Warp sizes

[whisper]

Sorry to ask such a mundane question but I've searched these archives in vain.
Simple question is :- What diameter of anchor line and mooring lines should a 23ft , 2 tonne, deep V motor boat have? In Your Honest Opinion that is.

 

[LadyInBed]

See <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/chandlery/mooring_and_anchoring.htm> Jimmy Green's Chart</A>

 

[alanporter]

Most authorities would recommend 3/8 inch (sorry, we haven't gone metric where I sail), twist laid nylon. Twist lay and nylon are important because they impart the necessary stretch that is required for both anchor and mooring line. Using thicker line reduces the stretch and thus puts more strain on your cleats etc.

Last Year at my club, a member moored his 27 foot sailboat with 5/8 double braid line. When the first winter storm came along, the line held but it tore a mooring cleat right out of the deck. It you use anything thicker than 3/8 inch, you must fit rubber snubbers.

I use 7/8 inch twist nylon on my seven ton 31 footer, and have had no problems in 26 years of year round sailing.

Alan Porter

 

[alanporter]

Oooops, made a mistake on my last post. My lines are 7/16 inch, not 7/8. Had they been the latter, my foredeck cleat may have gone the same way as my clubmate's !

Alan Porter

 

[Plum]

12mm diameter. No need to any larger. In terms of strength you could go for a smaller diameter, but 12mm is about the smallest for comfotable handling. Polyester rope for mooring (longer life in the sun) and nylon for anchoring (more stretchy)

 

[richardandtracy]

I've found Polypropylene is cheaper than either the nylon or polyester for the same strength (larger diameter though). Why not use this?

Regards

Richard.

 

[Plum]

Yes, you could use Polypropylene, nothing particularly wrong with it. but this material degrades quicker in sunlight than nylon or polyester, tends not to be very good for throwing a coil of it ashore (it is light in weight and gets wrinkled easy) and is often rougher to handle.
Much of the above is personal preference. I have some warps of polyester and some of polypropylene and for usage and long term cost efficiency I prefer Polyester.

 

[duncan]

mine is 25 ft / 2.5 tons and I use 12mm octoplait because it is nice to handle.
Using the boat for fishing a fair bit in the winter, anchoring in big tides, 100ft of water, you really appreciate a nice warp.
You could get away with 10mm 3 ply nylon but it won't sit in your anchor locker so well and makes it less easy to pull up at the end of the day.
Buyu in bulk at the boat show - English braids will do a surprising deal if you ask and haul it away that day (rigged as a sholder carry load it's no big problem).

 

[snowleopard]

you\'ll never get polypropylene round your prop!

(it floats)

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: you\'ll never get polypropylene round your prop!

So they can't be using polyprop on all the pot buoys I sometimes fail to avoid /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Bejasus]

On my 25ft, 2-1/4 tonner, I use 12mm polyester on the stern and the same on fore & aft springs to a pile with rubber snubbers to allow the necessary stretch.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/h00>h00's Project</A>

 

[ccscott49]

12 mm braid on braid or multiplait or three strand polyester for your warps. A lot of people mention nylon for stretch for anchor warps, but as it stretches it causes internal heat, which weakens the rope, yes, even under water! Speak to somebody who really knows ropes and they will not reccomend nylon for long term anchor warps. You can also use a fender as a snubber, just wrap the warp around the fender a few turns, this will squash the fender, giving you a nice springy effect. You have fenders, snubbers cost money. I would also reccomend plastic pipe over the warps at chafe points, ie, though the fairleads, bow roller, cleats etc.