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è…è- Øõr P ¨05Ó< ¨05Ó< "BÓª* "BÓª* “ ” • – — ˜ ™ š › iate forA ¨05Ó< ¨05Ó< #BÓª* #BÓª* le lines of moderate weight and elasticity. We will not confuse (or shock) you with high-priced, high tech lines for racing sailboats. Most lines are available in a choice of colors, with or without whipped ends. What to look for in running rigging There are three key components in rigging: strength, weight, and stretch. For halyards, light weight is important. To minimize weight aloft (part of what makes a boat "stiff") you want the lightest line possible. But, you want to minimize stretching, too. Line that stretches will let your sail creep down the mast, negatively effecting sail shape and performance. Sheets require slightly different priorities. Weight is not as important, although it becomes more so as your head sail increases in size. (A sail for lighter air, like a 155% genoa or cruising spinnaker, fly better with light sheets that don't weight it down.) Strength is a key factor for sheets, as sheet loads tend to be among the highest and substantially greater than halyards. Minimal stretch is also important to keep the sail set properly. But, because headsails are trimmed more frequently than halyards, it is a lesser factor. After completing the form below, you'll see a full screen of options for your boat. Compare the columns with specs for stretch, weight, and strength. Here's what you want:
Stretch: low
Strength: high
Weight: low
Then, balance those specs with price to make your decision. Remember, all the options we show you are appropriate for the application. Some, however, are better than others. Rigging designed for Dacron sails When your rig is under load, something is going to stretch... because if it doesn't it will break. So which would you rather stretch? Your (gulp) hull and rig, thousands of dollars worth of sails, or a couple hundred bucks worth of running rigging? Clearly, you want a little stretch in your ropes to take the pressure off expensive sails and extrusions. The ropes we offer have been matched to Dacron cruising sails. You'll get excellent performance, but not at the expense of other, more valuable components. Materials used in running rigging Most rigging for cruising boats is made of polyester, a material that is practically perfect for this use. Light, strong, relatively UV-resistant, with low stretch and a price to match, it is a good all-around material for halyards and sheets. (Hey, maybe that's where all those 1970's leisure suits went....) In the quest for ever-lighter, stronger materials, many so-called hi-tech ropes are also available. You'll hear names like Dyneema, MFP, Samthane, and Vectran. These are often blended in various combinations to provide rigging for very specific needs. Some are remarkably light, others have little stretch, still other have more for cushioning shock loads. What they all have in common are substantially higher prices. Most are used almost exclusively by racers. What we recommendTrophy Braid Trophy Braid features a soft-spun polyester cover which makes it easy on the hands and your winch drums, too. Easy to hold, wet or dry, it holds well in cleats and maintains a solid grip on winches. Trophy isn't the lightest cordage we offer and it is a bit more prone to stretch than others, but you'll love how it functions on the deck. LS Braid A good general purpose line for all applications, LS has good strength characteristics, low stretch, and excellent resistance to abrasion. XLS Braid Less stretch than LS, with a heavier cover for outstanding abrasion resistance. The highest strength polyester rope in the Samson product line. Provides superior performance with a signif
