Simulated hemp line...

[Pernicious Atavist]

So, while I was asking for help on my jamming blocks (got it, thansk, guys!) I remembered I need better stuff for my lines and sheet. My snotter broke this weekend, and dammit if that isn't a b-tch in 15mph winds. Also, the modern sheet I use is an eyesore.

Now, I know there are modern lines made to look like hemp. I've died modern stuff ala Todd's recc, but it's shiny and looks fake. I paid a premium for my Oceanus cloth sails, so why skimp on ropes?

Recommend your faves on this stuff?

Thanks again, as always.

Ed

[Ian McColgin]

Ropewarehouse or R&W down in Rhode Island has just what you want. By the way, they did the rigging for the movie "Master and Commander."

[kc8pql]

Buff Polyester or Posh. Both are polyester. Posh has a soft hand and is similar to New England Ropes Spun Polyester. Buff polyester has a firmer hand and less stretch. Both are three strand and are sold by R&W.

[Jim Ledger]

This is Buff Polyester. Very supple and soft on the hands. I use it for halliards and the sheet and it works well. The sheet just falls on the cockpit floor and shows no tendency to kink or jam the blocks.

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL441/8755859/16199889/254162813.jpg

[Pytheas]

Let us know what you try and how you like it. I got some Spunflex to try this summer. So far I haven't used it on the water yet but I have done some rope work with it. It's easy enough to splice and seems to hold OK in knots and hitches.

[Thorne]

There are some good threads on this very topic, worth a search (try 'faux hemp').

Bob Smalser recommends the Leoflex -X Rope from www.tarsmell.com (http://www.tarsmell.com). And Todd Bradshaw has had luck staining regular three-strand line a light brown color, but I can't remember what he used to color it -- see his posts on the topic.

I've been using the old original faux hemp product Hempex from R&W, and find it nice for sheets but too soft for running rigging, so it is not recommended for your application. Sure is cheap compared to the other faux hemp products, though!

;0 )

[Gary Bergman]

Roblon, a.k.a. Spunflex...the good stuff....excellent for running rigging,etc....http://shipsofwood.com/index.asp

[zenda]

Have any of you had or heard of experience with Langman Rope's products?

http://www.langman.com/langman-en/products_/rope_by_material/synthetic_rope_with_classic_look.html

[zenda]

This is Buff Polyester. Very supple and soft on the hands. I use it for halliards and the sheet and it works well. The sheet just falls on the cockpit floor and shows no tendency to kink or jam the blocks.

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL441/8755859/16199889/254162813.jpg

What brand buff polyester do you use?

[kc8pql]

Zenda, Langman makes Posh. English Braids makes Buff Polyester.
I used some of both on Alaya.

[Jim Ledger]

Buff polyester is the trade name, from R&W Rope warehouse.

[Thad Van Gilder]

I've had nothing but good experiences with Roblon...

-Thad

[Pernicious Atavist]

Thanks, all! You're too good.

[LLaver]

G'day Ed,

I take it from your location (Dunedin) that you are in NZ. Duck Flat Wooden Boats in South Australia sell a rope called "Hiros Classic" I made an enquiry about it a few months back and they sent me an envelope with some samples and prices, it is a nice colour and quite soft and supple.
6mm = AUS$2.70 per mtr
10mm = AUS$2.80 per mtr
12mm = AUS$3.60 per mtr

Their website has all their contact details.
www.duckflatwoodenboats.com (http://www.duckflatwoodenboats.com)


Cheers

Lee

[Don Kurylko]

http://www.gleistein.com/en/

Another interesting source worth checking out!

[Pernicious Atavist]

LL, no, the FL following Dunedin would be Florida, just west of Tampa, though if you're not familiar with the US, you may not know that. Thanks, though, for the info!

Ed

[jalmberg]

Roblon, a.k.a. Spunflex...the good stuff....excellent for running rigging,etc....http://shipsofwood.com/index.asp

I have to say I'm not thrilled with Spunflex. It looks good when it's aged a bit, but brand new off the roll, it looks a bit plastic-y.

The R&W Buff/Posh ropes are very nice, but a tad on the expensive side. Hempex is not quite as nice, but pretty good and better looking than Spunflex, in my opinion.

[JimConlin]

The R&W mentioned above is R&W Rope Warehouse (http://www.rwrope.com/) in New Bedford, MA.

They're nice people to deal with and also carry the Davey line of trad. boat jewelry.

[kc8pql]

The R&W mentioned above is R&W Rope Warehouse (http://www.rwrope.com/) in New Bedford, MA.

They're nice people to deal with and also carry the Davey line of trad. boat jewelry.
I used both Buff Polyester and some Posh from R&W. Good stuff. Posh is easier on the hands if a little more stretch doesn't bother you.

[keyhavenpotterer]

I've used Classic Marine's buff polyester braided rope on my traditional dinghies. Looks, feels and performs very well.

They also have buff whipping for the ends as needed. A variety of sizes in 3 ply or braid from here.

http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/prodtype.asp?prodtype=76&ph=cat

[Thorne]

R&W will probably send you samples, and also sells real hemp line in some sizes. Well worth a call, as they are very nice to deal with. For a lot of purposes the low-cost Hempex may be your best choice -- just not for heavily-used running rigging in my estimation as it fuzzes up a bit.

[keyhavenpotterer]

This sounds obvious, but the easiest way to make it look like Hemp, is probably to use Hemp rope. You can buy real Manilla or Hemp rope still if you want the real stuff, depending on your boats aspirations.

[Thorne]

My jib halyard is real hemp from R&W. Sometimes I'll see my 'foredeck crew' sniffing the air suspiciously, and I'll ask them if they smell something like cow poo? When they say yes, I'll tell them it is the jib halyard -- I guess the retting process is a bit incomplete for some of the real hemp line.

As fun and yare as real hemp line is, I'll go for Hempex or other faux line on anything other than a museum-quality reproduction boat.