What rope material should I use on sailboats?

What rope material should I use on my sailboat?

The choice of rope material on a sailboat depends on the specific application (e.g., halyards, sheets, dock lines), but here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used rope materials and where they shine. However, your yacht’s owner manual should specify all the details of the rope you want to replace, including the length, material, diameter, and colour.

In order to read more about specific ropes on a yacht and what their function is, go to “Knowing Your Ropes“.

High-Performance Running Rigging (e.g., Halyards, Sheets)

Dyneema (also known as Spectra or HMPE)

Best for: Halyards, control lines, high-load applications
Strength: Extremely strong (stronger than steel by weight)
Stretch: Very low stretch
UV Resistance: Excellent
Abrasion Resistance: Very good
Downsides: Slippery (can be hard to grip/knot), expensive
Note: Often used as a core with a polyester cover for handling and winch use

Dyneema rope — Dyneema (also known as Spectra or HMPE)

Vectran

Best for: Halyards (especially where heat resistance is important)
Strength: Very high
Stretch: Very low
UV Resistance: Poor (often needs a protective cover)
Heat Resistance: Excellent (better than Dyneema)
Downsides: Degradation in sunlight unless protected

Technora / Kevlar / Twaron

Best for: Ultra-high-performance racing lines
Strength & Stretch: Similar to Vectran
Heat Resistance: Excellent
Abrasion Resistance: Good
UV Resistance: Moderate
Downsides: Expensive, stiffer than Dyneema

General-Purpose Running Rigging

Polyester (e.g., Dacron)

Best for: Sheets, control lines, topping lifts
Strength: Good
Stretch: Moderate
UV Resistance: Excellent
Abrasion Resistance: Good
Handling: Easy to grip, flexible
Cost: Economical
Note: Often used as an outer cover over a high-tech core

Dock Lines, Anchor Rodes, Fenders

Nylon

Best for: Dock lines, anchor lines
Strength: High
Stretch: High (good for shock absorption)
UV Resistance: Good
Handling: Very soft and flexible
Cost: Affordable
Note: Not suitable for halyards or sheets due to stretch

Specialty Use

Polypropylene

Best for: Heaving lines, floating lines (e.g., dinghy tow lines)
Floatation: Floats
Strength: Lower than others
UV Resistance: Poor
Cost: Cheap
Downsides: Not durable, slippery, degrades in sun

Summary Table

Material	Stretch	UV Resistance	Heat Resistance	Cost	Common Use
Dyneema	Very Low	Excellent	Moderate	High	Halyards, high-load lines
Vectran	Very Low	Poor	Excellent	High	Performance halyards
Technora	Very Low	Moderate	Excellent	Very High	Racing applications
Polyester	Moderate	Excellent	Good	Moderate	Sheets, general rigging
Nylon	High	Good	Good	Low	Dock and anchor lines
Polypropylene	High	Poor	Poor	Very Low	Floating lines, throw ropes

Author

Rene Nusse

Rene is a keelboat instructor and sailing coach in the Mandurah area WA. He is also the author of several books about sailing including "The Book of Maritime Idioms" and "Renaming your boat".
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Renaming your boat
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