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The Proper Care and Use of Rope
June 7 2007
| Written By - fish4fun.com - 06/7/2007 | |
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Link to Original Article here |
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Caring for and inspecting your rope often will ensure it does the job you want it to and will last as long as possible. Avoid using rope that shows any sign of aging and wear. Rope should be inspected regularly for cuts, worn spots or discoloration.
Avoid knotting the rope. Knots reduce the breaking strength of rope by as much as 40%. For this reason, splicing is preferred to knotting.
Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and heat. Use of rope where temperatures exceed 140\' F will reduce its strength. Also, sunlight can severely weaken rope due to prolonged exposure to ultra violet rays.
Working load guidelines are tabulated for rope, in good condition, with appropriate splices in non-critical applications and under normal service conditions. Keep this in mind when selecting a rope for a particular application such as; tow line, life line, safety line, etc. Here the working loads given do not apply.
Rope manufacturers print a chart on the back of each package stating safe working loads which are set forth by The Cordage Institute of Washington DC. Whenever a rope is selected, good judgment should be exercised. If in doubt when selecting the proper rope for your task, contact the rope manufacturer.
