Jackstay webbing

[srah1953]

I have some webbing which I no longer remember where it came from or original purpose. Is there a way of testing it (ideally non destructively) which would allow me to judge whether it is fit for use as a jackstay or is this a fool's errand? It is quite possible that it was originally bought as jackstay webbing for a previous boat.
Thanks

 

[pvb]

I don't think you can test it. Buy new if you're suspicious of it.

 

[RupertW]

You can test it between two winches but like some stuff I bought off Amazon last year it could crumble into powder after 3 months in the sun. Reputable supplier is the only way - and use anything else for non-essential things.

 

[srah1953]

That's grand, thank you. Question answered.

 

[LadyInBed]

More of a judgement can be made if you specify its width and thickness plus maybe a photo of the weave.

 

[Babylon]

The best way to test it is to clip on then throw yourself off the boat in rough seas... i.e. don't muck about, just replace it.

 

[Daydream believer]

I had a large roll of webbing & one day off Ostend the wife was fitting the fenders & the webbing jackstay just fell apart. In harbour I was discussing this with the people on the boat next to me & i decided to get the remainder of the roll & test a piece between 2 winches. The owner on the boat alongside was sitting in a "squat" position on his side deck watching . I wound up tension on the webbing which began to stretch alarmingly. It then broke & flicked like a piece of elastic & went straight between the bloke's legs.
He was howling with pain & was quite abusive. My wife went below to laugh ?

I now use a 12mm diam braided rope for the job & it is a flourescent orange colour so it is obvious what one it is. It does not normally roll under foot because I always hook on when going forward so it lifts off the deck slightly as I move about.

 

[ghostlymoron]

On our first boat I bought some from a haberdashery store with sewn loops on one end. We took them down in winter to minimise UV degrading. I wonder if they were strong enough but they were never put to the test.

 

[Babylon]

Mine are heavy duty white webbing with heavy-duty black (i.e. UV-resistant) thread. I store them below each time I put the boat away.

 

[Refueler]

If you are going to 'proof' stretch any synthetic rope / webbing etc. - NEVER do it where the whiplash effect of the pieces can hit anyone ....... the amount of energy that rope / webbing builds up is amazing ..... its why ships tend to use natural fibre for messengers etc.
I have seen bulkheads and stiffeners buckled / broken by mooring rope recoil ......

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

That's grand, thank you. Question answered.

After your first two words, my eyes were drawn to your location

 

[lw395]

The proper stuff, with a 3tonne break load, is only about £3 a metre.

 

[PetiteFleur]

On my previous boat, I decided to check the Jack stays - sewn together at each end with about 12" overlap. I got hold of the overlap and it just easily pulled apart! The thread was totally rotten. I replaced them with polyester webbing - 2.5 tonne breaking strain from memory. On my current boat I remove them after each trip and store below decks.