Outhaul (as in clothesline mooring) - nylon or polyester?

[Trevelyan]

Hi all,
I need to rig an outhaul line for a small dinghy... should I be using nylon line or polyester? Was thinking 3 strand, around 8mm....
Best wishes,
Trev

 

[KAL]

I would suggest some simple braid on braid, poss 6mm or 8 mm depending on size of sail and desired ease of handling?

 

[Trevelyan]

Sorry, I couldn't have written that more confusingly. It's for a mooring line for an inflatable dinghy, running from shore out to a mooring block (rather like an old fashioned clothesline)...

 

[KAL]

Ah, I was going on 'outhaul' as per line hauling out the clew on the mainsail!

In that case, why not go for some bog standard cheap blue 3 strand, commonly used for cable-hauling through pipes. Very strong and durable; also v v cheap.

 

[alan_d]

Ah, I was going on 'outhaul' as per line hauling out the clew on the mainsail!

In that case, why not go for some bog standard cheap blue 3 strand, commonly used for cable-hauling through pipes. Very strong and durable; also v v cheap.

Except that it is polypropylene and will float (which the OP may not want) and prone to UV degradation (which the OP certainly doesn't want). I would suggest three-strand polyester as it is cheaper than nylon and a minimum of 8 and preferably 10mm - not for strength but for ease of handling.

 

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

I agree. I had a mooring like this once, made from non-floating 1/2" three-strand. I spliced short risers of the same material into one leg the same distance apart as the boat's length (15'), each with a small fishing float to bring them to the surface. That way I could pick up the floats and make her fast fore and aft -- necessary as she was in a channel where the tidal currents ran from abeam, and where a swinging mooring would have seen her end up in mangroves on either side.

Mike

 

[Kelpie]

I've only ever seen running moorings (I assume that is what the OP is referring to) done using polyprop. I would have thought that the line floating would be an advantage, as it makes it easier to pull in. An inflatable won't have anything to catch on the line, and in any case you can rig it so that the riser stops below the surface, so the pulley/eye is submerged, and the first section of the polyprop will be clear of the boat.
Commercial fishing polyprop works well, seasteel or polysteel for example.

 

[fisherman]

Nylon or Sea queen, (nylon/poly mix) for me, needs to sink as in our case there's a line of outhauls along the bank. If you can rig two weights or a short spreader it helps stop twisting in the tide. Have a pulley (or two) on the inside end. Make sure the splice is where you attach the boat.

 

[Trevelyan]

Have gone for 10mm nylon. Two weights isn't an easy option, how do you rig a spreader?
Trev

 

[fisherman]

Have gone for 10mm nylon. Two weights isn't an easy option, how do you rig a spreader?
Trev

Say, a bit of rebar bent into a triangle, apex at the weight, pulleys at other corners. Ply, scrap steel, bit of wood on a bridle, whatever.

 

[Trevelyan]

Thanks very much, Trev