Yachting Monthly — November 2017

November 2017 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 69

Marlow Ropes

Every year Marlow Ropes produce around 6,000,000 metres

(3,239 miles) of standard rope from 0.8mm up to 96mm

in diameter. The longest continuous lengths of rope have

been over 10,000 metres long, used for deep water lifting.

The strongest rope it makes is the 96mm D12+ from SK99

Dyneema, which has an average break load of 772 tonnes

(1,701,969lbs) which is also the most expensive rope it makes.

Fisherman’s knot

The fisherman’s knot, is a tidy solution for tying shackles as the
tail can be lashed in line with the standing part of the rope, as
long as it doesn’t enter the halyard sheave of course. Once tied
and tight, it is incredibly secure with little chance of it undoing by
itself. The knot tended to compress the rope as the standing part
enters the knot, which is usually the failure point.

Scaffold Knot

Similar to the fisherman’s knot, with the exception that the rope
goes around the around the standing part three times, not twice.
Unlike all the other knots tested, this knot held long enough to
break the D2’s Dyneema core, at 2,740kg almost a tonne more
that the other knots. In the other ropes tested it was the same,
or weaker.

Buntline Hitch

A simple knot, that is essentially a clove hitch around the

standing part of the line; with the tail closest to the eye. Stronger

than the well known round turn and two half hitches in three

strand and Doublebraid. It’s not as secure as the fisherman’s or

scaffold knot.

*Cover broke, enabling the Dyneema core to slip through the knot

3 Strand 2640 1550 58.7

Marlowbraid 2850 2060 72.3

Doublebraid 3690 1710 46.3

D2 Racing 5360 1800* 33.6

Fisherman's knot

3 Strand 2640 1770 6 7. 0

Marlowbraid 2850 2160 75.8

Doublebraid 3690 1820 49.3

D2 Racing 5360 2290 42.7

scaFFold knot

3 Strand 2640 1840 69.7

Marlowbraid 2850 1940 68.1

Doublebraid 3690 1610 43.6

D2 Racing 5360 1640* 30.6

Buntline hitch

Rope Break

Load (kg)

Knot Break

Load (kg)

% Strength

retained

Type of

Rope Break Rope

Load (kg)

Knot Break

Load (kg)

% Strength

retained

Type of

Rope

Rope Break

Load (kg)

Knot Break

Load (kg)

% Strength

retained

Type of

Rope

A compact knot, but can it

be bettered?

The strongest knot in three

strand, but the weakest in

Dyneema D2 Racing

Which knot is strongest? Technical

*Cover broke, enabling the Dyneema core to slip through the knot