Is this too stretchy for mooring warp?

[Colvic Watson]

We need new mooring warps as the existing 3 strand 14mm is too thin and frayed. I saw this 18mm 8 strand nylon and it looked very good but worried that it would stretch too much. I know some stretch is good but if the springs stretch too much the boat could ride forward and the bow hit the pontoon. What do you think?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30-METRES-X-16MM-MULTIPLAIT-OCTOPLAIT-NYLON-8-STRAND-MOORING-ANCHOR-ROPE-/140675912432?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item20c0f012f0#ht_2416wt_689

 

[MrCramp]

I don't know but I would not buy something like that off ebay when there is a first rate supplier of all mooring equipment at Levington. This is a link
http://www.boatgeardirect.co.uk/index.html

They are EYE who are just by the turning to Levington marina, before you turn off the (old) main road to go over the level crossing. They supply most of the East Coast, and beyond, with mooring equipment and I would trust their products and I have found the prices to be good and they are very helpfull.

EDIT
This is the link to the rope
http://www.boatgeardirect.co.uk/mooringropes.html

It is more expensive but a boat like yours is worth spending the extra money on for peace of mind!!

 

[aquaholic]

I have used this as mooring rope on my previous boat and it was fine, I have also used this supplier for all types of items including shackles and ropes etc. Very reliable and helpfull.
Uk Yachts and rigging are quite well known on here.

 

[Bodach na mara]

Depends on what you mean by "mooring" and the size of your boat. That stuff is what is used up here for swinging moorings, but I would find it a bit thick for a pontoon tie-up. I would not expect it to be too stretchy.

By the way the ebay seller is described as a "top seller" and I can verify that their service was very good and helpful when I bought rigging wire from them in 2010.

 

[rob2]

It looks suitable and should have less stretch for a given load than your thinner rope. It will probably be neccessary to splice eyes to drop onto your boat's cleats, though so either fixed length lines or belay on the pontoon.

Rob.

 

[vyv_cox]

My thought is that it's too good for mooring warps! When i had a marina berth I used three strand nylon which soon got dirty and tatty but not too much to be 'borrowed' occasionally. Otherwise it looks to be a good choice.

 

[aquaplane]

I use 12mm octoplat on my 26' boat and it's not too stretchy. 18mm would be a bit big for my cleats I think. Octoplat is nice to handle

 

[rivonia]

I use 12mm octoplat on my 26' boat and it's not too stretchy. 18mm would be a bit big for my cleats I think. Octoplat is nice to handle

+1

 

[Colvic Watson]

Thanks everyone. They are a reliable outfit. Our boat is 35' and 14 tonnes so the loads are substantial and the wheelhouse makes for a lot of windage, hence the 18mm. I was worried by the stretch figure - up to 25% - but I guess that's under extreme loading? By mooring I do mean in the marina, and special thanks to MrCramp for his comments on how much care we should take of "a boat like ours" - very nice

 

[Sneaky Pete]

The 25% stretching is at the 6.6 tonne tensile load and is normal, octoplait is very good but a bit more difficult to splice. I sail with 25mm warps but the boat does have larger fairleads and cleats to suit.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Thanks everyone. They are a reliable outfit. Our boat is 35' and 14 tonnes so the loads are substantial and the wheelhouse makes for a lot of windage, hence the 18mm. I was worried by the stretch figure - up to 25% - but I guess that's under extreme loading? By mooring I do mean in the marina, and special thanks to MrCramp for his comments on how much care we should take of "a boat like ours" - very nice

We used octoplait (why does my iPad want to say "octopus it ") for several years on a 13 ton boat. Yes, it stretches a bit, but not enough to worry. Stretch is good in mooring ropes. Add rubber snubbers and they take all the strain anyway.

 

[jimbaerselman]

If you've got springs about 10m free length you'll get a maximum of 2m shunting back and forth. But that will imply loads of some 7 tons on your cleats - which would require a pretty massive surge at your berth!

So, what's your usual maximum surge with fairly slack lines? Around 1m each way when a ferry goes past?

If you have to cope with surge on a berth, nylon is a far better answer than polyesters with springs or snubbers. Springs and snubbers give about 20cm to 30cm play - so cleat loads in a surge (and resulting chafe) will be much higher than using nylon, which gives you metres of play.

If you've got a distance limit, it's always possible to double up with polyester, set with enough slack to come taut at the limit of movement you can permit. What a jerk though!

 

[Mariner69]

We used to use 56 mm diameter multiplat to secure a vessel 900 feet long.

Pretty efficient and only gets to the full extension shortly before parting.

The rope construction is good at absorbing loads. The material, nylon or polypropene is what decides the stretch factor. Poly less than nylon.

Great for a small craft under 500 gross tonnes!!

 

[Colvic Watson]

We are a tad under 500 tonnes, thanks everyone, bought the rope.

 

[flipper]

We are a tad under 500 tonnes, thanks everyone, bought the rope.

Simon

I might know of a home for the old ones if they are serviceable and would suit a 25'er