rope lifespan

[pugsleyaddams]

Can anybody tell me the lifespan of plastic rope ?
I've been replacing the rigging and fender ropes as the rope has become "hairy" and weakened to the point of me being physically able to pull it apart, presumably with the sun and salt working its magic.
I think it's polypropylene, and its three strand.

 

[awol]

Now you know why some other ropes cost considerably more than 3 strand polyprop. Its life on my boat would be about 5 minutes!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Can anybody tell me the lifespan of plastic rope ?
I've been replacing the rigging and fender ropes as the rope has become "hairy" and weakened to the point of me being physically able to pull it apart, presumably with the sun and salt working its magic.
I think it's polypropylene, and its three strand.

That rope has no place on a boat. Its slippery, Degrades with U/V very quickly, and has low shaife resitance, and melts internally under load. Chuck the lot and start again.

 

[pugsleyaddams]

will do thanks guys

 

[sarabande]

under repeated loading, polypropylene can melt internally. At that point it just breaks without warning.

We had some 20mm stuff on the farm for recovering branches one year, but never again.

EDIT. B*gger, beaten by CR.

 

[alan_d]

That rope has no place on a boat.

Possibly a bit dogmatic.

I keep length of polypropyline in a locker (in the dark) in case I need a floating rope, for example to float downwind with a fender.

Agree, though, that polyprop not suitable for general use.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I do however use Marlow hairy Nelson rope for towing the dinghy as it always floats and will never get caught in the prop if you reverse........... It is over the top at ½" thick but has lasted several years. It's the white hairy rope with a black marker, not the useless blue polypropylene which I notice on ebay is sometimes sold as 'nylon' rope(and labelled as such!).

 

[Chris_Robb]

Possibly a bit dogmatic.

I keep length of polypropyline in a locker (in the dark) in case I need a floating rope, for example to float downwind with a fender.

Agree, though, that polyprop not suitable for general use.

exceptions to every rule!!!