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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5315 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 2:25 pm Post subject: 8-Plait vs. 3 Strand rope for windlass |
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I'm needing to replace my anchor rode and I see this fancy 8-plait rope available. I have always used the Lewmar branded 3-strand before with good luck, but am wondering if the 8-plait is worth the extra hundred bucks or so. If it resists coiling, is gripped better by the old gypsy, and lays in the locker better it sounds good.
Thanks! _________________ TyBoo Mike
Sold: 1996 25' Cruise Ship
Sold: 1987 22' Cruiser |
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matt_unique
Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 1881 City/Region: Boston
State or Province: MA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Napoleon
Photos: Napoleon
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 2:48 pm Post subject: 8 plait |
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My concern is how it will lie and coil in the anchor locker off the windlass...3 strand has always worked well for me and coils nicely. _________________ Captain Matt
Former owner of Napoleon (Tomcat) Hull #65 w/Counter Rotating Suzuki 150's. |
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Foggy
Joined: 01 Aug 2013 Posts: 1526 City/Region: Traverse City; Northern Lake Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2014
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Boatless in Boating Paradise
Photos: W B Nod
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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I've always used 3 strand w/o problems but never had a windlass till now.
So, I've decided to switch to 8 plait, do the splice to the chain.
Now in the box, it feels much more supple, softer and easier to handle than 3 strand. Plus, I have 225' of it in the same size box I can get only about 175' of 3 strand.
I think I'm going to like the 8 plait rode.
Aye. _________________ "I don't want any cake" - said no one ever.
If someone tells you they don't eat cake, unfriend them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20875 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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I have used some 8 plait in larger boats and the advantage was that it load better (less space in the anchor locker). If the 3 strand is working for you (good grip for the windlass, and you can put all that you want in the anchor locker) stick with it.
If you want to go from 300 feet to 600 feet of rode, then you will be better served by the 8 plait. (My fist experience with this was when the Avon Dealer on the West Coast was going out of business, and they had an approximately 1000 foot spool of 5/8" plait line--for a very low price. I bought the 1000 feet, and walked around until I found someone who wanted to split it with me--and we both walked off with about 500 feet. It fit were 300 feet were before. _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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Don and Brenda
Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Posts: 588 City/Region: Camano Island, Wa
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2011
C-Dory Model: R-27 Tug
Photos: C-Quest
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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A few years ago we installed a verticle windlass on the CD-22 and decided to go with 200' of 8 plait and 50' of chain. really liked the feel of the rode and it did coil well and was very easy to tie off on the front cleat, would certainly do it again. Now that we have the tug and 3 strand, it is much harder for the wife to tie onto the cleat.
Don |
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Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 8650 City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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For those of you who have used both types:
How does the difficulty of splicing 8-plait vs. 3-strand to the chain compare?
How well does each splice pass through the windlass?
Which rope absorbs shock better?
Absorption of salt and stiffening?
Difficulty in cleaning?
Anything else?
Joe. _________________ Sea Wolf, C-Brat #31
Lake Shasta, California
"Most of my money I spent on boats and women. The rest I squandered'. " -Annonymous |
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Don and Brenda
Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Posts: 588 City/Region: Camano Island, Wa
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2011
C-Dory Model: R-27 Tug
Photos: C-Quest
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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Joe
Some good questions
In my case I bought it from Defender marine and it was professionally spliced, it passed throught the windlass very easily, better than the slice I currently have on the 3 strand but I need to cut the splice out on the 3 strand and redo it, it is also on a horizonal vs vertical so not apples to apples. Shock, I think the 3 strand does a bit better, if your pulling by hand the 8 plait would be easier on the hands. |
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Sunbeam
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 3990 City/Region: Out 'n' About
State or Province: Other
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: Sunbeam
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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I have always used (and spliced) three-strand nylon in the past for dock and anchor lines (other boats), but for my C-Dory I decided to try 8-plait (specifically, 1/2" Yale Brait). I had heard and read good things, and to me, one of the "fun" things about a smaller boat is that I can experiment (smaller size, lower cost, and manageable physics as compared to big boats) with new things when I want to. While I read that Brait had good/better stretch, etc., the main property that attracted me was that it falls into a much smaller "pile" in the locker as compared to three-strand (and doesn't hockle, not that I had a lot of problem with that in the past).
I did slightly worry that the strands might "pick" (like a sweater), and for that reason I might not choose at as a dock line, but so far so good as an anchor rode. I've anchored around 40 times on it so far, plus dragged it over sandy beaches (dragged as in carried, not as in losing grip). It has a nice soft hand, and indeed does not hockle. It falls/packs down beautifully in the locker. It was reasonably easy to clean after Powell.
Splicing: I spliced it myself (rope to chain splice) and while the instructions were slightly confusing to me, the actual splice was logical and not that difficult.
I would absolutely buy it again for the C-Dory (and perhaps for other boats). I have recently purchased a windlass, but have not installed it yet, so can't comment on that aspect of it. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20875 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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My answers to Joe's excellent questions:
Splicing: different, but using colored Sharpee markers it became fairly easy. I did over sew all of the splice with dacron thread.
Splice goes thru the windless fine--tapered the tails of the splice
3 strand does better with shock
About the same with salt--wash, and wrinse
I favor the plait--but have 3 stand because it came on the boat. |
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Sunbeam
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 3990 City/Region: Out 'n' About
State or Province: Other
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: Sunbeam
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Don and Brenda wrote: | Shock, I think the 3 strand does a bit better... |
thataway wrote: | 3 strand does better with shock |
I would like to understand this better (I'm happy with the Brait on my 22, but just because I like to "get" things - it's interesting to me).
Granted, this is Yale's own page, and they may be biased; but for the sake of it, let's say we assume their information in the linked chart is correct. How does "shock" compare to energy absorption and elastic elongation? I take it these must be different from shock, but I don't exactly understand the difference(s).
I'll see if I can paste the charts here directly:
Page they came from:
http://www.yalecordage.com/pleasure-marine-ropes/anchoring-mooring-specialty/nylon-brait.html
Direct link to data sheet:
http://www.yalecordage.com/pdf/Nylon_Brait_Catalog_Page.pdf |
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UncleRichie
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 155 City/Region: Bainbridge Is.
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2000
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Critter
Photos: C-Critter
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Make sure u use nylon , nylon will absorb shock loads better. It keeps from lifting the anchor out all the time and also does not put so much load on cleats and such.
Richard |
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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5315 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the help! I think I will get the 8-plait stuff.
One thing I learned early on with the windlass was to not get the cheap rope. The Lewmar rode (Simpson-Lawrence, then) was twice as much as most others but worth it. The cheaper rope seemed too soft and would coil up in small loops and fill the center of the locker to the top causing problems. The stiffer rope would force itself to the sides of the locker and fill more evenly allowing it to hold more.
I will likely buy from Defender marine, but the link to their product page had some weird symbols in it and would not embed properly in the message. Defender's price is a little higher, but at least I have heard of them and had good luck with them in the past. They also have the best price on the windlass I will be buying when I replace mine.
I always buy the rope/chain already spliced because I suck at such things. I usually have 300' rope and 15' chain but think I'll go with the 200'/10' this time because I never use it all and often have trouble getting it all stowed in the locker. I got tired of the jams so I put a video camera in the locker that feeds to my Garmin display so I can keep an eye on any pileups coming in or kinks going out.
Thanks again for your thoughts here. |
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Sunbeam
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Posts: 3990 City/Region: Out 'n' About
State or Province: Other
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: Sunbeam
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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TyBoo wrote: |
I will likely buy from Defender marine...They also have the best price on the windlass I will be buying when I replace mine. |
Agreed that Defender is a great outfit to order from (both prices and people/service). I just ordered a windlass from them not long ago myself That said, I think I got my Brait from Fisheries Supply, so that may be another (west coast) option. |
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Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 8650 City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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TyBoo wrote: |
I got tired of the jams so I put a video camera in the locker that feeds to my Garmin display so I can keep an eye on any pileups coming in or kinks going out.
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Clever!
Joe. |
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Barry Rietz
Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 412 City/Region: Sierra Vista
State or Province: AZ
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:12 pm Post subject: Anchor Rode |
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Depending on seabed conditions (large rocks, coral heads, depth variations, unknown obstructions, dragging, snags, etc) the "three strand" format resists "abrasion" like no other variety! _________________ Barry Rietz
N9DXC |
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