Cordage load testing

[zoidberg]

I've acquired about 1200' of light line, comprised of a ~5-6mm unbraided straight core of parallel synthetic white fibres, covered by a loose-braided orange/red polypropylene cover, taking the overall diameter to about 8mm. I'm interested in finding a use for this.

This stuff has been used, I'm aware, in drawing fibre-optic cable through ducts, and comes on drums of many thousands of feet. I don't know the manufacturer/distributor.

Could anyone suggest a DIY means of determining breaking strain?

Edit: It looks like this....

 

[William_H]

Our local Hardware chain sell something like this very cheap and obviously from China. It really looks the part however. This stuff has huge stretch under load and floats in water. It is not good in sunlight. I use a bag full of it for a throw rope for MOB. Good because it floats and is kept in a bag. So for what you have I would suggest you check it for stretch say compared to similar "good" yacht type rope. If it does not stretch so much perhaps it is good rope. Try tieing it to a tree and the back of your car and see if you can test relative strength when you try to tow the tree away. Crazy I know.
As for use you could try it as light weight jib sheets. Easily replaced if it is no good. Do not try it as halyards just too much trouble if it beaks. Anyway good luck with your piece of string. ol'will

 

[sarabande]

8mm low friction hdmp drawcord has BS of around 8 kN

Radius telecoms for starters.

No use at all on boats

 

[matthewriches]

Yup, it’s the modern version of the old blue “BT rope”.

Very good as can be blown down ducts 100’s of meters without snagging.


Only use on boats in my opinion is tying every annoying sail boats rattling halyards with.

 

[lw395]

Throw lines.
waterski tow line.

You could get into advanced knotwork and make a doormat?

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

You could get into advanced knotwork and make a doormat?

Tried that and it doesn't last for long because the sheath wears very rapidly. Same happened to the 'thump mats' for some blocks on the deck. Of course being exposed to high levels of UV sunlight did not help.

P.S. I had thought about about chopping into short lengths for making baggy-wrinkle but I never got round to doing it because I sold the boat that I had at that time.

 

[zoidberg]

Hmmm....

Revised OP. Can anyone think of a practical use for 1200' of 'no bluddy use on a boat' red-orange light line?

Thinks - I know a part-time sheep farmer who is addicted to the carriage and use of well-rotted mutiply-knotted blue polyprop string, used for everything from holding up trousers to securing the rear door of the Landy. Then there's the thoroughly-demountable numberplate, and sundry onboard manifestations...... all secured with the ubiquitous 'granny knot'.

 

[lw395]

You'll need it for something if you get rid of it.

We used to carry a 220m roll of polycrap rope in case we felt the need to kedge in no wind mid-Channel.

 

[sarabande]

Hmmm....

Revised OP. Can anyone think of a practical use for 1200' of 'no bluddy use on a boat' red-orange light line?

Thinks - I know a part-time sheep farmer who is addicted to the carriage and use of well-rotted mutiply-knotted blue polyprop string, used for everything from holding up trousers to securing the rear door of the Landy. Then there's the thoroughly-demountable numberplate, and sundry onboard manifestations...... all secured with the ubiquitous 'granny knot'.

I'll have you know, Sirrah, that my granny knots are British ones, not the EU standard mishmash. And I have invested recently in some new bale cord for the trousers. When I say 'new' I mean recently cleaned and re-furbished...

Seriously, can you find a small plastic reel from the factory shop, and put a couple of hundred metres of your magic rope carefully back on the reel, and hide it Somewhere On Board ? One of these years it will come in Useful, for err, umm, thinks.... I know stretching in front of on coming jet skis, tail-first recovery of your Jordan drogue, ..

 

[zoidberg]

You'll need it for something if you get rid of it.

We used to carry a 220m roll of polycrap rope in case we felt the need to kedge in no wind mid-Channel.

Yes. I used it - 200+ feet of the older orange polycrap stuff - during the 2003 Fastnet to kedge short of the Shambles Bank and again some way south of Start Point, in 'Triohe'. We won our class....

I also made up 'temporary' lazyjacks from the stuff, fitted to a Rival 34, which lasted 6 years before removal on the sale of the boat.

 

[zoidberg]

I'll have you know, Sirrah, that my granny knots are British ones

Here's to the Great British Granny....! :encouragement: