Spectra Rope.

[frankgrimes]

Hi Fellas,

I have just replaced my winch cable with Spectra, and I noticed when under load that it has a tendency to "cut" its way through the wraps underneath....have I not wound it onto the drum tightly enough?

Mick

[KAGEY1]

:D Exactly That Mick. You Need To Put The Boat In And Winch It Back On, While Gently Guiding It Across The Drum To Make It Even. It Will Flatten A Bit As It Goes On And Then Will Be Right The Next Time. Got It On Mine And Would'nt Have Anything Else Now. Cheers, Geoff

[Deiter]

G'day Mick. Another quick tip for ya. That spectra rope is bloody good stuff, and in theory it could last forever coz it's doesn't degrade due to uv exposure or rotting, only mechanical damage, and the main contributer to mechanical damage over the years will be salt. If it gets salt water on it, when it dries the crystals will slowly cut the fibres one by one.
To avoid this, When you are washing the boat down at the end of a trip, loosen the rope a bit a spray it with the hose. Then wind it up real tight again. this will help to flush and "wring" the salt out. Repeat 2 or 3 times and you are done. Next step is to open a tinnie if you haven't already and start filleting!!

DAmo

[whiteman]

It will continue to cut through regardless of age. It will also tend to pile up on one side of the barrel then cut through or drop off the pile and the boat will go back a foot or so which means anyone still onboard (mine is a 5.5m cuddy) may get jerked and put off balance - so warn them. Otherwise should be on all winches.

[FrankFWM]

G'day Mick. Another quick tip for ya. That spectra rope is bloody good stuff, and in theory it could last forever coz it's doesn't degrade due to uv exposure or rotting, only mechanical damage, and the main contributer to mechanical damage over the years will be salt. If it gets salt water on it, when it dries the crystals will slowly cut the fibres one by one.
To avoid this, When you are washing the boat down at the end of a trip, loosen the rope a bit a spray it with the hose. Then wind it up real tight again. this will help to flush and "wring" the salt out. Repeat 2 or 3 times and you are done. Next step is to open a tinnie if you haven't already and start filleting!!

DAmo


I have it on my winch - so does a mate of mine.

We have both noticed that it is fading from blue to almost white on the first couple of feet frm the Sun - so I am not sure that this stuff does not degrade from UV - perhaps it's only the dye ?

Frank

[KAGEY1]

It Is Used In The Winch Challenge Comps Frank And They All Lose Their Colour. Doesn't Seem To Lose Strength Though. Seen These Trucks With Pure White Ropes Still Going Strong.
Geoff

[mini696]

The first time you wind it on dont drop your trailer in the water too far. This makes the rope tighter due to the extra weight of the boat. If the trailer is furthur in the water the floatation gives a sensation of less weight on the rope.

Once the bottom layer of rope is on super taught, you can retrieve the boat as normal. Just dont wind the line out furthur than you need or it will wind on looser than ideal again.