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Spectra and Vectran line have extremely low stretch and are perfect for operation applications such as travelers or as part on a control set up .
Dyneema, Spectra & Vectran Sailing Line
If you ‘re looking for course with dear zero stretch, then our survival of Dyneema, Spectra, and Vectran lines are for you ! These high technical school lines have near zero extend and perfect for performance applications such as travelers or as part on a control set up. These lines are uncover and more probably to wear, but do feature UV coating to protect from sunlight damage .
Low Stretch Lines Explained
Dyneema & Spectra
Dynema® and Spectra® are made from UHMWPE ( Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene ), a long chain, gamey force, oriented maroon, synthetic fiber with very high persuasiveness and high abrasion resistance. This fiber is besides known as HMPE ( High Modulus PolyEthylene ). Dynema® is the dutch company DSM Dyneema ‘s brand of UHMWPE, used by Samson in their Amsteel and Amsteel-Blue dyneema lines. Honeywell International produces a alike UHMWPE roughage, marketed as Spectra®. Both Dyneema ( Dynema ) and Spectra offer closely identical characteristics are can be used interchangeably in sailing applications, depending on where you generator your line.
Vectran
Made from a LCP ( liquid crystal polymer ) fiber, Vectran exhibits senior high school lastingness, excellent crawl and abrasion resistor, excellent flex/fold and chemical resistance, and great inflame and cut resistance. Vectran is an option to Dyneema or Spectra and less elongate and sneak. many think Vectran is the ultimate fiber, though it does not have quite the fatigue life or UV resistance of Dyneema or Spectra. besides it is a little heavier and will not float .
Common Applications
Dyneema, Spectra, and Vectran lines are recommend for use in applications where low to zero stretch is the core prerequisite. It ‘s coarse to see these lines used as halyards, in voyage control cable systems, as travelers, or flush as replacements for wire rig in some performance applications. Since most low elongate Dyneema, Spectra, and Vectran lines are a single-braid without a breed, they are not recommended for applications where the line needs to be cleated and uncleated much. In those practice cases you ‘ll want to consider a line with a cover, such as a high performance dyneema or spectrum kernel note with a heavy duty polyester overlay .
Finding The Right Diameter
If you are replacing an existing line, the easiest way to determine what diameter you need is to match what you already have. This can be done with a caliper or by close estimate with a videotape measure. If you ‘ve previously used a 7mm sail and it has performed well, another 7mm line is likely a capital choice. In most applications, there is some flexibility in the exact diameter that can be used. Most blocks, for example, have an ‘ideal ‘ diameter ( i, the line diameter that runs most efficaciously though the forget ‘s sheave ) but besides have a crop indeed that you can run a slightly thin or slightly thicker line. If you have a sheet that is getting hung up in your trailer truck, stepping down 1-2mm might help the sheet run more efficiently. If you have a larger boat or rig and want to run a thin sheet, consider a bivalent braid line that features a Dyneema or spectra core for forte .
Line Diameter Conversion
1mm = 3/64 edge | 2mm = 5/64 inch | 3mm = 1/8 column inch
4mm = 5/32 edge | 5mm = 3/16 edge | 6mm = 1/4 column inch
7mm = 9/32 inch | 8mm = 5/16 edge | 9mm = 3/8 edge
10mm = 25/64 in | 11mm = 7/16 in | 12mm = 1/2 in
Double Braid vs Single Braid
Two terms you will often see in line descriptions are ‘double braid ‘ and ‘single braid ‘, which refer to the way the line is constructed. At the most basic floor, a double braid line has a cover and a core whereas a single braid does not, but there are other important distinctions to consider when making a line excerpt .
Single Braids are made up of either 8 or 12 strands that are braided into a round design, half clockwise and half counter clockwise. This produces a line that is limber, absorb twists, and tends not to kink. There are two types of single braid lines : performance individual braids and polyester/blended single braids. Performance single braids are made from fibers with very low stretch and designed to handle extreme loads – think Dyneema, Spectra, or Vectran. Polyester/blended single braids, sometimes called hollow braid, are soft and easy to grip, built for sheets and hand-adjusted control lines. These are less common than performance single braid lines but recommended in a few specific applications.
The Dyneema, Spectra, and Vectran lines on this page are Single Braids. The exception is the Robline Dinghy Vectran, which has a Vectran core .
Double Braids, sometimes called braid on braid, have a braided congress of racial equality within a braid out jacket or traverse. This creates a solid, durable, smooth-running line that is easy to handle. double braids are used for the huge majority of all running rigging on sailboats including sheets, halyards and control lines for both cruising or racing. There are two types to consider : polyester bivalent braids and high-tech double braids. Polyester doubly braids, found most normally on amateur and cruising sailboats, have a polyester cover with polyester congress of racial equality. These are first gear maintenance, low-cost, and durable, while offering relatively low stretch and gamey working loads. For extra force and minimal stretch, consider high-tech double braids. These lines typically feature a Dyneema or Spectra core ( non-stretch ) inside a polyester or polyester/dyneema blend cover for extra lastingness. They are more expensive but much the go to choice for senior high school performance racing boats .
Whipping & Splicing
Looking to clean up the end of your line or motivation to add a splice to your trailer truck ? Visit our Whipping & Splicing page for a full choice of whipping twine, fids, splicing needles, and complete splicing kits. Perfect for the DIY bluejacket looking to further optimize their rig .
