Wire Rope

[atelford]

Browsing round B&Q the other day on an boat unrelated mission I spotted some stuff in the chains section. It was a type of rope that looked like rigging wire but obviously wasnt. The sign below it said it was poly.... something but it looked and felt quite metallic. I was thinking of using this as the guard wires down the side of the boat. Does anyone know what material this is? Its strength ? and whether its going to rust to hell in any way. Im assuming it was some kind of special plastic.

 

[Thistle]

I don't know the stuff but if it is plastic I think I would be very wary of deterioration caused by UV. Metal enclosed by plastic can corrode unseen. In both cases the "wire" can part when most needed.

 

[lw395]

If it looked and felt metallic, it may have been metal, with the wrong label on it! B+Q do sell galv wire rope in my local branch. The other rope they sell tends to be poor and expensive. I'm not aware of any other material being ok for guardrails?

 

[Norman_E]

Re: Wire Rope - What about using Dyneema?

Given that the holes in the stanchions are generally much bigger than the wire diameter I wonder if Dyneema rope might actually be better for guardwires than wire. Bigger diameter, just as strong, and much kinder on you if you have to grab hold of it, or get thrown against it.

Has anyone tried it?

 

[Ariadne]

Re: Wire Rope - What about using Dyneema?

It may have been combination rope, its a mix of both wire and polyprop'. Its used a lot by trawlers for bridals. Thats the bit between the 'trawl doors' and the actual net, for those who don't know.

Just a thought like.

 

[William_H]

Re: Wire Rope - What about using Dyneema?

I was intrigued to note on the maxi racing yachts in Hobart harbour last summer that almost all wire had been replaced by high modulus ropes of some sort including stays. But the guard wires of the safety lines were all uncovered stainless steel. This may have been an old fashioned race requirement or maybe there was another good reason.

olewill

 

[taalow]

SOrry for bump the old thread... It is a kind of special plastic material called uhmwpe, or dyneema. Which stronger than wire. Read some information about dyneema rope.