new england ropes double braid nylon line running rigging

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New England Ropes
We consider New England Ropes one of the finest manufacturers of sailing lines. Their Sta-Set double braid, Sta-SetX, vectran, spectra, and nylon lines work easily and provide a long life for any of your running rigging applications. Our sailing store carries an extensive line inventory along with snap shackles, headboard shackles and other accesories and we have highly skilled folks to make your running rigging. Please call if you need help in selecting the proper sailing lines for your running rigging.

The Quality Starts with the Fiber
The sailing lines we sell uses only the highest quality fibers, combined with advanced design and construction, to produce the best yacht rope available. All of your sailing lines have a specific purpose and require different performance characteristics. Nylon's outstanding strength, good elasticity and excellent abrasion resistance make it an ideal choice for dock and anchor lines. Polyester's high strength and low stretch are ideally suited for control line and some halyard applications. Where very low stretch, high strength and light weight are required, Spectra, Technora and Vectran are perfect solutions.
To Recognize the best quality you need to know a about construction and fibers used in making sailing lines.
A line's performance is directly proportional to its inherent characteristics of strength, stretch, handling and chafe/abrasion resistance. The desired attributes for a given application are achieved by combining the proper fiber or fibers with the appropriate construction technique. Today we use fibers such as nylon, polyester, Technora, Spectra, and Vectran in combination with a laid (twisted), braided, or parallel core construction to perform the varied functions required by sailing lines.
Before selecting a line, it is important to know how to recognize quality when comparing products; it can be difficult to distinguish the quality or type of fiber used. However, an examination of the finished product's construction can help predict performance.
Three Strand Rope
When selecting 3-strand rope look for the following characteristics:
Rope should be firm but flexible -- a firm rope resists chafe, snagging and wear, and also prevents hockling or kinking. Test the rope by flexing it a bit. It should require effort to open the lay of the rope for inserting the first tuck of a splice. The effort is light for a small size such as 1/4" and great for 5/8" or 3/4". If it opens easily, it's too soft, and will not last.
The 3-strands should lay smoothly and uniformly within the rope so they all work together and wear evenly. Sight down a length. If it appears slightly "wavy" and uneven, there is a high or low strand and the rope is "out of lay." Don't buy it.
Nylon and Polyester (Dacron) fibers are very fine (smaller than a human hair) and, therefore, fragile. Consequently, they should be laid into a rope with sufficient twist in the yarns and strands to form a round, firm, balanced structure that resists snagging and wear. Push your thumbnail into the strand. It should not be soft and punky.
The rope should be heat stabilized to precondition the rope and keep shrinking and hardening to a minimum.
Braided Ropes
When selecting braided ropes, look for these characteristics:
Rope should be firm enough to resist chafe, snagging and wear but flexible for easy handling and splicing.
The yarns and strands should lay smoothly and uniformly in the rope so they will work together and wear evenly. Unevenness can be detected by sighting down the rope. If it appears wavy or uneven, don't buy it.
The amount of direction of twist in the yarns is essential for top performance in a braid. Look at the individual yarns that make up each strand. Well rounded yarns resist snagging and wear better than flat yarns.
Most braids have an inner core with an outer jacket. As the line is used and flexed, the core may tend to work its way through the outer jacket resulting in a "hernia." Grip the rope with your thumbs facing one another about 2" apart and violently flex the section between your thumbs a dozen or more times. If the jacket opens and exposes the core, it is approaching hernia ion.
The inner core should lay evenly in the jacket. Lightly grip the rope and run it through your hands. You don't want it if it's "lumpy," or soft. The rope should feel firm and round.
The rope should be heat stabilized to precondition it and keep shrinking and hardening to a minimum.
Nylon
Most elastic of all fibers, high stretch & strength, minimal strength loss when exposed to sunlight, ideal for use where stretch & energy absorption are important, such as in dock-and-anchor lines
Polyester
Low stretch fiber Very good abrasion resistance wet or dry,excellent weathering characteristics, spun polyester is fuzzy, filament polyester is smooth. Good choice for running rigging such as sheets and control lines that require moderate to low stretch, good durability and a nice feel. Often referred to as DACRON, a DuPont trade name
Technora
Highest strength aramid fiber, very low stretch, subject to fatigue if cycled over small radius, does not creep under normal loads, black version has superior resistance to UV degradation Ideal for low stretch running rigging, such as halyards.
Spectra
Very high strength and very low stretch, light weight; will not absorb water, low melting point susceptible to friction used for control lines and halyards
Vectran
High strength and very low stretch with virtually no creep. Excellent flex characteristics. Ideal for running backstays, halyards and after guys.
Polypropylene
Light weight, floats, very susceptible to UV degradation. Melts under high friction