Rope Care

Boat Gear Direct

Storage
Ropes should be stored clean, dry, out of direct sunlight and away from extremes of temperature. Never store rope on concrete or dirty floors, or drag it over rough ground - dirt and grit picked up by the rope can work into the strands cutting the inside fibres. Keep away from chemicals of all types.

Coiling rope
3 strand ropes may become kinked and damaged if they are taken from the coil the wrong way. If this happens, replace the rope that has been withdrawn back into the centre of the coil. Then turn the coil over, reach into the centre and draw the end of the rope upwards. The rope should then run correctly from the coil without kinking.

Braided and plaited ropes cannot be hockled but they can have excessive twist imparted into them by improper handling. Ideally these ropes will be stowed in a 'Figure of 8' fashion. This avoids putting twist into the line and will ensure that the line runs freely when being deployed.

Rope safety
Never stand in line with a rope under tension. If a rope fails it can recoil with sufficient force to cause injury or even death. Ensure all end terminations are adequate to take shock loads. Use correct safety factors. Remember to de-rate rope strengths for incorrect end fitting and wear. (See rope handling equipment).

Rope inspection
In use, rope should be inspected regularly for evidence of kinking, external wear, major cuts or chafe, chemical attack and surface abrasion. Check splices for evidence of movement. If a hockle is present in the rope, reject it. Salt crystals can affect the life and efficieny of ropes - it is recommended that at the end of a season or voyage that the ropes should be hosed down with fresh water.

Retiring ropes
Apart from rejecting your rope when obviously damaged, it is wise to establish lifetimes of your rope within the parameters of the use for which it was selected. This will allow you to retire your rope on a regular scheduled basis provided, of course, that your conditions of usage remain unchanged. Remember to re-establish such discard criteria if changing rope type, rope material, or rope breaking load. Safety of life and property is the prime consideration.

Contact Boat Gear Direct via email