Ropes made from natural and synthetic fibers have played an important role throughout maritime history. Natural fibers like manila, sisal, hemp, coir, cotton and flax are used to make rope through twisting fibers into yarns and strands. Manila rope is very strong but swells when wet. Synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester and polyethylene are now commonly used for their strength when wet or dry and ability to float. The term "lay" refers to the twisting direction of strands in a rope, with hawser lay being most common at sea.
Ropes made from natural and synthetic fibers have played an important role throughout maritime history. Natural fibers like manila, sisal, hemp, coir, cotton and flax are used to make rope through twisting fibers into yarns and strands. Manila rope is very strong but swells when wet. Synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester and polyethylene are now commonly used for their strength when wet or dry and ability to float. The term "lay" refers to the twisting direction of strands in a rope, with hawser lay being most common at sea.
Ropes made from natural and synthetic fibers have played an important role throughout maritime history. Natural fibers like manila, sisal, hemp, coir, cotton and flax are used to make rope through twisting fibers into yarns and strands. Manila rope is very strong but swells when wet. Synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester and polyethylene are now commonly used for their strength when wet or dry and ability to float. The term "lay" refers to the twisting direction of strands in a rope, with hawser lay being most common at sea.
Ropes made from natural and synthetic fibers have played an important role throughout maritime history. Natural fibers like manila, sisal, hemp, coir, cotton and flax are used to make rope through twisting fibers into yarns and strands. Manila rope is very strong but swells when wet. Synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester and polyethylene are now commonly used for their strength when wet or dry and ability to float. The term "lay" refers to the twisting direction of strands in a rope, with hawser lay being most common at sea.
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Ropes of many different types and
sizes have continued to play a major
role in the working of ships throughout history. Clearly, the era of the sailing ships, where cordage, in virtually every form, could be found from anchor warps to ratlines, was a dominant period in history for rope manufacturers. All natural fibre rope is manufactured from manilla,sisal,hemp, coir,cotton or flax fibres. The process of manufacture consists of twisting the fibres into yarns and turning the yarns in an opposite direction to establish the strands. Manilla is obtained from the abaca (wild banana) plant, which grows to about 9m (30ft) in height,largely in the Philippine Islands,and is exported via the port of Manila,from which it acquires its name. Manila rope is very durable, flexible, and resistant to salt water damage, allowing its use in rope, hawsers, ship’s lines, and fishing nets. Unfortunately it swells when wet, but despite this it is considered by far the strongest natural rope made. It is very expensive and its availability will depend on the political climate. For handling purposes, the fibres have a brittle texture, and continued handling without gloves could cause the hands to become sore and uncomfortable. Where the rope is expected to be continually immersed in water, it may be coated with a water repellent.This is a chemical coating, usually tar based, which prevents rotting and mildew It is a very rough, coarse and hairy rope, with only about one quarter the strength of a hemp rope.However,it is very light and floats,possessing great elasticity. It is often used as a towing warp or mooring spring, because of its buoyant and elastic properties. The coir fibres are short,brittle and thick.These features produce a stiff non- flexible rope,difficult to manage.Consequently they are not popular with seafarers.When used for mooring purposes, they often have a steel wire pennant attached,and the whole is known as a coir spring. C c The advantage of hemp rope is that it is impervious to water and does not shrink or swell when wet.For this reason it was extensively used for the rigging of sailing vessels,and roping sails. When used for running rigging,it was preferred to manilla or sisal because it did not swell up and foul the blocks. However, for vessels navigating in cold climates,hemp ropes do have a tendency to freeze up. Not all hemp ropes are supplied tarred, so that the weight will vary,together with the strength. Is extracted from the plant of the linseed/flax plant. Usually used in fashion industry. Although natural fibre ropes are still widely used throughout the marine industry, they have been superseded by synthetic fibres for a great many purposes.Not only do the majority of synthetic ropes have greater strength than their natural fibre counterparts, but they are more easily obtainable and at present considerably cheaper. This is the strongest of all the man-made fibre ropes.It has good elasticity, stretching up to 30 percent and returning to its original length It is used for such functions as shock- absorbing when coupled with a mooring wire:the nylon forms a rope tail which takes the heavy shocks as a vessel ranges on her moorings. The disadvantages of nylon ropes are that they do not float,and in cold climates they tend to stiffen up and become difficult to handle. They should not be left exposed to strong sunlight or be stowed on hot deck surfaces, as their natural life will be impaired MELTING POINT: 250 DEGREES CELCIUS A heavy rope compared to the nylon and not as strong, but nevertheless some of the polyester’s properties make it a worthwhile rope to have aboard. It is considered to be more resistant to acids, oils and organic solvents than its nylon counterpart, while its strength remains the same whether in a dry or wet condition. It is used for mooring tails and mooring ropes. Its disadvantages are very similar to nylon’s. It will not float.Splices must have four full tucks and may draw more easily than with a natural fibre rope when under stress. MELTING POINT: 230-250 DEGREES CELCIUS This is probably the most popular of the man-made fibres at sea.The ropes are cheap,light to handle,have the same strength whether wet or dry,and they float They are used extensively for mooring ropes and running rigging It is resistant to chemical attack by acids,alkalis and oils,but solvents and bleaching agents may cause deterioration. MELTING POINT: 165 DEGREES CELCIUS The term lay refers to the direction of the twist of the wires in a strand and to the direction that the strand are laid in a rope. The purpose of alternate twisting of fiber, yarn and strand is to prevent the rope becoming unlayed when used. Most common form of rope at sea is the Hawser laid rope. Comprising three strands laid up to right of left. This type of lay has the advantages that it does not kink and also,with eight strands,has increased flexibility.However,it is difficult to splice,and the manufacturers’instructions should be consulted. Does not rotate under load and is ideal for use with windlass and anchor lines Square Braid High energy absorption Another type of lay found at sea is ‘shroud lay’ ,consisting of four strands,sometimes being laid about a central heart,right-handed. As the name implies,it was used for standing rigging (the shrouds to the mast) until wire ropes came into use. It is less liable to stretch. picture Often referred to as a long lay,soft-laid is a strong flexible method of laying up a rope.The angle of the strand to the axis through the centre of the rope is comparatively small.It will absorb water more easily and will not be as hard- wearing for example as a hard-laid rope Does not easily absorb water and tends to retain its shape better when under stress Being hard in construction, it is not very flexible, and its breaking stress and subsequent safe working load are inferior to those of soft or standard laid ropes Standard lay may be described as a cross between hard- and soft-laid ropes. It has been found by experience to be the best in providing pliability and strength,and to be sufficiently hard- wearing and chafe-resistant to suit the industry for general purpose working. Alternatively known as plaited, but not as in the way as the ‘eight strand plaited’previously mentioned,an example of sennet lay is found with the patent log line,where the yarns are interwoven,often about a centre heart. This lay of rope has an effective anti- twist,non-rotational property This lay looks like standard lay, but close inspection will reveal that the yarns are twisted the same way as the strands. Left-handed in construction, it is usually ordered for a specific job,e.g.gangway falls The advantage of this lay is that the tendency for standard lay to kink when passing through a block is eliminated.