterations, for everything

from decorative whipping to, in the case of Vectran for

instance, holding the mast up as a backstay. They are woven

from a multitude of yarns, the latest from Marlow being a

mooring line (the recently unveiled Blue Ocean Dockline)

plaited from yarn made from recycled plastic bottles.

For more information, read our article “Core Values”

at classicboat.co.uk. Always seek advice when

changing your running or standing rigging!.

Below: mooring

lines made from

recycled plastic

water bottles

ROPE SUPPLIERS

Marlow Ropes – marlowropes.com

English Braids – englishbraids.com

Kingfi sher Yacht Ropes – yachtropes.co.uk

Robline – roblineropes.com