What rope for swinging mooring?

[Sailingsaves]

Very embarrassed to ask this.

I don’t know if I am going senile, but I can’t remember the rope I currently use, nor can I remember the ‘best’ type of rope to buy. I hope I have not forgotten to sail when the time comes.

Budget is a concern. I always use rubber snubbers. But I like to buy rope that lasts too.

If rope snapped ( and two would have to chafe or snap) I have chain as backup.

22 footer, long keel, drying mooring.

Is poly steel rope any good ( remember I have rubber snubbers). I can source some 12mm poly steel rope cheaply, but I only learned of its existence today. I would use two lengths through snubbers and anti chafe gear and chain would be there as a backup.

What is poly steel by the way?

Cheers.

 

[Kelpie]

Poly steel is a commercial polypropylene rope, much used in fishing and fish farming. It's good value for money, easy to splice, strong, and reasonably tough. I use it on my mooring but I a) use the biggest that will fit the bow roller and b) use 8-strand, not 3 strand. This is much better at resisting twists in case the swivel jams.

I use a sleeve of pvc hose as chafe protection at the bow roller. This lasts a couple of years normally before the UV gets to it. Last time I replaced the strop, I also used a length of lay flat over the rigid PVC, to see if that kept the UV damage at bay.

I would say that 12mm is far too small for any yacht. The stuff is cheap so fit the biggest that works with your roller and cleats.

 

[jdc]

+1 to Kelpie's recommendation and comments about chafe. I use 8-plait polysteel for the mooring strop, with a soft eye spliced into it at the pick-up end and a hard-eye at the mooring buoy. This video shows the type of rope, and how to splice it (mine isn't that thick you understand, but still 32 mm OD for a 42' boat!)

One consideration is the type of mooring: for one where the pennant is attached to the top of the buoy using a floating rope is perfect as it never tangles with the riser chain while we're away. But if the mooring construction is such that the pennant attaches to the riser below the waterline, with the buoy merely being a float, it's possible that sinking line (eg polyester) and a small pick-up buoy would be better.

 

[Sailingsaves]

One 20mm 8 plait polysteel strop ordered.

I will make second strop of dyneema (don't know why I didn't think of it before) half a metre longer than primary strop (extra length to ensure it acts secondary to the polysteel).

Chain is still good and remains as second backup.

Cheers.