Spectre rope

[Stumble]

Just to be clear,

Dyneema and Spectra are the same thing. Spectra is just a trade name for the same material.

However standing rigging is NOT made from dyneema/spectra. It should only be made from Dynex Dux which starts as a dyneema line, and is further treated to reduce stretch, increase strength, and decrease diameter. But at the cost of flexibility. Dux fresh off the spool is very stiff, and can stand proud like a measuring tape. It is not interchangeable with standard dyneema lines.


For a trailer sailor, or cruiser I would highly recommend it. The first time you install it you won't save any over wire, but from there on out you just replace the line every 8 years or so, the fittings can be reused.

[Zanshin]

Stumble,

you are correct that one should use treated Dyneema, but "Dynex Dux" is just another trade name for their treatment process; there are actually several pre-treated types of dyneema, Liros X-PRO in Europe, for example.

[tommays]

In all the PRO jobs i have seen by the time its sized for creep the spreaders all seem to need mods ?

IN looking at the buy in for all the fittings you need at the mast and deck level it was a LOT more money than stainless on the Cal 29

[Stumble]

Tommays,

When I priced it out for my old Olson 30 it was within 5% the same as wire, and much less than replacing the rod I had. It is probably installation specific which way the cost falls.

[chucklesR]

the wire goes for 15 years, 20 years, the rope maybe 8.

You have to factor in the cost x 2 because you'll have to replace it twice as often.

Racing and trailer - sure it makes sense. Most boats, not so much.

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

the wire goes for 15 years, 20 years, the rope maybe 8.

You have to factor in the cost x 2 because you'll have to replace it twice as often.

Racing and trailer - sure it makes sense. Most boats, not so much.

Not true at all. About 90% of the cost of switching the first time is buying the reusable fittings. After that the rest of the cost is the line itself. So your first time it is about the same price as wire, after that it gets really cheap to replace when necessary.


Also note that 8 years is what is currently being recomended from Colligio (I believe) which is the same replacement interval for stainless fittings like turnbuckles and shackles on your standing rigging.

[Minnewaska]

How often do the spectra fittings last?

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

the wire goes for 15 years, 20 years, the rope maybe 8.

You have to factor in the cost x 2 because you'll have to replace it twice as often.

In the tropics wire has a life expectancy of 8 to 10 years max. Up north, especially in areas with much rain, 15 years plus.

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

How often do the spectra fittings last?

No idea. Theoretically just about forever. They are hard anodized aluminium, and not subject to cycle loading stresses, so absent physical damage they should be good forever.

[peterchech]

It makes more sense financially in bigger boats I think. Doing my hunter 25 refit last year I priced out the coligo vs rigging only steel, and the price of the fittings meant that the spectra rigging would have cost significantly more even though I got new turnbuckles for the steel.

However in bigger boats where a new turnbuckle might go for $600 itself, the synthetic rigging starts making sense.

I love the stuff personally, splicing it is easy but the splices really need to set, they stretch a lot until then, making precision very difficult.

Even if u don't go with all synthetic, u should consider making the back stay out of the stuff. Or making some soft shackles, those are very handy too.

As far as chafing goes, once u splice the stuff u will find that it is very hard to cut. U get maybe two or three cuts with a razor blade before it gets completely dull. I doubt genoa chafe will do much here, ESP if ur using soft shackles or bow lines to secure the sheets to the clew.