Rope care and safe usage
The yachting ropes and lines manufactured by DM Ropes exhibit high standards.
However, the prevailing conditions under which they are used are a significant factor affecting their properties. The following recommendations may help you not only to extend the service life of the ropes used, but also to enhance safety when using the ropes in boat applications.
1. The initial step in proper care is proper coiling. Ideally, the rope should be wound in the shape of the number eight, which prevents the rope from rotating and looping.
2. Make sure to avoid exposing the rope to coarse surfaces, sharp edges, chemical effects and high temperatures.
3. Store the ropes clean and dry out of the reach of direct solar radiation.
4. Avoid bending the rope too sharply when exposed to tension, as this would result in loading half of the fibres only. The minimum rope bending diameter should be six times the rope diameter.
5. Ropes get substantially worn in exposure locations, where they are exposed to friction and abrasion over lengthy periods of time. therefore, it is recommended that these locations be checked and that the rope setting be changed regularly in such a way as to provide for more uniform loading. The locations most severely exposed to loading are those that come into contact with notches, draw rings, pulley, etc.
6. Salt crystals are a natural abrasive having an unfavorable effect on the life and reliability of the rope. This may be prevented by soaking and washing the rope in warm (approx.30 C) non-salty water and subsequently drying it in a shaded place.
7. Check the ropes regularly to made sure that their condition makes them fit for their intended use and the conditions there of. Put any unsatisfactory ropes out of operation.
The following might be the signs indicating that a rope must be withdrawn:
However, the prevailing conditions under which they are used are a significant factor affecting their properties. The following recommendations may help you not only to extend the service life of the ropes used, but also to enhance safety when using the ropes in boat applications.
1. The initial step in proper care is proper coiling. Ideally, the rope should be wound in the shape of the number eight, which prevents the rope from rotating and looping.
2. Make sure to avoid exposing the rope to coarse surfaces, sharp edges, chemical effects and high temperatures.
3. Store the ropes clean and dry out of the reach of direct solar radiation.
4. Avoid bending the rope too sharply when exposed to tension, as this would result in loading half of the fibres only. The minimum rope bending diameter should be six times the rope diameter.
5. Ropes get substantially worn in exposure locations, where they are exposed to friction and abrasion over lengthy periods of time. therefore, it is recommended that these locations be checked and that the rope setting be changed regularly in such a way as to provide for more uniform loading. The locations most severely exposed to loading are those that come into contact with notches, draw rings, pulley, etc.
6. Salt crystals are a natural abrasive having an unfavorable effect on the life and reliability of the rope. This may be prevented by soaking and washing the rope in warm (approx.30 C) non-salty water and subsequently drying it in a shaded place.
7. Check the ropes regularly to made sure that their condition makes them fit for their intended use and the conditions there of. Put any unsatisfactory ropes out of operation.
The following might be the signs indicating that a rope must be withdrawn:
- Substantial damage to the rope cover,
- Recurrent core dusting (internal abrasion) of the rope,
- Rope fibres falling apart once rubbed in hand (material degradation due to UV dariation),
- Internal lines protruding beyond the outer rope cover,
- Stiffened parts of the rope,
- Sintered rope fibres,
- Rope damage by chemical effects.