Nylon rope is a material used for many different task, and nylon rope is characterized by its ability to stretch when a load is applied to teh nylon rope. When a sudden force pull on nylon rope, the nylon rope stretches instead of snapping. This stretching action allow the nylon rope to absorb shock, and this shock absorption provide a person with more time to react to sudden movement.
Many other type of rope do not stretch as much as nylon rope, and many other type of rope may break when they encounter a sudden jolt. A person must select the correct diameter of nylon rope based off the weight of the load that the nylon rope must hold. Thinner nylon rope is suitable for lighter duties, but thicker nylon rope have a much more higher breaking strength.
Nylon Rope Basics
The breaking strength of nylon rope increase as the diameter of the nylon rope increases. A person should not use the full breaking strength of the nylon rope as the working load. Instead, a person should use a safe working load, and the safe working load is typically one-fifth of total breaking strength.
This safe working load is a buffer because knots, wear, and sudden jerk can multiply the force applied to the nylon rope. Additionally, thicker nylon rope is heavier, so a person should remember that thicker nylon rope will have more weight per length. Nylon rope is different than other ropes because nylon rope have a high level of stretch, which is often between 30 and 40 percent.
For example, polyester rope does not stretch as much than nylon rope, and polyester rope will transmit jolts direct to a boat hull. Polypropylene rope float in water, but polypropylene rope can fray due to ultraviolet light. Natural fibers like manila rope will rot if manila rope remain damp.
Nylon rope is used for marine work because nylon rope cushion the impact of waves. There are different way that nylon rope is constructed, and the construction of the nylon rope determine how the nylon rope performs. Three-strand twisted nylon rope is common for smaller diameters, and three-strand twisted nylon rope is easy to splice and provide flexibility.
Double braid nylon rope consist of a core and a sheath, and double braid nylon rope provides more strength and easier handling than three-strand twisted nylon rope. Kernmantle nylon rope have a core protected by a mantle, and kernmantle nylon rope is used in climbing because kernmantle nylon rope allow for controlled elongation during a fall. Because of the properties of nylon rope, nylon rope is used for many specific application.
Nylon rope is used for anchor lines because the stretch in the nylon rope reduce strain on a windlass. Nylon rope is used for dock lines because the stretch in the nylon rope buffer a boat from wakes. Nylon rope is also used for towing vehicle, rigging trees, and securing cargo.
Nylon rope is a versatile material because nylon rope can handle dynamic load. The strength of nylon rope can change based on environmental factor. Nylon rope lose approximately 10 percent of its strength when the nylon rope becomes wet, because water cause the fibers to swell and softens the bond within the nylon rope.
Nylon rope also lose approximately 15 percent of its strength due to ultraviolet light exposure over time. Furthermore, knots can reduce the strength of nylon rope by up to 40 percent because knots pinch the strand of the nylon rope. An eye splice is a better option than a knot because an eye splice retain nearly the full strength of the nylon rope.
A person can maintain the performance of nylon rope by following specific care instruction. A person should rinse salt away from the nylon rope because salt crystal can grind against the fibers. A person should avoid contact between nylon rope and petroleum, because petroleum will dissolve the polymer in the nylon rope.
A person should keep nylon rope in the shade to avoid ultraviolet damage. A person should inspect the nylon rope annually for stiffness or thinning, and a person should replace the nylon rope if the nylon rope become thin or stiff. When a person use knots in nylon rope, the strength of the nylon rope will decrease.
A bowline knot retain 70 to 75 percent of the strength of the nylon rope, but a cleat hitch retain only 65 to 70 percent of the strength. A square knot is not recommended for heavy load because a square knot retain only about 50 percent of the strength of the nylon rope. An eye splice is the most effective method for maintaining strength, because an eye splice preserve 95 percent or more of the strength of the nylon rope.
Safety require that a person follow certain rule when using nylon rope. A person should always use a 5:1 safety factor, and a person should use chafe gear to protect the nylon rope from rubbing. A person should retire nylon rope before the nylon rope become unsafe to use.
Finally, a person should allow the stretch of the nylon rope to absorb sudden pull to ensure that the nylon rope function correctly.
