Extortionate price of rope!

[Guest]

I recently wanted to buy some rope.

Just for my little boat, as I was using the ropes that tie it to the trailer for mooring (spring/warp), beaching the trailer, and anchoring on the end of the 3m chain as well.

I thought "lets get top quality" - but at £2+ a metre for 12mm? - forget it!
So i thought "What about cheapo polypropylene" - it's just to drag along slipways and attach the little boat to pontoons...

BUT EVEN POLYPROPYLENE 12mm IS £1.49 a metre!!!

Eventually I found Bradshaws Tarpaulins (www.tarpaulinsdirect.co.uk) who do a 220m roll of 12mm polypropylene for £33 - 15p a metre by my calcs. So now I'm happy.

BTW I noticed that LIROS SK75 dyneema quality lines retail for upto £6.99 am metre (12mm). Now am I being naive, but I used to be into mountaineering in a big way, and a 9mm or 12 mm rope which you literally trust your life on will cost about £2 a metre for 50m!

To me this stinks of rip-off pricing for marine spec. gear (again)!

 

[jfm]

Re: dyneema\'s good stuff though

Agree very expensive esp in small qtys. But that dyneema stuff is fab if you're a rag-and-stick person, hardly any stretch. I've no hard data but I'd expect a big price for that because there's R&D etc to cover.

As a more general principle, meant in the best possible spirit, much better not to knock freedom and capitalism, and even a few temporary market inefficiencies now and again. Just turn it round to work for you. The great thing about UK and US (but not too many other places) is that no-one's stopping you opening a shop and selling anything you want at £6.95 a metre

JFM

 

[Guest]

freedom and capitalism

mmm...

like your thinking on this.

look out for my new chandlery shop!

 

[Guest]

I agree prices in chandelries are over the top. However, polyprop rope - polycrap! It curls into little knots and will not coil. Its really only useful for permanent lashings - hopeless for most normal boat use.

Nick

 

[Guest]

Err, are you inferrring that I am using my boat in an abnormal, or otherwise unusual way?

Ahemm. But seriously, yes I agree, Poly-bloody-propylene is cheap rubbish for tying tarpaulins to lorries, but just the ticket for dragging my little boat up the Baiter at Poole, which is why is was upset at the prospect of paying £1.49 a metre for strands of reject plastic!

Cheers,
Rich.

 

[Guest]

Just as an aside, have you noticed the price of rope (normally polyprop only) and very cheap chain (as in rubbish) in the DIY sheds - B & Q, Homebase, etc. It makes the chandlers at the marina look like the bargain store.

Nick

 

[Guest]

I don't want to upset you but Machine Mart sell blue polyprop 220M coils for 6mm - £9.39, 8mm - £14.09, 10mm - £21.14 and 12mm - £28.19! Their tarps are a good price as well!

 

[Guest]

thanks for that!

do you know if they've got a shop in reading?

 

[Guest]

They have a website www.machinemart.co.uk so you can order online but I think the nearest to Reading maybe Southamptons?