Choosing your strings

Performance

The Dyneema SK78 or SK99 core is essential to eliminate elongation and lock in sail settings.

It is at least as strong as cable and can be used for trapeze lines, or even stays when adjusting its tension is not essential (as is the case for example on catboats which only have one mainsail and therefore no jib luff tension to adjust).

Resistance

Check the working load and breaking strength in the technical data sheet to adapt the rope to its use, and if choosing polyester rope for halyards for example, choose at least pre-stretched which has very low elasticity.

Properly executed splices replace knots, especially on dyneema since they do not hold well, preserving 100% of the strength of the end.

Choosing your strings

The grip

Choose your rope according to its use: for a mainsail sheet for example which must be easy to hold, opt for a diameter of 8 and 10mm, a rope and a sheath that is rather flexible and does not knot.

The lines must be sheathed for grip both in the hand and in the cleats and blockers.

Choosing your strings

Readability

For quick identification and to facilitate rapid adjustment during navigation, choose colors that contrast sharply with each other and avoid using the same color for different maneuvers.

Choosing your strings

Swallow-soft

To avoid having ends lying around that could trip you up or make you lose track of things, create soft slack lines to keep the lines under slight tension and the deck clean and legible.

Tutorials and examples are available on the "DIY" blog.